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'06 | #44 Luke Skywalker - Return of the Jedi (Reviewed 10-05-2006) 

Includes:
• Lightsaber
• Removable Belt & Poncho
• Removable Helmet
• Blaster Pistol
• Base 

Click thumbnail for large image Spice: While many know it's not a mystery that I don't enjoy seeing constant rehashing. There are the few times where they put a little bit extra into redoing the entire figure that makes collecting all seem like it's worth it. I'm somewhat certain Luke will be a hot item, you may have to enlist the help of other Sandtroopers for help. As this figure seems to be the one slipping through the cracks on the retail front at this time, we can only hope they had enough sense to meet what is sure to be high demand. You might find yourself with a pie-face just like Han Solo has in the background art!

Click thumbnail for large image The first aspect I really didn't like was the overall facial expression. Perhaps they are talking a page from the book of Sideshow Collectibles and doing their best to make Luke appear enchanting. For me, it simply screams the thousand-yard stare and maybe even seems like he found some very good painkillers. However the fact you can take the helmet off is a vast improvement vs. the figure packed in with the Speeder Bike back in the Power of the Force era. Another interesting tid-bit collectors will simply LOVE is the fact he can hold his lightsaber without a rubber band. You all can remember the OTC versions of Luke Jedi seemed to have this problem. You can't really get too excited about this, it should be able to hold the weapon correctly.

Click thumbnail for large image I was also highly impressed with the poncho/belt combo that was another slammin' touch. It is a bit hard to get the belt threaded through and back together. This figure is very versatile with making the poncho come off. Perhaps they won't find reason to put another black robed-Luke on the market for years, seeing as they really have it covered now. My only gripes would have been the lack of articulation in the shoulders and the knee joints. While the rolling elbow concept works wonders here for lightsaber/blaster poses, the lack of movement in the shoulders does create limitations. I'm not entirely sure if it was the figure I received but it seems like the knee joints are very stiff and could be easily broken by a kid, the people they claim to make these for. I'd use some caution if you are an over-zealous loose collector!

Spice - I really liked the figure. It has so much new, even though there are rehashed pieces you will really want to add this figure to your collections. Packed to the bubble with new accessories and the lightsaber has some pretty accurate detail in the handle that very much impressed me.

(Figure '06 | #044, Asst. No. 86950, Item No. 85770, Backing Card P/N 6495804700, Window Insert P/N 6597260000) 

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