Luke Skywalker - TBS [P3] - Hyper Real Figures

The HyperReal Luke Skywalker is an oversized Galaxy Of Adventures figure. What’s up with the cartoonish portrait? Isn’t this scale supposed to bring Star Wars collectors eerily realistic action figure interpretations of our favorite characters? The HyperReal line is over, and there won’t be any more characters introduced into the line. This news came directly from Hasbro. Instead, hopefully, Hasbro will focus its efforts on The Black Series 6” line and The Vintage Collection line because Lord knows 3.75” super-articulated collectors aren’t getting a fraction of what they want to see in the line. Whatever. The HyperReal line is supposed to take what Hasbro cannot do in the 6” line and take it to place without limits, but the line is turning out to be a dud rather quickly. Between the creepy “wet” rubber utilized to wrap the metal endoskeleton, to its inability to hold up in places of frequent movement like the armpits and crotch, the HyperReal line of figures is more of a disappointment than anything else. And when the figures are $79.99 a pop, getting something with a poor likeness and tears should serve as an S.O.S. to abandon this ship as soon as possible, and get back to basics.

The HyperReal Luke Skywalker is expensive. There is no way of getting around that. Every time Hasbro attempts to produce “more expensive” collector-focused items, they quickly fail. Remember The Black Series [Phase III] Centerpiece Figures collection? Yeah, stick a fork in that line. Even deluxe-styled figure and vehicle or creature sets in The Black Series 6” line are underperforming. And those sets go for around $49.99. Taking cues from S.H. Figuarts and Kotobukiya and a little bit from Hot Toys, it appears that Hasbro is desperate to add an intricately-designed, yet “affordable” line of figures like Hyper Real for the collecting community. Sadly, many in the collecting community will see this line as affordable. But this Hyper Real line is starting to cross over into areas that longtime Star Wars collectors have little to no interest. The territory of endoskeletons is a brave arena to enter, but it’s not something Hasbro Star Wars collectors need or want. The cost has been an issue with collectors for the last decade, and especially since Disney took over Star Wars. Collectors often wait until figures are pennies on the dollar before they add them to their collections. Does Hasbro honestly believe that a new $79.99 line that NO ONE asked for will become an instantaneous hit?

Luke Skywalker comes with an infinite amount of articulation points. Because it has a metal endoskeleton underneath the rubber suiting, the movement functions similarly to a human being’s mobility. The costume detailing is better than average, but the rubber leaves the figure with an odd aesthetic. It’s too shiny in spots. It’s too artificial in others. And although you get a fantastic range of movement from the figure, the pulled rubber when articulating an elbow or knee doesn’t look natural. It looks like the rubber is stretching. Luke Skywalker comes with two portraits. One has hair before dueling Darth Vader, and the other shows Luke with “messed up” hair after he began the lightsaber duel with Darth Vader. The head sculpts are different, but perhaps not different enough to warrant the inclusion of both. We wished that the alternate portrait had a bruised eye and facial scratches. It doesn’t. You also get a lightsaber that breaks down into a hilt and blade. The figure comes with plenty of hand attachments, and you’re given the appropriate pair of hands to hold the lightsaber accordingly. Lastly, you get a display stand, which helps to complete the scene after you pose the figure, but it isn’t anything too special. Underneath are pegs to secure the figure as it has holes in the soles of the boots. The HyperReal line is not what collectors want. They’re too expensive, and we want plastic action figures anyhow.