Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) - RC - Basic

The Star Wars Retro Collection is inspired by the 1980s STAR WARS figures and features original figure design and detailing! Continue your collection from the galaxy far, far away!

Wow. Has the Retro Collection Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) action figure stayed in the Tatooine sun for too long? What is up with this figure’s suntan? It probably is safe to say that the 1983 ROTJ Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight Outfit) Kenner figure is one of the most significant action figure accomplishments from the 80s. Kenner worked in unprecedented detail, setting the stage for many forthcoming action figures in the Star Wars line when it came to soft goods and accessories. This version of Luke Skywalker is synonymous with the Return Of The Jedi title. And everything from the figure to the card art was spectacular and a highlight for most young collectors. Kenner confirmed the success of the action figure by carrying it forward into The Power Of The Force line when it came with new card art and a collectors’ coin. To this day, it remains a longtime favorite Star Wars action figure, and all modern figures are compared to it when announced and released. The Retro Collection Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) action figure looks a tad wonky compared to the 1983 version. The posture of the limbs looks off, and the softer details affect its likeness negatively.

Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) comes in near-exact replica packaging. Interestingly, 2020’s TVC Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) (VC175) figure came with updated card art. Hasbro decided against airbrushing out the Ishi Tib character to the left of Luke’s head. But the Retro Collection card art shows the original Kenner art where Ishi Tib’s head got removed. You can still see the ring left from Kenner employees’ antiqued “editing” from 1983. Hasbro did their best to package the figure and accessories as closely as possible to the original release, but the cloak isn’t bound by a cardboard slipcase this time. It’s floating in the bubble behind the action figure. The material fabricating the cloak feels thinner and cheaper this time, but this is no longer commonplace in the Hasbro Star Wars line. Everything feels cheap anymore, and that’s a testament to where the line ended up now. Hasbro did a decent job recrafting the skiff guard blaster and green lightsaber accessories, but we couldn’t help but notice that the modern figure doesn’t hold them nearly as well as the 1983 figure. This reality is disappointing and shows that important details get lost in translation with their current methods.

The paint operations are off quite a bit. Luke’s skin color is much too dark. On a more positive note, Hasbro got the hair color matched perfectly. The figure stands well unassisted, but you’ll notice that the posture isn’t straight and upright. Once again, essential details got muddled in this translation. Like all figures in the Retro Collection, Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) comes on card art with “vintage” markings throughout it. Sadly, it looks more like a memo notebook than an “aged” effect added to give it character. Also, Hasbro is adamant about placing “RETRO COLLECTION” stickers over the character photo, which is extremely aggravating. It covers up the classic artwork and character photos and advertises a sub-line name that doesn’t mean much to modern collectors. Overall, we’re impartial about the Return Of The Jedi wave of action figures. Most have deflated our interest in the Retro Collection line because they feel like paltry imitations of the original 1980s action figures. These figures cost up to $11.99 and almost as much as an all-new action figure from The Vintage Collection. The Hasbro Star Wars line is struggling to engage the collecting community. But will Hasbro have time to change its course before everyone is gone?