R2-D2 With Cargo Net - TAC - Basic (30 46)

Luke, Han, Chewbacca, and the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO are caught in a net that the Ewoks rigged to capture prey. As the Rebels hang in mid-air, Artoo extends an arm with a cutter and quickly slices through the thick rope, sending everyone tumbling to the ground – only to find themselves surrounded and captured by Ewok warriors.

How many different ways can Hasbro reinvent R2-D2? Apparently they can in an infinite amount of ways. Just when you thought it was safe to forgo another R2-D2 action figure, Hasbro makes it so incredibly enticing that you’ll have to cave and break your vow by purchasing another. But the great thing about R2-D2 With Cargo Net is that while the figure itself it nothing out of the ordinary, the accessories he comes with are. Not only do we get a very well-made “net,” collectors are also privileged to receive the “stretcher” the Ewoks used to imprison R2-D2 when they brought him back to the Ewok village. R2-D2 is a character that will see release after release because he is a core character in the Star Wars universe. So we are extremely thrilled that Hasbro can find ways to invigorate the same droid over and over and make him new and exciting in the basic figure line. Now, R2-D2 isn’t perfect, but Hasbro used a rather good sculpt for our favorite astromech droid and we think it is a more than satisfactory release. While it can be boring to get the same droid over and over, we think R2-D2 With Cargo Net takes him to a whole new level. And this release is not half bad.

R2-D2 is a repaint of the R2-D2 figure from 2005’s TSC Early Bird Figures exclusive mail-away set. (This figure was actually a retool/rework of the 2004 VOTC figure.) This time around Hasbro has given R2-D2 a splattered green grass (or moss) stain paint job that also includes some brown the higher up you go. Other than that, R2-D2 is rather pristine and not too much else various from the previous versions we have encountered before him. Hasbro still insists on using the shiny vacuum-metalized dome. It’s sparkly and pretty, but it’s not faithful to what we see onscreen. And the biggest complaint we have with this figure is that like the Early Bird Figures version from which it’s based, the left panel is not removable and R2-D2 didn’t come with the saw attachment which is specific to this scene. We think this was a huge mistake and it’s quite a shame that this detail was missed. Still, you already have that VOTC figure so maybe use it in place of this one. Despite this, the blue details are painted nicely and we really don’t have much to complain about as far as this figure is concerned. There are certainly worse R2-D2 action figures that Hasbro could have used.

The real reason to get this figure is for the accessories. The Cargo Net is huge! And while it’s a plastic sculpted net, it has some amazing pliability and you will find it rather simple to hold some of your Star Wars action figures in it. You’ll need to tie the ends together using something outside of what is included with the figure, but there is no denying just how well this net was made. In addition to the cargo net (which should have really been called the Ewok trap) is the “stretcher” (for lack of a better term) that the Ewoks used to carry R2-D2 back to their village. It’s not made from a strong plastic and it will bend rather easily, but it has some fine construction to it which elates us that Hasbro decided to include. The straps that run across R2’s barreled body actually attach to the other side and they hold R2-D2 very well against the stretcher. We are actually quite impressed with this design. It’s just a shame it wasn’t made from a stronger material. The stretcher s extremely functional and we recommend taking R2’s wave mates Romba & Graak and pose them carrying R2-D2 on their shoulders. It just looks fantastic. This is some great forward-thinking on Hasbro’s part!