Picking the best figure every year is hard, but this year it was almost impossible. I usually have that one standout that I keep looking at or picking up. That’s the figure that immediately pops into my mind when it comes time to choose the best of, and nothing else comes close. This year, that wasn’t just one figure, but a huge nerd-brawl that resulted in a massive list of favorites.
Do I go with the near perfection of Mezco’s Spock? Do I tilt towards the Juggernaut BAF, which, while maybe not my perfect ideal, is still the best Juggernaut ever? What about all the TMNT figures? Both Figuarts and NECA spoiled us Turtle fans. Those were all so, so close. Sherlock Hound was a surprise hit that almost made my cut. When you can get a figure and a vehicle for a decent price, it’s hard to top.
Luckily, I’m not alone, so any slack is picked up by my Fwooshmates. Any one of the figures picked by the rest of the staff could easily be my own personal favorite. Bruce Lee and Wolverine probably reign supreme over what’s been chosen so far. I could easily choose any number of Figuarts figures, or either of the MAFEX Boba Fetts.
But finally, one figure punched every button it had to punch. With so many strong Figuarts Star Wars offerings, I could have gone with anything released this year, but the Episode IV Luke, or “Farmboy Luke,” demanded to be chosen.
Luke wins my vote for best of the year simply by doing exactly what he needs to do better than I could imagine it being done by anything else. If I were limited to just what Hasbro offered, I’d make do, but I wouldn’t be fully satisfied. With the Figuarts Luke, I’m satisfied. Two expressions, a blast helmet and that nifty laser-deflection effect give him high marks in both shelf-beauty and play-duty.
Luke standing in the soft glow of twin suns with that wistful and instantly recognizable theme playing in the background is as iconic as it gets, both in cinema terms and for my own childhood. Many figures excelled this year, but only one stood on the shoulders of the rest and demanded to go to Tosche Station.
