And here I was silly enough to believe I was happy with the Jedi Luke Skywalker I had. Oh no. Turns out I was sorely mistaken.
I had originally passed on the S.H. Figuarts Luke because I was afraid of scale issues. I had seen the Avengers figures and knew they were small, so I figured the Star Wars figures were the same. But then the review pics started coming in and I knew I had been wrong. To Amazon!
A couple of days later a padded envelope hit my doorstep, and inside was this small package.
In fact, when I picked up the envelope I almost thought I had received the wrong thing. But nope, the box is just small. And you know what? I’m good with that. Less wasted space, both inside the package and in my bin. So I’m happy here.
When I freed Luke from his plastic prison . . . wowwy wow wow wow!
I was, and still am, blown away. Why didn’t you guys tell me S.H. Figuarts were this awesome? That’s right, I’m blaming y’all. There’s no way I would have delayed this eye-opening experience on my own. I have seen the light and am now a devoted Figuarts follower.
At least when it comes to human Star Wars characters. Let’s not get carried away. I’m not made of money.
That figure isn’t without it’s nits, though. Let’s get those out of the way before I gush some more.
First and foremost, the hair is gold. Not a tint, not a wash. This is straight-up metallic gold. I can kinda see what Bandai was going for, and it does kinda work when it’s not under the bright review lights, but this is going to need a repaint or a brown wash. Some Dullcote. Something.
A distant second is the likeness. It’s not perfect. But I’ve resigned myself to the fact that A) We’re not ever going to get exact likenesses in 6-inch scale and 2) Hamill and Ford just have those kinds of faces — the kind that are hard to capture in a smaller scale. Sure, Hot Toys gets close, but the price difference is pretty huge. But here I can tell who it’s supposed to be, so I’m good. It’s as close to a perfect 1:12 Luke Skywalker as I’m probably going to get. Color me satisfied.
The figure also comes with an alternate head.
I know the iconic scene this head replicates, but I’ve personally never been a fan of windswept hair. Fortunately the hairpieces are swappable. The back of the head, the bangs, and the face are all separate pieces that peg together. When pegged, there is no fear of anything falling off. So you can switch them up to get this:
Looks okay, but for the shelf and playtime I prefer the calm hair with the calm face, maybe the random gritting face for battle.
I demonstrate the hair switching in my video review, along with a full breakdown of articulation. This thing has excellent articulation, all useful, right down to the toe joints. And I can usually take or leave toe joints.
For other accessories, Luke comes with an unmasked Vader head, a lightsaber hilt, a removable lightsaber blade, and three sets of hands.
The hands are two fists, two grip hands, and open relaxed hands. Switching them out is easy, although the small peg did make me nervous at first. The right, gloved grip hand is open to allow the lightsaber hilt to be held with no problem. The left grip hand is closed and can only be slid over the bottom or top of the hilt.
The lightsaber hilt has a rectangle peghole, and the belt has a rectangle peg. So it can hang from the belt no problem.
For an ignited look, the emitter on the top of the hilt actually comes off, and the blade has an emitter on the base. I can only guess this was done to avoid having a hole in the top of the hilt and allowing for a little extra detail. But the emitter is definitely going to get lost in my mess of Star Wars extras. I already have a pile of model kit accessories that I need to stash somewhere. But I ramble. The ignited lightsaber looks great.
Finally, the unmasked Vader head. This almost, ALMOST, got me to throw down a pre-order for the re-release of the Figuarts Vader, but I couldn’t do it. Looking at pictures, he just looks small. I’m happy with my model kit Vader. But this head does look fantastic.
There’s isn’t a lot of paint to speak of, but the little that is there is nice and clean: the silver on the belt, the difference of the matte black of the clothes, and the gloss of the boots. I’m not quite sure how the face detailing was done. I’ve read it’s molded that way, with the eyes and such. I can’t confirm that but they do look awesome. Even the lips have some color and gloss.
And now for the thing that sold me the most, the point that made me hop online and buy this figure with a quickness. The scale.
Like I said way at the top, I was content with the Black Series Luke, I really was. But when I saw that the Figuarts was right in line scale-wise with the rest of my Star Wars collection, I had to jump. The superior detail, the better articulation, the more eye-pleasing colors. The likeness. The eyes. The proportions. Had. To. Have.
Even the lightsaber is more detailed. The colors are more vibrant, and the blade is a darker shade of green.
And he looks good with Han, one of the better Black Series figures, in my opinion. Not that it stops me from wanting that S.H. Figuarts Han they teased a while back.
I hear you, though. “But Robo, of course the overall figure is going to be better; it costs three times as much. Is it worth it to drop that kind of cash?”
Yes, yes it is. A thousand times yes. Believe me, I thought the same. But as soon as this plastic crack hit my grubby hands, I knew I was a goner. Even though I will still buy the Black Series (and the model kits and some MAFEX) because somehow I’ve become a 6-inch Star Wars junkie, this option is just too good to pass up. And that’s what it’s all about now. Options. I can type all day, but if you’re good with the cheaper option, that’s great! Options. A tiny part of me almost wishes I hadn’t gone to the streets and bought this gateway figure. But now that I have, there is no turning back. And I’m attempting to take as many of you as I can with me. We’ve gone from begging for 6-inch Star Wars to swimming in (say it with me) options.
The only thing I wish it had was another chest piece to give it the flap down, final duel look, like the Black Series figure. That was brilliant. And then an ungloved right hand just to replicate all his looks through the movie. But as-is, I’m completely happy.
I can’t recommend this figure enough.
What’s with the little black bib he’s wearing over his mandarin-collared shirt? Is that supposed to be simply (yet symmetrical) creases? Confused.
“Butthurt”,brother or disappointed? LMAO!?
Actually…More of the latter than the former my fellow verdant visage friend.
Thank you for your concern,however Any prospect of how much better this toy could have been and my disappointment that SHF didn’t live up to their usual high standards has long dissolved.
As I already stated,I AM happy with my Black Series Jedi Luke.
Incredibly difficult as it may be for others to fathom that. As a friend of mine who works for Hasbro said recently,”Our Luke looks more like Luke for less money.” Indeed. I agree. I’m not gonna be sad because I saved some of my money not buying an extra overpriced, overarticulated Luke figure of dubious debatable likeness.(I’ve got suitable contacts and resources to get this figure at less than retail or aftermarket cost. Pardon me,I just don’t like it)
No offence to those who love it. I’m talking about a toy. Not an actual living breathing person,capt!
The way you’re trying to make it personal about my looks, it seems as if YOU are the one who’s “butthurt”,bro.?
FYI
I’ve seen better pics of the figure lately,like Benty’s review of Darth Maul,and I’m still not impressed with that Jedi Luke figure. That triangular diaper shaped hip lower torso section has got to go. I’ve passed up on marvel select figures for the same exact reason. Oh,and that’s putting it mildly. I’m being polite. Those with similar opinions to mine on it say far greater harsher things with more colorful choice vituperative vocabulary peppering their language.?
Wow.? To each his own. May you continue to find joy in your “amazing” Luke toy.?
Bcuz toys are FUN!
Holy crap, you REALLY ARE Obsessed with calling this figure a “Pigface” id bet you’re even uglier in real life. the figure is amazing. you’re just butthurt you couldn’t get one before they sold out and started selling for twice the price on the secondary market. enjoy that Jelly. you missed out on the best luke skywalker 1/12 scale figure ever made.
Thinking about getting this but the hair really does look ridiculous. Does the hair piece come off easily if I want to spray it with dullcote or repaint it?
Thank you,sir. I never saw a bad paint job in those days going out to the stores. If SHF Luke just doesn’t photo well,I will take your word for it. He’s got a face only padme could love and every camera hates! Like the DMV with driving licence photo–Ewww?VBG) Sorry about your TBS flightsuit figure,dude.
My first thought viewing your pic was of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s wisdom to Luke in ep4. “Your eyes can fool you. Don’t trust them.”?
Indeed,capt!
By George (Lucas)I think he’s got it!?
No thanks. I’m good.
I’m immune to bad hand candy crack-cocaine.
Awesome articulation isn’t a panacea for that ill face sculpt. Now if there was alternate 3rd party head or a recasting! Oh boy!?
It’s so disappointing.
“May the Force be with you
Always.”?
?(?)Hmmm. Excuse me if I wasn’t clear. You’re mistaken,friend. Read it again.
I said,”it’s nice to be wrong.” There’s NO use of second person pronoun “you” in my post.
I then added “to err is human.” Meaning that everyone makes mistakes.
Were all humans here.(place sci-fi alien joke here) also my meaning of “inclined”has to do with StormtrooperFX’s core statement that it’s a matter of individual taste regardless of where one’s opinion is orientated on the subject. LOL ?Fwoosh fanboy follower?
and Figma Figuarts fan too, man!
INDEED☺nice alliteration!
So say we ALL!!!
I think those “F”s sum up us all pretty well,huh?
The trooper dude also said that movie Figmas are ambiguous and possibly best could handle Vader and troops. I agree with that just as I do with the idea that the Figma likeness of Mark Ruffalo is spot on.?✌
I don’t really see what makes Figma superior for anime figures other than the fact that the majority of figures that they make are anime characters. The Figuarts’ Dragonball, Tiger & Bunny, Sailor Moon, and Naruto renditions all look just as good as anything Figma has done anime wise.
Waitaminute. I said in an earlier post that Figuarts beats Figma in posability, and you said I was wrong. StormtrooperFX says the same thing I did, but he’s right and you are “inclined to agree here”. Well I’m inclined to believe you’re full of it.
What are you some kind of Fwoosh fanboy follower? The best thing the Figma Hulk has going for it is that the head sculpt looks closer to the Mark Ruffalo Hulk than the Figuarts one. The paint job looks just as good as the Figuarts, its just a darker green.
I don’t own the Figma Iron Man, but I do own the Figuarts MK_VI and the Iron Man 2 War Machine. I also have the Figuarts Mark 45 coming to me in the mail and I know those figures rock harder than wurtzite boron nitride.
“Let go of your hate!”?
My work here is done.
LOL!
So you DID see the “preview”. Good!?
Btw:
“Time is a relativistic construct.”
“May the Force be with you…always”✌
So noted. ? Correction:”PREVIEW”?
MwuhahaHa! Hahaha!(sinister laugh) How droll. ?
Careful,MANTHILL. We don’t want to piss off the dark Lord family! Especially Lyle Skywalker there–Luke’s long lost ugly twin brother.?
INDEED. Agreed,on ALL save 1account; That even Hasbro’s “worst”(my TBS robe clad PALE,askewed paint-BIG eyed Jedi Luke)LOOKs LIKE Luke Skywalker.
No subjective feelings.
Fact-SHF does NOT?.
Likeness of Luke IS a fail.
SHF paint is great!?
TBS paint(what
paint?)?Poor.
TBS likeness:average?
SHF?
And it’s not the life like quality either. Life like would mean the likeness Is accurate.
It’s not.?
Shape of face,eyes,chin,even hair sculpt is excellent.
The nose is the wrong shape.
The lips and mouth gape give the erroneous appearance of a tooth gap.
The face is just wrong and needs to be recast.
Otherwise it’s just too “freaky”for me.?
That “calm” face has the deadest eyes I’ve ever seen. Its like something out of a nightmare.
Wow, didn’t read the full tread, but looks like you got an obsession and feel the need of answering every post to say this figure has an ugly face. Which I dare you, buy it and you’ll change your mind.
Anyway, you’re happy, more power to you. To me this Luke figure has made me change my mind on Figuarts. I had Vader and was less than impressed with it. If they’re going the way of this Luke, I’m all onboard.
Nope. I got them both, and the answer is no, never. 🙂
I’m sure if you take your TBS Luke in hand he will look better than in these pics. That’s because the figures are small and macro pictures make them look weird. The same goes to Figuarts Luke. I received it today, and he looks AWESOME in person. Even if the likeness is not perfect, the figure itself is like a small Hot Toys, beautiful in every part, and so poseable, and the quality of the plastic and the articulation are so great. So let me say it’s probably the best Star Wars figure to date. Expensive, I’ll give you that. But worth every penny, if you can afford it.
The only reason I wanted figma cap was because I really liked his body proportions. But I still don’t own it and probably never will. I’m also very disappointed in the proportions on the SHF cap. But at the very least, they tried to stylize it, it’s not like they were that incompetent.
Either way, I wish they’d take the current route they are with the SW figures on all of their SHFs. The stylized ones are always the worst, and I feel like they figured that one out after releasing Vader and the Stormtrooper.
Good call. Figma Thor is also an undersized piece of junk. Awful likeness too. I’m hoping the Figuarts one is bigger and better.
I still have Cap. He looks weird under the arms, but really works well in an animated style display. He falls over easily and the shield back pops of easily.
You picked the best head sculpt & paint combo Hasbro has done so far on any of their Luke figures. Everyone knows the paint apps have, for the most part, gotten worse as the line has gone along. That first Wave was killer. I will agree that it is a good likeness.
I was comparing the two figures as shown in the article above. You know, the figure you have off to the side with it’s face COVERED by a robe. The one that looks the worst out of the three in the picture you posted above. Yep, that one.
I think what makes the Figuarts one look freaky is how lifelike it is. Reminds me of the first time I opened up a Hot Toy. Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier.
I actually sold mine for half the price to a local friend about a week after I got it. I had no desire to hold on to it any longer, it served no purpose in my collection.
I agree with this 100%. I’ve been meaning to post the same sentiments in a reply. The best thing about it is the paint.
Mine is sitting down because it won’t stay standing. The wrist guards are terrible and look cheap, the knee hinges look like shit and pop off all the time. The toes have a huge gap. It was easily one of the biggest letdowns ever for me. I’ll trade it straight up for this Luke.
That is why I am not hyped for the Midas repaint. The Revoltech Midas is great anyway.