While it was a tough call, Hasbro managed to do something just a little bit more special with Unleashed Luke Skywalker. While other figures look magnificent at close range, Luke stands out on the shelf from across a large room. The bright green really lights up a darkened corner, and if illuminated, really shines. His face is full of personality and imperfections that aren't things we expect out of Hasbro's human faces, and the unique gravity-defying pose is like nothing we've seen in the line yet. It's difficult to re-invent the wheel, and Luke figures have been fairly ho-hum over the years. With Unleashed, they managed to make a piece of art that does not fail to impress. Had Hasbro left off the sweeping motion of Luke's signature weapon, maybe this wouldn't be the impressive piece that it was. But it's here, and it's great.
Runner Up: Boba Fett
Our runner-up, but just barely, was the fan favorite Boba Fett. While the figure is full of great paint applications, an action-packed pose, and momentum from a cult following of nearly 26 years, Hasbro always goes the extra mile for Fett. This release was excellent, but it didn't break any barriers for what we've come to expect from merchandise based on the character. Still, it's a gorgeous release that manages to preserve the integrity of the design while adding a tentacle from a nemesis to battle. Unleashed was full of fantastic releases in 2003 and while we're a little sad that there couldn't be more, we're glad to say there's quite a bit to look forward to as the line progresses, including rereleases of some harder to find figures.
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