C-3PO - TBSA - Six Inch Figures

C-3PO is a droid programmed for etiquette and protocol. Over the years, he was involved in some of the galaxy's most thrilling battles and is fluent in more than seven million forms of communication.

Many 6-inch collectors have questioned Hasbro’s choices for The Black Series Archive line. While not many could question the legitimacy of the earlier wave character selections, some of the latest case assortments are confusing many collectors. C-3PO may not be the worst choice for Hasbro to repack in a “greatest hits” lineup, but the former Walgreens exclusive was readily available and released in decent numbers that it may not need a subsequent re-release after all. While the jury is out on the need for a C-3PO reissue, we can confirm that Hasbro upgraded the figure to make it more relevant in the 2022 calendar year. They redid the gold plating color to be more vibrant and bright, and they redid the way they added the deco to the figure’s photoreceptors. It immediately looks like a different version of the original release and ultimately a better addition to the line. So you may decide to add this version of C-3PO to your 6-inch action figure collection to ensure you have the best update.

In 2016, collectors couldn’t comprehend how Hasbro relegated The Black Series [Phase III] C-3PO figure as a Walgreens exclusive. Yet, they added the silly red-armed version from The Force Awakens as the basic figure release. It made no sense whatsoever. While there were fears if the Walgreens exclusive C-3PO was able to meet demand, it made its way out there, and some units made their way to the Fan Channel too. At the time, it was one of the most highly sought-after exclusives Hasbro ever produced. But this is the vers`ion of C-3PO that doesn’t break much ground. And its lack of articulation may prevent some from repurchasing it. It seems outdated now, and some collectors won’t be able to get over the fact that it’s not vac-metalized. A blend of the “Resistance” version of C-3PO but also gaining new parts specific to A New Hope, Hasbro refreshed this kit-bashed figure with new paint operations and tighter joints, both of which enhance the figure in positive ways. The question is will it be enough for you as a collector?

C-3PO doesn’t come with accessories, which is just as disappointing as the first time Hasbro released it. What about the comlink the character used on the Death Star or a removable restraining bolt? What about anything? But no, Hasbro added nothing extra here. The figure has zero accessories. The articulation given to C-3PO is identical to the “Resistance Base” release. At first glance, it appears the figure has articulation that the onscreen character doesn’t have, and the figure doesn’t have articulation that the onscreen character does. Maybe this approach balances out in the end, but we’re not sure if we fully agree with the direction Hasbro took here. The figure still does, however, come with generous movement. C-3PO looks too stiff in the arms (thanks to no elbow articulation), but at the same time, it fits the character. As you can see, every time we attempt to criticize the figure, we cannot defend the criticism. The rest of C-3PO comes with the articulation you’d expect from this line.