Figures That Make Me Happy:  Luke Skywalker (Imperial Light Cruiser)

This one may puzzle some of our faithful readers. If you click through to the review above, you will see that I somewhat panned this figure. It has faults for sure, most notably in the lack of range of motion. But this series is not about the best figures in the history of the line. Many featured so far fall well short of the near perfection Hasbro can achieve today. These are simply figures that make me happy for a variety of reasons, and the Imperial Light Cruiser Luke Skywalker certainly does that. I have it front and center of my Mandalorian shelf, and when I say "front" I mean it literally. It is the foremost figure in that display, and no other figures dare take a more prominent place.

I still remember the day when the final episode of The Mandalorian Season 2, The Rescue aired. I could barely stand the wait for it to drop. We were so excited that we watched it from bed before work that day. It was the last time I was that excited about Star Wars. I'm more than a little sad about that, but these articles are supposed to be upbeat, so we'll leave that subject. The entire episode is a banger starting off with a great action piece with Bo-Katan, Koska Reeves, Cara Dune and Fennec Shand storming the landing bay of Moff Gideon's light cruiser. Then there's the knock down, drag out fight between Mondo and a Dark Trooper. It establishes how nearly indomitable Gideon's latest weapon is. So when the heroes are holed up on the bridge which is about to be breeched by an entire platoon of Dark Troopers, it sure seemed like nothing short of the Knights of the Vale could save them.

Then a lone X-Wing approached. I sprung out of bed to get closer to the TV to see if the callsign was indicated on the wings. It wasn't. When a cloaked figure emerged who was clearly a Jedi, I didn't dare believe. Even when the lightsaber was revealed to be green, I wouldn't let myself commit to hope. I couldn't take another Star Wars disappointment. I was sure the rug would be pulled out from under us at the last moment, and it would be some unexpected twist. Then when the doors finally parted and it was truly Luke Skywalker, I was reduced to Kevin Smith status:


The above image may actually be an understatement to the blubbering mess to which I was reduced. It was the first time since 1983 that I felt pure, unadulterated Star Wars euphoria. The figure may not be perfect, but the moment it represents is. I'm so happy that this figure exists in my collection.

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