Action Figure Review: Luke Skywalker (Death Star Escape) from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

   For Father's Day 2019 Target actually advertised a few exclusive Star Wars figures that they were carrying including figures from the Kenner inspired Retro Collection, a Vintage Collection Han Solo in Stromtrooper Disguise, and, the subject of today's review, Luke Skywalker (Death Star Escape). Interestingly, rather than having these figures in the regular toy aisle, Target had then in the men's clothing section. Of course, immediately after Father's Day Target began clearing them out. What? Yup, it seems that Target had these coded as holiday merchandise and began offering them on clearance. Currently you can find these on Ebay at some great prices (below original retail) so if you want this guy jump on him now and get a deal. While he's largely a rerelease of the Phase II Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper Disguise) with a new portrait and some additional paint applications, he is quite nicely done. Let's check out Luke Skywalker (Death Star Escape) after the break...

 The Facts:

Height: 5 7/8ths

Articulation: Swivel/hinge, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball jointed hips, a ball jointed abdomen, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel biceps, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, a hinged neck, and a ball jointed head.

Accessories: Blastech E-11 blaster rifle, comlink, a Stormtrooper helmet, and a display stand.

Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars

 Comparison:

* On the left is the 2019 Luke while the 2015 Luke is on the right. As you can see, these two use the exact same "shortened" Stormtrooper body. The only difference between the two is that the headsculpts are different and the 2015 Luke features a clean paintjob while the 2019 Luke represents Luke in the Death Star trash compactor during his run in with the dianoga. For the full story check out that review as I'm just going to be hitting the highlights.

* The articulation on this mold is starting to feel a bit outdated (the articulation on most newer figures is so smooth now) but the sculpt is still really strong. Luke is indeed shorter than your average Stormtrooper with a shorter torso. He also has a unique belt that features a clip to store his comlink and with the grappling hook visible on the back. The main difference that sets this figure's armor apart from previous releases are the various marks of grime and gunk from the Death Star trash compactor. It's not overdone and looks pretty convincing. 

 * Luke's portrait i the other big selling point here. I think what makes this seem a bit off at first is that it features Luke with his hair wet and slicked back with an unusual expression on his face. When looking at it on display it might seem off but put Luke in a bit of a action pose and it seems much better. It is a good sculpt, just with a unusual expression. The face printing is spot on, as usual.

* Here's Luke's helmet. It's the same as the helmet on the previous figure but it also has the nasty paint applications on it. It looks great, although Luke definitely had thrown his helmet away by the time he was in the trash compactor.

* Like the majority of figures in the Black Series, Luke comes with an E-11. This is the same as pretty much every other one released in the line. Nice sculpt, though no extra paint applications on it.

* Luke still has the tiny comlink, a device which is crucial to the scene this figure is from. How else are you going to call C-3PO to save everyone's bacon without the comlink?

 The Negatives:

* Luke comes with the same display stand as the Imperial Jumptrooper which makes me think Hasbro might be including these with exclusive Black Series figures going forward. I hate to knock an extra but after having one of these for a couple of months and now playing with this new one, this seems like such a useless stand. The foot clip is too small for both figures it has come with thus far and the placement is weird. It's such an odd design and just seems poorly thought out.

   Being that he's a scene specific rerelease of a previous released figure, Luke Skywalker (Death Star Escape) isn't the most exciting or necessary figure but he is still a solid release. Overall I like him although I do wish Hasbro had either included a dianoga (turning it into a deluxe release) or at last a dianoga tentacle like the POTF2 12 inch figure. He's still a Good and a 1/2 figure, though I do feel the articulation and Stormtrooper mold are starting to show their age. Since Target's clearing these out I'm curious to see if these turn out to either be super easy to find or become notoriously elusive in the future.



Looking for more Luke Skywalker reviews? You're in luck! I've reviewed the Funko POP! Luke Skywalker with Landspeeder! and the Mystery Minis Jedi Exile Luke Skywalker. I've also reviewed micro versions of Luke from the Galoob Micro Machines Classic Characters (2nd Edition) set, the Ice Planet Hoth playset, the 2-1B Mini head, the Mini Heads set, and the Hasbro Endor Forest Battle, as well as the green Jedi Luke Skywalker from Micro Force advent calendar, multiple Black Series Lukes including (Bespin Outfit), (X-Wing Pilot), (Jedi Knight) , (Stormtrooper Disguise), in Hoth Gear with Wampa, Jedi Master, the deluxe Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) on Ahch-To, the standard classic Luke Skywalker, the SDCC Luke with the X-34 Landspeeder, and the Centerpiece Luke Skywalker. Oh, and the Hero Mashers Luke Skywalker and Luke Skywalker Vs. Darth Vader.

Guess what? I've now reviewed so many Luke Skywalker figures that he has earned the distinct honor of having his own review archive. Check out Tosche Station for a mini-archive of Luke Skywalker reviews!

For more Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III figures, check out the following:
0-0-0 (Triple Zero)
442nd Siege Battalion Clone Trooper, 212th Attack Battalion Utapau Trooper, Coruscant Guard ---(Phase II), and 501st Legion Clone Trooper 4 pack
4-LOM
Admiral Ackbar and First Order Officer
Admiral Piett
Ahsoka Tano 
AT-AT Pilot 
Battle Droid
Baze Malbus
BT-1 (Beetee)
C-3PO
C-3PO (Resistance Base) 
Captain Cassian Andor (Eadu) 
Captain Phasma
Captain Phasma (Quicksilver Baton)
Captain Poe Dameron
Chewbacca (Target Exclusive)
Chewbacca (The Force Awakens)
Chirrut Imwe 
Clone Captain Rex (HasCon Exclusive)
Clone Commander Gree
Clone Commander Wolffe 
Constable Zuvio
Darth Revan 
Darth Vader (Emperor's Wrath)
Death Star Trooper
Dengar
Dewback/ Sandtrooper
Director Krennic 
DJ (Canto Bight)
Doctor Aphra
Dryden Vos
Elite Praetorian Guard
Elite Praetorian Guard (with Heavy Blade)
Enfys Nest's Swoop Bike/ Enfys Nest
Finn (First Order Disguise)
Finn (FN-2187)
Finn (Jakku)
First Order Flametrooper
First Order General Hux
First Order Snowtrooper
First Order Snowtrooper Officer
First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter
First Order Stormtrooper
First Order Stormtrooper Executioner 
First Order Stormtrooper (with Gear)
First Order TIE Fighter Pilot
Gamorrean Guard
General Grievous
General Leia Organa
General Veers
Grand Admiral Thrawn (SDCC Exclusive)
Grand Moff Tarkin 
Guardians of Evil 4-Pack
Guavian Enforcer
Han Solo (Exogorth Escape)
Han Solo (Mimban)
Han Solo (Solo)
Han Solo (The Force Awakens)
Hera Syndulla
Imperial AT-ACT Driver
Imperial Death Trooper
Imperial Death Trooper, Captain Cassian Andor, and Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha) 3 pack
Imperial Hovertank Pilot 
Imperial Jumptrooper
Imperial Patrol Trooper
Imperial Shock Trooper 
Imperial Royal Guard 
Inferno Squad Agent
Jaina Solo (Legends)
Jango Fett
K-2SO
Kanan Jarrus
Kylo Ren 
Kylo Ren (SDCC 2016)
Kylo Ren (The Last Jedi) 
Kylo Ren (Starkiller Base)
Kylo Ren (Throne Room) 
L3-37
Lando Calrissian (Solo)
Lando Calrissian (The Empire Strikes Back)
Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard)
Luke Skywalker 
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) 
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master)- Ahch-To Island
Mace Windu
Maz Kanata 
Moloch
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Force Spirit)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (SDCC 2016) 
Padme Amidala
Phase 1 Clone Trooper Commander, Phase II Clone Trooper, Imperial Stormtrooper, and First Order ---Stormtrooper Officer four pack
Poe Dameron
Poe Dameron and First Order Riot Control Stormtrooper
Porgs 
Princess Leia (Bespin Escape)
Princess Leia Organa 
Princess Leia Organa (Hoth)
Qi'ra (Corellia)
Qui-Gon Jinn
R2-A3, R5-K6, and R2-F2
Range Trooper
Rebel Trooper
Red Squadron (R2-D2, R5-D8, and R2-X2)
Resistance Tech Rose
Resistance Trooper
Rey (Island Journey)
Rey (Jakku) & BB-8 
Rey (Jedi Training)
Rey (Jedi Training)- Crait
Rey (Starkiller Base) 
Rey's Speeder (Jakku)
Rio Durant
Sabine Wren
Sandtrooper Sergeant, Crimson Stormtrooper, Lieutenant OXIXO, and R2-Q5
Scarif Stormtrooper
Scarif Stormtrooper Squad Leader 
Sergeant Jyn Erso (Eadu)
Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha)
Snowtrooper 
Stormtrooper (Mimban)
Stormtrooper (With Blast Accessories)
Supreme Leader Snoke (Throne Room)
Tobias Beckett
Tusken Raider 
Val (Vandor)
Vice Admiral Holdo
X-34 Landspeeder & Luke Skywalker (SDCC Exclusive) 
X-Wing Pilot Asty 
Zuckuss