R2-Q5 (Imperial Astromech Droid) - POTJ - Basic

R2 units specialize in starship diagnostics and repairs. However, Imperial designers consider astromechs to be unneccesary weight for their short range TIE fighters. On the second Death Star, R2-Q5 helps maintain the station's elaborate weapons and security systems, and also services all TIE fighters and bombers.

The post Episode I era of Star Wars collecting has changed for the better when it came to astromech droids. Never content to stay with the same mold too long (although they’re guilty of reusing them multiple times in a short timeframe), Hasbro developed and all-new R2 unit base sculpt and has chosen to release it as an obscure background droid from Return Of The Jedi. R2-Q5 (Imperial Astromech Droid) is an all-new sculpt. The character is very difficult to see in Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi, but is definitely in the film if you look hard enough. (Editor’s Note: A great shot of R2-Q5 can be seen in the opening deleted scene of Return Of The Jedi as presented in the Blu-ray boxed set.) Hasbro did an admirable job on the action figure. This shiny black astromech droid with copper colored access panels stands out from the rest of the droids in your collection. And it has a few enhancements that should make collectors very happy. Part of a great wave of figures, we hope that R2-Q5 (Imperial Astromech Droid) isn’t the last droid from the Galactic Empire that Hasbro makes in 3.75” scale. It’s not often that we get astromech droids that aren’t R2-D2, let alone one of an Imperial class.

R2-Q5 (Imperial Astromech Droid) comes with seven points of articulation. These points include a swivel dome, two swivel legs, three swivel feet and a slide-out third leg. Thanks to so much “leg” articulation, R2-Q5 (Imperial Astromech Droid) can attain a vast array of poses at multiple angles even at unique postures. The mechanics aren’t necessarily flawless, but there are enough cleverly engineered parts to allow this droid to be positioned in so many cool and interesting ways. It would have been nice to see a more popular (and even lighter colored) droid utilize this mold first, but for one reason or another Hasbro felt this droid was a wiser choice. The paint job is simple but elegant. Although mostly black and cast in this colored plastic, it’s obvious that the figure has been painted in black on various spots as well. The bronze detail isn’t as striking as it is on the character in the film, but there is enough of this detail added to make it relevant. R2-Q5 (Imperial Astromech Droid) looks great overall and is a forerunning action figure in the world of modern action figures. It’s a great upgrade and we can’t wait to see what other characters Hasbro decides to make utilizing this tooling. The possibilities are nearly endless, so they have plenty of options.

The most unique aspect of R2-Q5 (Imperial Astromech Droid) is the accessory. How often do astromech droids come with accessories? (It isn’t that often at all.) Anyway, R2-Q5 (Imperial Astromech Droid) comes with a hologram of the second Death Star. Not screen accurate by any means, it’s still a neat companion piece to the action figure. It seems that this type of accessory would go much better with an Admiral Ackbar, General Madine or Mon Mothma action figure instead. After all, they were the ones who managed to secure the plans to the second more powerful Death Star. During the tactical meeting on the Home One in Return Of The Jedi, you can clearly see a red holographic Death Star orbiting the forest moon of Endor. For us, this accessory is more fitting for the Rebel Alliance than the Galactic Empire. Then again, maybe R2-Q5 was the source from which the Rebel spies obtained the tactical readouts of the Death Star. One can speculate we presume. Anyway, R2-Q5 (Imperial Astromech Droid) is well done. There isn’t much room to fault it. It’s a surprising release and shamelessly contrasts with the other astromech droids released in the basic figure line to date. Surely it’s one you’ll wish to add to your collection as well.