'Star Wars' Collectibles & Toys Review: Hasbro Star Wars: The Black Series Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony)

Hasbro's 100th 6-in. Star Wars: The Black Series figure is based on Luke Skywalker as he appears in the Throne Room medal ceremony on Yavin 4 at the end of "Star Wars: A New Hope." © 2019 Hasbro, Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)

In 2019 ﹘ the year that marked the 42nd anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope and the release of the final Skywalker Saga film ﹘ Rhode Island-based Hasbro, Inc. rolled out a new wave of figures based not just on characters from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker but from other components of the franchise, including The Mandalorian, Star Wars: Rebels, and the original Star Wars film.

Appropriately, the 100th figure in the Star Wars: The Black Series 6-inch scale collection is Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony). It was released in a wave of figures that includes Jannah from The Rise of Skywalker, First Order Jet Trooper from the same film, and Cara Dune from The Mandalorian. 

Hasbro's 100th figure in its Star Wars: The Black Series 6-inch collection was inspired by Mark Hamill's character in this scene from Star Wars: A New Hope.   © 1977 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)

What's in the Package?

On Yavin 4, the Rebels hold a ceremony to award the heroes who bravely fought to destroy the Death Star. Luke Skywalker receives his medal for bravery from Princess Leia. - Packaging blurb, Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony)

A few weeks ago, I acquired a quartet of Star Wars: The Black Series 6-inch scale figures, including Emperor Palpatine and Throne (Amazon Exclusive), Rebel Trooper, Rey & D-O, and this figure of Luke Skywalker as a 19-year-old Hero of the Rebellion as he appears in the coda of 1977's  Star Wars (aka Star Wars: A New Hope). 

As in the film, Star Wars: The Black Series Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony) is shown wearing a Rebel Alliance officer's uniform, complete with a light mustard-color jacket, a black undertunic (which contrasts with the white tunic Luke wears on Tatooine and throughout much of A New Hope), brown military-issue trousers, a gun belt with a holster, knee-high spacer's boots, and his Medal of Honor.

Luke also comes with a blaster pistol that he can hold in his right hand or place in the aforementioned holster.

Authentic-looking details and multiple points of articulation make Star Wars: The Black Series Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony) a must-own action figure for any dedicated Star Wars collector. © 2019 Hasbro, Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)

Kids and collectors alike can imagine the biggest battles and missions in the Star Wars saga with figures from Star Wars The Black Series! With exquisite features and decoration, this series embodies the quality and realism that Star Wars devotees love. Star Wars The Black Series includes figures, vehicles, and roleplay items from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy, including comics, movies, and animated series. (Additional products each sold separately. Subject to availability.) ﹘ Product blurb on Hasbro's official website

My Take 

A screenshot of the closing scene of 1977's Star Wars (aka Star Wars: A New Hope). © 1977 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) 

I started collecting Star Wars action figures in 1978; I clearly remember getting my first Kenner Toys collectibles (Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder and the C-3PO and R2-D2 3.75-in. scaled figures) for my 15th birthday. And for the next seven years, which included my high school years and my freshman year of college, I bought most (but not all) of the figures, vehicles, and "action playsets" that Kenner produced in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 

At first, the only Luke Skywalker action figure depicted him in his iconic Tatooine moisture farmer's garb with his retractable yellow-bladed lightsaber. Which, of course, was okay if you just wanted to pose him on one of the two display stands/storage bins that came with the Kenner Mini-Action Figure Collector's Case. 

The artwork on Kenner's Star Wars Mini-Action Figure Collector's Case. Photo Credit: mycomicshop.com

 Of course, 15-year-old me wasn't thrilled about how silly "Tatooine Luke" looked standing to his X-Wing Fighter, so I basically just stuck to either keeping that figure on the aforementioned display stand or posing it, along with the Princess Leia Organa figure, on one of the three levels of Kenner's Death Star Battle Station Action Playset. Later in 1978, when Kenner introduced the second wave of 12 mini-figures, Luke Skywalker: X-Wing Pilot became the first costume-changed character figure from Star Wars: A New Hope (which was still just Star Wars at the time.)

Still, Kenner didn't release Luke Skywalker (Imperial Stormtrooper Outfit) until 1984, by which time I was busy with my preparation for college, and it did not release a 3.75-inch Yavin Ceremony variant until the late 1990s. I didn't get a Luke in Imperial disguise figure until I started collecting again circa 1996, but I got incredibly lucky to get (as gifts) two Luke Skywalker: Medal Ceremony variants around the same timeframe.

For some reason, when I went to a nearby target a couple of weeks ago on a rare "action figure" hunt, I decided to get Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony) instead of a Wedge Antilles Black Series figure. I suppose it's because I have always liked the look of Luke's uniform at the end of Star Wars. 

In addition, I have three other costume-changed Luke Skywalker 6-inch figures from Star Wars: The Black Series based on how the character appears in the 1977 film, including Luke Skywalker (Death Star Escape) and Luke Skywalker: Archive (which is The Black Series' take on Luke Skywalker: X-Wing Pilot.)

• PREMIUM ARTICULATION AND DETAILING: Star Wars fans and collectors can display this highly poseable (4 fully articulated limbs) figure, featuring premium deco, in their action figure and vehicle collection.  ﹘ Product blurb on Hasbro's official website

As with previous figures in Hasbro's Star Wars: The Black Series 6-inch scale line, I am impressed by how well the sculpt and paint job capture the essence and look of young Luke as he appeared in the film that started the now-legendary Star Wars franchise. Hasbro's designers did an excellent job with the figure; the face bears a respectable resemblance to actor Mark Hamill's well-known visage, down to the cleft in his chin and the dirty-blonde color of his hair.

I heartily recommend Star Wars: The Black Series Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony) to collectors and Star Wars fans alike. I do think that because the figure includes small parts that can be choking hazards, it should not be given to kids under the age of four.