R2-D2 with Cargo Net
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87412
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3046
Includes: Stretcher (shown), net (not shown), removable third leg
Action Feature: Twist dome to raise/lower sensorscope
Retail: $6.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Luke, Han, Chewbacca, and the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO are caught in a net that the Ewoks rigged to capture prey. As the Rebels hang in mid-air, Artoo extends an arm with a cutter and quickly slices through the thick rope, sending everyone tumbling to the ground - only to find themselves surrounded and captured by Ewok warriors. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Endor shelf. Not to be outdone by Leia, R2-D2 also demanded some form of scene in which he was tied up. Kinky.

Commentary: Sometimes the only way you can make an existing mold exciting is with new accessories, which seems to be what Hasbro was gunning for with this R2-D2, just released a few weeks ago. The body of the figure is the same one used in the 2004 "Vintage" collection, the 2005 Early Bird Kit mail-in, the 2006 "Hoth" R2-D2, and now, this one. This one has some green and brown stains to indicate the figure is indeed on Endor, so the figure itself has an element of the environment rather than Hasbro selling you the environment itself (i.e., a playset). Frankly I'd rather have the playset, but instead I have a snow-friendly R2-D2, an all-white R2-D2, and now a partially grassy R2-D2. I also have a muddy R2-D2 and an R2-D2 with blue goo around his legs. It's getting ridiculous, but the bulk of these came in gift sets or in assortments so it's not like it was exactly easy to not buy them.

The selling points for this figure are, in no particular order, a coin, a net, and a stretcher. The coin you might want to complete the set. The stretcher is a really tight fit, and I expect more than a few of them to snap over the coming years. The net is kinda lame, as you really don't have anything from which to hang it. I guess if you have a little hook you screw into the ceiling or a shelf, sure, but in the context of the toy line it has no purpose-- you have to build an environment for it to be of any real use, which is really, really lame. It's like Hasbro giving you a Millennium Falcon ramp with Han Solo and say "well, pretend you have something you can do with it."

Collector's Notes: It's a new release, but as it came out during the holiday shopping season it sold threw quickly in many markets. As such, it isn't obvious if the figure was a hit, or just got swept up in the buy-anything holiday season. We are, however, seeing tons of the new Padme figure sitting around not selling, so it looks like a repaint of R2-D2 is more popular than Natalie Portman in a tight leather dress. Which, again, is proof that there's something wrong in the world.

Hasbro missed the boat by not including the buzz-saw from the 2004 release of this mold-- it would have gone perfectly with the net, and since it's mentioned on the figure's cardback it's a little lazy of Hasbro to not have bothered to include this particular extra.

Day 609: January 5, 2008