C-3PO Protocol Droid
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85291
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: III-18
Includes: Display stand (varies by release, see below)
Action Feature: Removable limbs
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: March 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' computer drawers.

Bio: At last, the protocol droid C-3PO receives his complete body shell. He and his companion R2-D2 find themselves in the midst of tumultuous circumstances in their loyal service to Padmé. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: If you loved the prequels or hated them, you can't deny that the figures for them are awesome even if you're an original trilogy purist. This C-3PO represents some of Hasbro's finest work as of its release, and while it's since been improved on slightly, it's still a great piece of work. The figure has C-3PO with a complete gold finish (much like the incorrect deco on the 1995 release), amazingly bright and personality-driven eyes, removable limbs, a quasi-ball joint on the waist, and the normal six points of articulation you've come to expect. It looks like they took the suit from the movie and shrank it down, as it has lots of detail and great proportions. The only area I can really nitpick are some of the pieces around the elbows, as they sort of created a webbed elbow rather than sculpt the rods as being separate from the area like on the sculpt of the stunning 2004 R-3PO figure. If you need a good C-3PO figure, this is it. The 2006 Endor version has a silver leg and jointed knees, so it's good for different reasons, but this release is one of Hasbro's finest. If you don't have a post-2005 C-3PO, consider getting this one first.

Collector's Notes: This is another figure with a few notations. In 2005, the Revenge of the Sith release had a Mustafar-themed lava base. In 2006, the Greatest Battles Collection release had a Tantive IV-themed base, but came in one of two decoes-- greyish (like the other 2005 figures with this base), or tanish (unique to this figure). As far as I know neither is rarer, but I did have to hunt down the tan one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 786: June 30, 2008