Review: Star Wars Retro Collection Luke Skywalker (Snowspeeder) from The Empire Strikes Back

“I see it Wedge, good work”

After the 2019 launch of the Star Wars Retro Collection by Hasbro, 2020 saw them move from A New Hope to The Empire Strikes Back. The principles for Empire remained broadly the same, with 6 single-carded figures, all reproductions of the original Kenner figures. Alongside them was another board game release, the Hoth Ice Planet Adventure Game, complete with another exclusive figure. This time around, Hasbro presented us with Luke Skywalker in his Snowspeeder gear from the Battle of Hoth, tying in nicely to the game while also filling a gap from the original Kenner releases that went back as far as 1980.

The board game recreates the original Kenner release from 1980, with the board game, playing pieces, supporting cards, and instructions all more or less identical. The Luke figure comes fully carded, but is inserted on top of the game board and pieces, with the blister visible through the opening lid of the game. 

The card for Luke follows the same Retro Collection design as the first batch of releases, but with a move to paying homage to the Empire Strikes Back cards of 1980. This is inclusive of the original tramlines and logo, some faux creasing around the sides, and with the large orange Retro Collection label. Like Tarkin from the previous year, Hasbro has selected an appropriate film still for the artwork and chosen another blue tone for the back of the blister. The card back lacks any real interest, including text only and a background of the Retro Collection rather than any imagery or recreating the original Kenner checklist backing cards.

Luke did have an original release of his X-Wing gear. This 2020 release does have similarities, including the bright orange jump suit, with black flight vest and white vest. The loose straps are sculpted around Luke’s legs and painted white. The boots are different, as they were in Empire, and in a grey finish. And Luke is also now wearing long gloves in a beige finish. The head is a complete sculpt, inclusive of the Rebel pilot helmet in white, with red Rebel decals and a centre stripe, we then have a rudimentary Mark Hammill likeness, with flight visor sculpted down over his eyes and painted in yellow. 

The same 5 points of articulation as seen on the Kenner figures is replicated on the Retro collection, created by the way the figure is cast and assembled with the joints sandwiched between the two halves of the torso and leaving a simple rotating joint for the hips, shoulders, and at the neck.

Snowspeeder Luke is provided with two accessories, the first being his lightsaber. This is an individual piece, as was made standard from Empire onward, replacing the original arm slot sabers. This is blue in colour, including the hilt, and fits into either of the basic gripping hands, but is most secure in the right. The second accessory is the grappling gun used by Luke to attack the AT-AT. This never existed in the Kenner line, but has been brought to life by Hasbro while remaining faithful to the single colour and simple lines of the original Star Wars weapons and accessories. The left hand is a better shape for the grip of the grappling gun. 

Luke, in his Snowspeeder gear, fits really well into the fledgling Retro Collection series as a brand new addition to the original Kenner line, being different enough from the original X-Wing Luke and filling one of what feels like a very small number of gaps from Empire. Theme wise, he is also a solid choice to include with the game, and while some may be frustrated to purchase an entire board game to get the figure, I can confirm that the game itself is also a lot of fun and just as nostalgic as the figures themselves.

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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

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