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'07 | #XX Luke Skywalker - The Empire Strikes Back (Reviewed 7-04-2007) 

Includes:
• Lightsaber
• Blaster  Pistol
• Mail-away redemption form/sticker 

Click thumbnail for large image Spice: One of the greatest aspects next to the extensive bubble protection of the V.T.A.C. figures is that old warm feeling you get when you recall the first time you saw a Bespin Luke action figure. For some of us we saw an alternate card variation. For some we don't remember as the bubble was ripped from the card on the way home from the toy store in the backseat. To have a Luke in what would be one of the most memorable lightsaber battles, all for under three dollars! Hasbro and modern inflation have this bad boy well over ten dollars but the improvements made compared to some of the previous molds are incredible.

Click thumbnail for large image We'll leave the vintage version alone and focus on the more recent past. Who could forget the removable hand Power of the Force version from the Freeze frame? I'm sure we have more Troopers who'd rather forget. The Saga version back in 2002 was also one for the ages, and I could really appreciate the way Luke was beat to death in that mold. However the sculpt used this time around was pre-beat down. You might even say they missed a tad on the weathering, as I can't recall Luke appearing so clean. They really hit a home run on the outfit to blend in with that everywhere articulation. The blaster holster, even down to the puffiness on the boots, this figure is without a doubt the most amazing likeness yet. You could have asked for an alternate head, as they did with the OTC version. What is really nice is how well this figure compliments the Jedi Trainee, as that was a great figure too.

Click thumbnail for large image It is too bad we only see a few of these per year, as I think collectors as a whole can only hope to see the line expanded. They nailed the head sculpt right down to the cowlick on that bad eighties mullet. The impressive detail put into the blaster was another big plus, they even managed to get a tiny trigger in there! I did find it to fit a tad loose in the hand, as small as it is you can bet an easy loss. We can only hope some day they will put serious attention to the lightsaber. I would have liked to have seen a removable handle via the X-Wing Fighter, so he could wear the handle on the hip. I would even say the handle used here might be a bit too long. Overall there isn't enough bad that would make me say don't buy it.

Spice - We're two for two in our look at the V.T.A.C. collection. While this figure did have minor low points, without a doubt the best overall Luke Bespin figure to date.

(Figure '07 | #XX, Asst. No. 87295, Item No. 87306, Backing Card P/N 6670880300, Window Insert P/N 6670890300) 

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