R2-D2 McQuarrie Concept
30th Anniversary Collection Celebration IV/Europe Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87385
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Coin, companion C-3PO figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: May 2007
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Ralph McQuarrie was commissioned by George Lucas to create several paintings. This scene depicts R2-D2 and C-3PO in a desert landscape. Even in this early rendering, Threepio already has a somewhat startled look, and Artoo reveals traces of his spunky nature. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Sitting on a PDT-8 with C-3PO.

Commentary: When word had it that McQuarrie Concept figures were coming out, R2-D2 wasn't high on the list. C-3PO was, Darth Vader was, but not R2-D2, which is a shame because as a toy, R2-D2 makes a great figure. The figure has an all-new mold, with some of the traditional R2-D2 articulation and a lot of new stuff. The dome is articulated, as are the legs, ankles, arms, and two flip-out gadgets in his chest. The third leg can be pulled out a little, but not much, and the middle foot is also articulated. The figure also has rolling wheels under his feet, so in short, he does pretty much everything you could hope for. in terms of what this design can do as a toy-- but is the design right?

The figure's deco is a little lacking, and it's hard to tell how much of that was Hasbro being cheap or if Hasbro was working from a second resource. If you look at the painting on the action figure's package, you'll notice R2-D2's body has lots of red and blue markings and it seems almost like his body is a tan or beige color, not the silver presented here. R2-D2's dome on the painting is also covered in red, yellow, and blue details, while the action figure merely has 3 blue dots and 3 red dots, and that's the only color on the figure. Also, R2-D2's third leg has no wheel on the painting, but the figure does. I know that figures are merely interpretations of the 2D artwork, but still, I'm not convinced they picked the best possible concept R2-D2 design for the figure, and it's seemingly not the one in the painting. Perhaps we'll see a repaint a few years down the road, as it's uncommon for most action figure sculpts to never see any sort of reissue. Of course, given the market for this one, it might be a while before Hasbro has an incentive to make more.

Collector's Notes: While not "common," it seems Hasbro made far, far too many of this gift set. How many? Well, unlike the Celebration 2 Jorg Sacul or the Celebration 3 Darth Vader, R2-D2 and C-3PO were sold with no limit by the end of the show and dumped online days within the end of the convention. It started life at $19.99, and over seven months later, you can still buy it from ShopStarWars or Toy Rocket for $19.99. Heck, Toy Rocket will sell you either droid for just $10, which is downright decent of them.

Day 606: January 2, 2008