Luke Skywalker - SW [S - P3] - Collectible Figure And Cup

As wing commander of a snowspeeder squadron, Luke battles the Imperial forces in a delay tactic to give the Rebel forces time to escape the planet Hoth. In a daring move, Luke successfully brings down one of the Empire's gigantic AT-AT walkers.

Who would have believed that we would see the return of fast food chain styled collectible drinking glasses? And who would have expected that we’d see them again paired with some of our most favorite action figures? Before you get too excited, Hasbro isn’t breaking any new ground here. The concepts are admirable, but the execution could stand a little more help. There are two elements to the products in the Collectible Figure And Cup line. These TARGET exclusives paired a drinking glass with a popular main Star Wars character (featured in the artwork on the glass) and packaged together in a nice boxed set. And at a $9.99 MSRP, the price seems to be just right to buy the entire collection. Hasbro has produced these sets based on Episode I, Episode II, Episode IV, Episode V and Episode VI. The Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back glass features multiple scenes during the Battle of Hoth, and the figure chosen is Luke Skywalker in his snowspeeder pilot gear. Many collectors don’t know that Hasbro had originally intended to include a newly kit-bashed version of Luke Skywalker (with a removable helmet) in this set. Sadly that didn’t come to pass, and they used a previously existing kit-bashed Luke Skywalker figure instead.

Hasbro looked back at their 2001 POTJ Luke Skywalker’s Snowspeeder TARGET exclusive release and felt the Luke Skywalker pack-in figure included with it was adequate to include in the Collectible Figure And Cup collection. Sadly, the figure hasn’t aged very well, and it looks like a POTF2-quality figure despite the enhancements Hasbro made to it by kit-bashing it with some updating parts. As a reminder, Luke Skywalker utilizes the arms and legs from 1995’s POTF2 [R] Luke Skywalker (In X-wing Fighter Pilot Gear) figure with the body from 1998’s POTF2 [FF/TKC] Biggs Darklighter figure. (As you recall, the 1995 POTF2 [R] Luke Skywalker’s outfit was a snowspeeder pilot outfit.) Also, while similar, the original pack-in Luke Skywalker was also given an all-new head sculpt. The last detail about Luke Skywalker is that he has been given an all-new separately sculpted (but permanently attached) padded collar. It shows that they went through a lot of unnecessary retooling here that could have been applied to an all-new sculpt instead. The paint operations are about on par as you’d expect for a figure of this quality. The details of Luke’s helmet are nicely applied. And the bright orange flight suit is accented with details like the hanging straps, the chest box in addition to boots and gloves.

You may find it interesting that this version of Luke Skywalker still doesn’t have any footpeg holes on the bottom of his feet. The 2001 POTJ pack-in figure didn’t have them, and this figure doesn’t have them either. Luke Skywalker comes with a single accessory: his lightsaber. But thanks to severely limited articulation, Luke Skywalker cannot utilize it in any meaningful ways. It’s safe to say that this particular Luke Skywalker action figure was a lazy effort on Hasbro’s part. When you compare this figure to the others in this line, it looks completely outdated and obsolete. We like the concept of this product idea; it just fails in execution. And again, this would have been the perfect opportunity to update a decent version of Luke Skywalker in his snowspeeder outfit for collectors. Don’t get us wrong, please. We love the artwork on the glass. It encompasses some great scenes from the Battle of Hoth, and Luke Skywalker is a prominent visage throughout it. There is a bio on the “back” of the glass as well which goes into some detail about Luke’s role during the events of The Empire Strikes Back. When packaged together, this set is admittedly an attractive item. There is something about Luke’s orange uniform against a white snowy background with Imperial AT-ATs and shield generators. What can we say? We’re suckers for this stuff.