R2-D2/C-3PO (With Battle Droid Head) - LC - Geonosis Arena Showdown (2010 Edition) (6 of 6)

The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padmé from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars.

The last half of 2008 through the first half of 2010 was a rough period for Star Wars collectors. And a lot of the loss of interest in the line and the amount of collectors cutting back had a lot to do with Hasbro making some bad decisions. We become jaded as a group at an alarming rate and the exclusives that were presented to us were nearly unattainable thanks to ridiculous retails prices and poor distribution. (A $30.00 Dewback With Imperial Sandtrooper, a $50.00 Disturbance At Lars Homestead play-set and a $44.00 AT-ST (All Terrain Scout Transport) all from the Legacy Collection immediately come to mind as exclusives that were insulting to collectors' wallets despite [some] them being rather well made. It was certainly a bleak time for collectors but it seems that things are really looking up. Hasbro seems to have done a 180 degree turnaround which started in the last half of 2010 as they are giving us quality merchandise at much fairer prices and they are coming up with concepts that make the average collector just drool in pleasure. A second wave of Geonosis Arena Showdown sets became available a year to the day almost from the first batch and they offer collectors awesome action figures with some really neat surprises worked into them. And we think that overall the second batch is much better than the first batch (and we loved the first series a lot). The R2-D2/C-3PO (With Battle Droid Head) set is astounding. We can't believe the quality of the figures and how perfectly they interact with each other. We are all giddy over this two-pack and encourage you to get one as soon as you can!

Perhaps the greatest accomplishment in the 2010 Edition of the Geonosis Arena Showdown sets is the R2-D2/C-3PO (With Battle Droid Head) two-pack. Tthis set is simply stupendous and we now have definitive "Episode II" versions of our favorite droid duo. Well, one is more definitive than the other (but they're both fantastic)! C-3PO is essentially a masterpiece (we'll get to him in a moment) and while R2-D2 is just an older sculpt that got tweaked, he too is just as incredible. Hasbro got very clever how they approached C-3PO. Believe it or not, they took the arms and legs to 2007's TAC 4-LOM (30 41) figure and then gave him a brand new torso and head. He looks absolutely phenomenal! Hasbro didn't stop there. They then gave 3PO the most beautiful and accurate paint job we have ever seen on an Episode II incarnation of him. This action figure is one of Hasbro's best and it's a shame that he didn't make it to The Vintage Collection or other main line of basic figures. Collectors who don't buy multipacks or exclusives like this will be missing out on two amazing action figures. C-3PO's head joint functions similarly to a Build A Droid part and it plugs into the neck so you can exchange it with the Battle Droid head part. Since he has 4-LOM's hands, he can hold the droid blaster perfectly and this is a feature we are thrilled about because C-3PO as an action figure typically can't hold anything. This is the best C-3PO ever! We have one tiny complaint. We aren't crazy about the Battle Droid head attachment. It is one solid piece and the head is looking straight down. It doesn't look entirely right on C-3PO's body. But this isn't a big deal either.

R2-D2 is not too shabby either! R2-D2 is a drastic retool of the 2004 VOTC Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) (With Extension Arm) figure. It has been so revised over the years so often that we honestly can't remember the latest revision. But R2-D2 has a "brushed nickel" dome and a clear eye port (which is odd quite frankly). He has two functioning compartment doors that open up to reveal a sharp working tool (in the front) and the cord that drags C-3PO's head on the Geonosian terrain (in the back) that coils up when you spin his head. The hook on the end of the cord fits around the base of the removable C-3PO head like a glove. We think that is pretty incredible that Hasbro made sure these would be able to function with each other. But Hasbro went above and beyond and if you look carefully, you will see that they even bothered to paint the inside of these compartments to make them more realistic and aesthetically pleasing to the discriminating collector eye. The paint job on R2-D2's outside is rather simple, but the detail inside is just beautiful. But Hasbro was considerate to add some of the reddish terrain residue on his legs and lower body and it is just enough to get the point across that he was there on Geonosis. Again, this is easily the best one of all six new Geonosis Arena Showdown sets and we have waited tirelessly to get definitive Episode II versions of R2-D2 and C-3PO. These two figures are it absolutely! We expect to see either repackaged on a basic card, whether in the main line or in the Saga Legends line. These figures absolutely deserve it. This set will undoubtedly be popular and it should be. Hasbro has hit a homerun with this year's Geonosis Arena Showdown sets and we are so thrilled with the final results! But this one stands out from the rest. It will disappear. Trust us.