Rebelscum.com: Photo Archive

LUKE SKYWALKER (Hoth Battle Gear) /
LUKE SKYWALKER (Hoth Outfit)

Source:
(The Empire Strikes Back)

Date Stamp: 1980

Release Date: 1981

Carded Availability:
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi
Tri-Logo

Assortment No. : 69610

Retail: $2.49

Weapons and Accessories:

Rebel Rifle

Point of Interest:
This figure was included in the Rebel Command Center Adventure Set, but made it's first carded appearance on The Empire Strikes Back 41 back card. This figure also appeared as Luke Skywalker (Hoth Outfit) on a Canadian exclusive skin wrapped card*.

Comments: Though, when compared to the modern line the casual observer may not notice it, but the vintage Luke Skywalker (Hoth Battle Gear) was a giant leap forward for Kenner. The figure sported not only the first vintage equivalent of an action pose; it was sculpted with more detail than any figure before it. Oddly enough, despite the fact that he used one whilst wearing this costume in the film, this version of Luke didn't come with his father's Lightsaber. Likely Kenner didn't want to make the perfect Luke before Return Of The Jedi came out...

Major Variations: Though all vintage figures have minor variations, the Luke Skywalker (Hoth Battle Gear) action figure has no major variations.

*The Canadian Skin Wrapped figures were produced for Sears Canada and were included as exclusive bonus figures in multi-packs created for the holiday catalog. Since these figures had not yet been released on card backs, Kenner produced them vacuum-sealed on lower quality cards that had every element a regular Canadian The Empire Strikes Back cards had save an actual character image or the individual colours on the name plate and behind the figure itself. The card back was completely unprinted. Though in some cases renamed from the mass released versions, the skin wrapped figures were: Dengar, Ugnaught, Lobot (Lando's Aid), Han Solo (Cloud City Outfit), General Veers, Luke Skywalker (Hoth Outfit), and R2-D2 with Periscope.