C-3PO - POTF2 [R/G] - Basic

Height: 1.67 meters
Status: Interpreter
Classification: Human-Cyborg Relations Droid
Affiliation: Rebel Alliance

Designed as a protocol droid, C-3PO's main programming function is to interact with human society. He is an interpreter fluent in over six million galactic languages, specializing in the areas of etiquette and translation – especially important during diplomatic missions. To aid in these tasks, he is equipped with microwave and olfactory sensors, photoreceptors, vocabulator speech units, energy transducers and broad-band antenna receivers. He was programmed with an elegant, human sounding voice, but more often than not C-3PO is heard whining and bickering with his companion, the astromech droid R2-D2.

C-3PO was once a simple interpreter aboard the transport ship Tantine IV, but a twist of fate made him one of the most wanted droids in the galaxy and a reluctant but loyal hero in the Rebel Alliance's struggle against the Empire. When her transport was attacked by Darth Vader, Princess Leia Organa hid secret technical readouts for the Empire's new Death Star in the memory banks of C-3PO's companion R2-D2. The two droids then jettisoned from the ship in an escape pod, setting about the chain of events that brought Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Obi-Wan Kenobi into the Rebel Alliance and ultimately led to the destruction of the Empire's ultimate Battle Station.

Right out of the gate a persistent Star Wars collecting rumor began filling collectors with dread! C-3PO, although featured on the back of the card, was pulled from the assortment! Some well developed rumors went as far to claim that there was a production issue on his and that “he was falling apart in the packaging” to “he was poisonous” (rumors of lead paint was used to decorate him). Of course, not much of this was true. The reality is that C-3PO was delayed and not canceled and saved for a revision case assortment. A couple of months after the first eight (including Princess Leia Organa) had been released. It is believed that there were indeed some production issues which warranted the figure’s delayed release, but he finally made it out and the concentration on grabbing him from the pegs was more violent than all eight figures combined. Still sporting a bulky likeness, but perhaps not as exaggerated, C-3PO entered the line in full throttle. We finally had someone to accompany R2-D2 now. The return of vac-metallization in C-3PO’s case was warmly welcomed. Kenner/Hasbro did a fantastic job on that with the modern day release. If they could have just refrained from sculpting a widened chest, skinny waist and thick thighs, this figure would have shined much more brightly for collectors. With the lack of a silver leg and some screen inaccurate details, this C-3PO figure was destined to be eclipsed by future versions right from the start.

C-3PO had a great appearance in the basic figure line of 1995. He didn’t seem too muscular compared to the human and creature characters. He also had much better coloring than the light gold we saw in the vintage Kenner line. For the first time ever, Kenner/Hasbro has treated collectors to the inclusion of a swivel waist, something that gives this action figure a little extra edge. And it is much appreciated by us at least. Not everything is perfect of course. For example, we feel C-3Po has a pea-sized head on this action figure. It definitely feels too small in our opinion. But with the smooth even coating of gold, it’s hard to discount what positives the action figure does bring to the modern Star Wars basic figure line. Although appearing on card backs in the first wave of figures, C-3PO didn’t make an appearance at retail until the third revision case of figures had finally been released in September of 1995. (The first case assortments began arriving July/August of that year.) He was packed like any other figure (at two per case) but since every single other figure in the first wave was packed at two per case also, it felt like C-3PO was a rarity in a sea of repackaged figures. In fact, between the rumor mill and the actual difficulty finding him on shelves in the new revision case assortment, C-3PO has become the rarest Star Wars figure in the line to date (and not intentionally). Kenner/Hasbro has promised however that he will be available many more times in the future.

Star Wars figures were so plentiful in 1995 that it became an easy target for scalpers and unscrupulous collectors to benefit from the initial shortages of C-3PO (and the perceived yet incorrect shortages of Princess Leia Organa). Still, you have to wonder if a big part of C-3PO’s popularity was that he was one of the better action figures in the first wave of figures. Figures like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and the Stormtrooper were so awfully exaggerated, almost caricaturized in their looks that C-3PO was a huge breath of fresh air in the grand scheme of things. Whatever the reasons, there is no doubt that C-3PO was an anticipated release and a figure that was worth the short wait. (Editor’s Note: C-3PO has been updated multiple times in The Power Of The Force “2” line, but it’s important to note that this particular figure was reissued MULTIPLE times in the red and green card back via multiple variations in packaging style too.) C-3PO is comes without any accessories and has the standard articulation of the rest of the figures in the POTF2 line, so you shouldn’t expect too much from the figure. His strength lies in the fact that he looks great. They really mastered the vac-metallization deco of the figure and the deep golden yellow used to color it works extremely well. If they could just find ways to enhance the eyes, and reduce the bulkier body frame, they would have a definitive figure on their hands.