Luke Skywalker: X-Wing Pilot (SW 1978-79)

That orange jumpsuit, those beady eyes, it could only be…Luke? The X-Wing outfit was the first costume change we get to see of a character, but Luke’s face is quite generic - it could be most other X-Wing pilots. His eyes remind me of a lot of old comic strips, like Little Orphan Annie. Beady little eyes.

Luke comes with the same blaster pistol that Han came with, and his uniform which actually has quite a few good details from the original movie costume. This figure came on SW, ESB, ROTJ, and POTF cards. For the ESB card it was renamed to Luke Skywalker: (X-Wing Pilot); for ROTJ and POTF it was Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Fighter Pilot). Big distinctions here.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. If you were a stickler like me, this was the only figure that could fly your X-Wing.

2. Those eyes. Like the old Shazam! comics or something. Creepy.

3. No other figure besides Walrus Man gives you quite the orange as this one.

4. Recreate that scene where the X-Wing cockpit flies open mid-flight and Luke spills out to his death in space. Oh, wait, that was just in my living room.

5. Recreate the other scene where Luke switches off his targeting computer:

“Luke, you’ve switched off your targeting computer. What the f*** are you doing?”

“It’s okay, I’m alright.”

“What? What are you talking about? Look, I’m on a planet about to be f***ing blown up! Do you want that? Huh, do you want me vaporized?”

“I’m going in.”

“Listen you hayseed – I’ve been in the Rebellion longer than you. You show me some respect!”

“I’ve got one on my tail!”

“I don’t care if there’s a giant space slug with your leg in its mouth – you switch your f***ing computer on right now!”

“Torpedos away!”

“You son of a…”

Backstory:

X-Wing pilots have a long and varied history of wearing orange, ever since Lance Lightloafer designed one during the third season of Galactic Project Runway. But seriously, the designers on the original film put together uniforms that looked pilot-like. I just wish they had made a different uniform for Y-Wing pilots – new figure! If you want Luke’s backstory, here's his Wookieepedia entry. Here's the entry on the X-Wing.

110th in alphabetical order

Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight Outfit) (ROTJ 1983-84)

This figure is all over the place, despite having only been on ROTJ and POTF cards. First the lightsaber was blue, then it was green (the accurate color). There are slight color variations in the robe, and how it was packaged with the figure. The robe also came in a sewn or snap collar. The salient facts are that this figure came with a removable robe, a blaster (the one he Force-pulled from a Jabba’s guard’s hand), and a lightsaber.

This was the time to get Luke – he was finally a true badass. As you watched ROTJ for the first time you thought, “Mother-puss-bucket – he’s actually hitting blaster bolts!” “He’s using Jedi mind tricks!” “WTF!” He’s also wearing black – like Johnny Cash.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. The aforementioned man in black. Forget Vader, this Luke comes with more accessories.

2. the only one that can go in front of Jabba.

3. Who else is going to walk the plank on your Tatooine Skiff?

4. Use the lightsaber from this Luke for your Poncho Luke.

5. The first Luke fashion show – whip that cape off!

Backstory:

Luke was a lowly boy doing outerspace porn, oh, c'mon, you know who Luke is! Here's his full Wookieepedia entry.

109th in alphabetical order

Luke Skywalker (Imperial Stormtrooper Outfit) (POTF 1985)

For the figures that only came out on POTF cards, Luke came out the best. He got both Poncho Luke and this figure. Reaching back to the original film, Kenner made a Luke dressed as Stormtrooper with a removable helmet. Not only that, but his neck could turn! Sure, today this is not a big deal, but back then we were used to Stormtroopers with no-move necks, and we liked it!

As previously mentioned, this figure only came out on a POTF card, and came with a standard-issue Stormtrooper blaster rifle and helmet. The helmet didn’t exactly “click” on so you weren't confident enough to hold it upside down, but it would do.

Why should you buy this figure? Five reasons:

1. To tell Kenner to keep making figures like this, so eventually you can get a Han in Stormtrooper outfit. Or they can just take your money.

2. Goes great with the Death Star Playset you bought years earlier and your little brother now plays with.

3. More specifically, goes great in the trash compacter in the Death Star Playset.

4. Now you can finally have Leia utter the line, “Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?”

5. Luke just looks good in white.

Backstory:

Luke and Han (with Chewie’s help) took out a couple of stormtroopers and wore their armor.

For the full story, Luke's Wookieepedia entry.

108th in alphabetical order

Luke Skywalker (Hoth Battle Gear) (ESB 1980-82)

Now, the fact that this figure is in “Hoth Battle Gear” is actually misleading. If you watch The Empire Strikes Back, Luke is never actually in a battle per se with this gear on. In fact, the most violent he gets is cutting off a wampa’s arm while fleeing from it. Technically, the only battle gear he uses on Hoth is his X-Wing uniform while in the snowspeeder. If you wan to get anal about it.

Luke wears a rather standard Rebel cold weather jacket. Molded onto his figure (and unmovable) are goggles and macrobinoculars. His scarf is molded on open. He comes with a standard Rebel blaster rifle, but, and this is key, he never actually uses that in the movie. What he uses – while in this outfit – is a lightsaber. Yet he doesn’t come with one. Hmm. This figure came in ESB and ROTJ logo packaging.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. You got the wampa, now baby needs someone to swipe at.

2. You also got the tauntaun with open belly. Who else is going in that thing?

3. There is a lot of white Hoth-related stuff, and it all needs to be manned somehow.

4. Recreate the scene where Obi-Wan talks to Luke. Then does…nothing.

5. Someone has to go check out that latest meteorite strike. Dork.

Backstory:

I’ll refer to the Wookieepedia article for the whole backstory. However, I will say that Luke gets put into a bacta tank for his recovery after the wampa attack. The tank was actually made into a playset in the current line (but not the vintage).

107th in alphabetical order