Figure of the Day: Day 486: C-3PO (Ilum)

C-3PO Ambush on Ilum
The Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: No. 87213
Number: n/a
Includes: Removable limbs, four other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2007
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: This uptight protocol droid, sworn to serve and protect Senator Amidala, provided a much needed distraction. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room next to the R2-D2 figure from the same set.

Commentary: This figure is all sorts of wrong. You see, in the original Clone Wars animated series, C-3PO went to Ilum before he got his shiny gold plating, meaning Hasbro should have used the ever-popular AOTC deco figure in this pack. When you get right down to it, this figure is the same as the 2005 Revenge of the Sith C-3PO except this one has white grime on his feet. There should probably be some on his head and shoulders too, but this is what you get. The figure is based on one of the best C-3PO molds, and has six points of articulation. The waist joint allows him to pivot forward and back a little, which is good for those panic-inspired poses we love so much. If you can get past the fact that the figure's deco is completely wrong, it's a nice figure-- maybe it'd make a nice Hoth C-3PO, if it had the silver leg anyway. So basically, this figure is just inaccurate enough to make you mad, unless there's an episode of Droids I'm forgetting where our two heroes end up on a snow planet.

Collector's Notes: When you get right down to it, this gift set is a "sum of its parts" kind of item. Each figure, by its lonesome, is merely OK. Another R2-D2 and C-3PO with a snow Padme with limited articulation and two Chameleon Droids for $19.99 is a spiffy deal at just $4 per figure, but at $6.99, this C-3PO would be a little disappointing. As such, get the whole set for about $20 or less-- emphasis on "less." I picked up a few of this set for $4.24 each when a local Target was choking on them, and while I'd love to trade 'em away someday, the going rate is about $7-$10 for the whole set, meaning you can get this for an incredibly low price, and you should. For $10, you should stock up and give them away as presents.

Day 486: September 4, 2007