Luke Skywalker in Hoth Gear [POTF2]

...with BLASTER PISTOL AND LIGHTSABER.

Now we have Luke in Hoth gear and he has it all - a lightsaber and a blaster. He also has a loose-hanging scarf. Later in the POTF2 line they release a Hoth Luke and Wampa two-pack. Luke is in the window hanging upside down, and the scarf is hinged - yes, hinged - so it can hang up as well as down. The figure itself has a little different shading and some injuries on Luke's face. Yes! Get minor variations of one figure in the same line! Genius!

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Buy this and the Wampa variation, set up before after pics.

2. Can't ride a Tauntaun without this figure. Oh, wait, you can! Because they release not only a Tauntaun and Luke 2-pack, but a Han and Tauntaun as well! The difference? On of the Tauntauns has a broken horn and both figures have bendable knees.

3. Set up that fluffy white diorama you've been yearning for.

4. Those goggles, that scarf - this boy's got flair!

5. Well, it's hard for me to say this but, save your money and buy the Wamap or Tauntaun pack with Hoth Luke - you'll be a fiscal Star Wars fan.

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 later line (but not the vintage).

Luke Skywalker in DAGOBAH FATIGUES [1995, POTF2]

...With Lightsaber and Blaster Pistol!

While he have dispensed with the ridiculously big guns with this Luke figure, we are still sportin' some other guns, if you know what I mean (muscles, if you don't).

It is interesting that Kenner chose to make a Luke in Dagobah fatigues in the undershirt and pants, rather than the "Bespin" Luke of the vintage line. I suppose to differentiate it a little more. No Yoda backpack included though. His bio card covers the events of ESB, including losing his hand and learning about his father. Later we do get a Bespin Luke with...take a deep breath...REMOVABLE HAND! But not this one.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Comes with Yoda backpack, wait, no, damnit!

2. Luke's sportin' those Dagobah biceps from Yoda's gym.

3. If you're a brown-lover, this figure has your name written on it.

4. Gives hope that the Dagobah POTF2 playset will come. [Didn't]

5. Tandem! Blaster! Saber! Saber! Blaster! Against...swamp life!

Backstory:

Well, the ESB part is on the back of the card (zoom for a closer look), but Luke's full bio (quite exhaustive) is on Wookieepedia right here.

Luke Skywalker in STORMTROOPER DISGUISE [1995, POTF2]

...with IMPERIAL ISSUE BLASTER.

Kenner decided to go right for the jugular and give us a popular "alternative" figure from the old line in fairly quick succession with the new. This Luke features everything you would expect from Stormtrooper disguise - the correct blaster and a removable helmet. This is kind of the companion piece to the Han in Stormtrooper disguise figure that was only available during these initial waves as a mail-away with Froot Loops (I never want to eat that cereal again by the way).

Luke's initial head still has not changed over from hulked-out Luke, but they didn't try to give him a huge gun this time. The bio-cards have been pared down by now to only include some data but not a story.

Five reason to get this figure:

1. Same torso and arms as a Stormtrooper figure, but the legs are molded in a different position. A DIFFERENT POSITION!

2. Re-enact "Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper?" with new Luke's physique: "Hell no! I'm pumping like mad!"

3. A loose Stormtrooper helmet! I can finally assemble that Ewok drumkit!

4. Best figure for use in the Death Star Escape and Detention Block Rescue playsets )yes, they really made these).

5. Finally, the helmet doubles as a stool for Luke - wait! No! Curse you non-bendable knees!

Backstory:

Done to death by now, but here is is entry in Wookieepedia.

Luke Skywalker in Ceremonial Outfit [POTF2]

...with MEDAL OF HONOR AND BLASTER PISTOL.

You'll notice on the blister of this pack the "ALL NEW LIKENESS OF LUKE." This shows a turning point in Kenner's new Star Wars figures - a push towards realism. The first wave of POTF2 figs featured muscular He-Man like figures, but the resculpting of Luke got us on the way to figures that actually looked like the characters they were representing.

We never had this version of Luke in the vintage line, and I always love it when they come out with figures that have never been done before. However, they must have melted down a lightsaber to make the removable medal, because this is one of the only Luke figures not to have a lightsaber. It is a nice figure, even though he only wore this for about a minute in the end of the first movie.

Five reasons to own this figure:

1. Finally, recreate his harrowing scenes in the animated portions of the Star Wars Christmas Special (the only part that was palatable).

2. Han's got his Bespin outfit, now Luke has his ceremonial outfit - great with the ladies. "Oh, did you blow up a Death Star?"

3. Transfer the medal to other figures, like Luke wears it around ALL the time. Can you picture him in ROTJ, wearing it in the forest, all the other rebels rolling their eyes?

4. Only chance to score some SW action figure bling (if you don't count Slave Leia's chain).

5. All new likeness! The word "new" is in there! Must...buy...for...completely...unconscious...reasons.

Backstory:

Born in Revenge of the Sith, raised by his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru on blue milk, joined the Rebel Alliance, overthrew the Empire, killed his dad, and became a Jedi Knight. In the novels, after the movies, he eventually marries a fellow Jedi named Mara Jade (somehow without using the ceremonial jacket) and they had a son named Ben. He had many adventures which are too numerous to go into here, but he does wear this outfit exclusively in the Star Wars Christmas Special animated portion.

Want more? His full Wookieepedia article