Hey guys, this week we’re opening Fitz’s Toy Chest and taking a look at what might be hands down my grimiest most well-worn and battle damaged Star Wars figure. I gotta be honest, I’m almost embarrassed by the state this poor guy is in.
Without further pre-amble, let’s take a look at the original 1978 Kenner Luke Skywalker.
Before we move on, just take a second with me and marvel at how bright the colors are on this pristine carded figure. Look how WHITE his tunic is. It’s whiter than Dennis Hoff’s teeth (RIP). It’s unbelievable to me that my figure once looked like this.
Now.
This is what a well loved Luke figure looks like after years of rough play and 4 decades of exposure to sun, cigarette smoke, and less than ideal storage conditions…
Luke Skywalker
Company: Kenner
Acquisition Year: 1978
Acquired via: Purchase, Gasen Drug
Years In Possession: 40
First off, in my defense, all of these guys in my collection that lost their heads and had to be glued back on, none of them were my fault. I literally did nothing to them and their heads would fall off. Luke was no exception, as you can see by the terribly crude glue job. I think this might have been the second repair on this figure’s head, probably done by my me instead of my dad, hence the unsightly glob of glue sticking out of his neck like a goiter.
Unfortunately for Luke, that broken neck was not his only trip to the infirmary. You can’t tell from this picture but his non-saber arm is also glued back on and frozen forever in that position.
The final broken appendage on this figure is his left leg. You can see how much farther from his torso that one sits, even see daylight through the joint. As soon as this happened it meant this Luke’s days of piloting X-Wings and Landspeeders were over. He’s been standing ever since.
You can also see how the paint has worn off of his hands, revealing the yellowing plastic underneath.
It’s pretty amazing to me that I never replaced this figure back in the day. I had multiple Vaders and Chewies and Stormtroopers over the years, but never asked to have this guy replaced despite all the wear and tear. I’m not sure why, but I must’ve been really attached to this specific figure and a replacement was just not acceptable.
Anyway, now I’m off to scrub this filthy beast. I think he deserves a nice rub a dub in the tradtion of the wildly entertaining Toy Polloi.
Come back again in 2 weeks for some less disgusting toys.
