ASP-7 Droid - POTF2 [R/G] - Basic

Height: 1.6 Meters
Status: Household/Business Laborer
Classification: Industrial Automaton ASP-7 Droid
Affiliation: Varies based on owner

Although officially making their first appearance in the Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Special Edition, ASP-7 Droids were first referenced in the Shadows Of The Empire Sourcebook released in 1996. These ASP-series labor droids were one of the many new “things” digitally added to the classic first Star Wars film. And while it was new and exciting at the time when forst released, the additions slowly worked in a backward manner by souring longtime lovers of the Original Trilogy. Despite many new additions to the film, the ASP-7 Droid was the ONLY character from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Special Edition to be made as an action figure. It was very quickly translated from screen to toy as the figure was released very shortly after the Special Edition versions of the films had already been shown in cinemas around the USA. The figure is OK. It’s a pretty standard take as it comes with the basic articulation we’ve been used to for a couple of years now, and it has pretty good deco. Honestly, it’s tough to match piece for a piece to its onscreen counterpart because these characters were only briefly seen and were in movement, making clear images of them difficult to attain. More of a novelty addition to A New Hope, the ASP-7 Droid is about equally as novel as an action figure.

From what we can make out of the ASP-7 Droid by looking at film stills is the Kenner/Hasbro action figure is a little too short and stout. This is especially true in the limbs. In the film, the ASP-7 Droids tended to have a leaner frame and carried themselves with a confident and sturdy stature and gait. The action figure, however, needs to be placed in a “leaning forward” posture so that the figure can stand up. You can angle the ASP-7 Droid even less if you can balance the figure with the included spaceport supply rods bundled accessory he comes with because it functions very much like the pole a funambulist uses to keep himself from plummeting down to certain death. You catch our drift. Ultimately, ASP-7 Droid doesn’t bring anything noteworthy to the Star Wars line. It should have come with the sentry droid that the ASP-7 Droid knocked out of the air from annoyance. This figure is at basic as it gets. A droid like this needs more articulation to make a statement in the basic action figure line, and we just aren’t feeling it all that much. It’s nice to get a first offered modern action figure, of course, but this one is admittedly a little bit too boring. Then again, it was a boring character onscreen. Should we expect the action figure to impress us more?

In an interesting move, Hasbro has placed a special “call out” sticker on the ASP-7 Droid’s packaging. It reads “From the newly-created footage in Star Wars: A New Hope – Special Edition.” You may also be interested in knowing that this is the only basic figure specially created from the new footage in the film. Other creatures and other characters from the other Original Trilogy films have been made, but this figure is unique. As far as its paint job, the ASP-7 Droid is decorated pretty well. Its base silver color is accented with collections of black dirt here and there, which makes it look like the character in the film. As mentioned earlier, the ASP-7 Droid had a little more life outside of Episode IV. It satisfied a role in the Shadows Of The Empire multimedia event and other Expanded Universe sources. But it is likely that the ASP-7 Droid won’t be making any other appearances in future Star Wars films. This character was a one-off convention and addition for A New Hope Special Edition. That’s alright, though, because the character didn’t resonate well with the community. And collectors weren’t rushing to army build this action figure. (Editor's Note: Hasbro has released many Special Edition characters in the basic figure line since.)