C-3PO (A New Hope) — Star Wars The Black Series
The Black Series C-3PO (A New Hope) — Walgreens exclusive, November 2016. $19.99. 17 joints including 360° knee tools and well-hidden thigh swivels. No accessories at all — no commlink, no restraining bolt. Non-vac-metallized gold paint: reflects light but not enough shine. No dirt weathering despite 3PO being noticeably dirty in OT. Described as a lackluster release. Re-released in 40th Anniversary packaging (id=9039).
Overview
C-3PO (A New Hope) is a Walgreens November 2016 exclusive at $19.99 — also available through Entertainment Earth online during Fall 2017. 17 joints — ball-jointed dual-axis neck, lower swivel neck, ball-jointed shoulders, ball-jointed wrists (no separate elbow joints — a limitation of the droid tooling), ball-jointed upper body, hips, well-hidden swivel thighs, swivel knees, ball-jointed ankles, and 360° rotating tools on the outside of each knee. Re-released in 40th Anniversary Kenner-inspired packaging (id=9039).
No Accessories
No accessories are included at all. No commlink. No restraining bolt. No holographic display. No tools. This is the source documentation’s primary criticism of the release — even basic, small accessories like a commlink or restraining bolt would have added value without significant cost. The lack is described as contributing to a “lackluster release” assessment.
The Gold Paint Problem
The same issue that dogs every Black Series C-3PO: the gold paint application is not vac-metallized. It reflects light, but not to the degree needed to make the figure look right. Since 1995, Hasbro has applied vac-metallized gold to the 3¾” line many times — the 6” line has not received the same treatment consistently. At this price point with no accessories, the paint shortfall is more pronounced.
No Weathering
C-3PO is noticeably dirty throughout most of the original trilogy. This figure has clean gold paint throughout — no dirt or wear. For an ANH-era 3PO, some weathering or desert Tatooine grime would have been appropriate.
What Works
The sculpt itself is well done and captures the droid’s likeness. The joint count is adequate for a droid figure. The 360° knee tools are a specific articulation point that adds display interest. The figure stands at approximately the correct height relative to other Black Series figures.
Secondary Market
Walgreens November 2016 / EE online Fall 2017. No accessories to verify.
Verdict
C-3PO (A New Hope) is the weakest of the Walgreens Black Series exclusives — no accessories, non-vac-metallized paint, no weathering, and a “lackluster” source assessment. The 360° knee tools and adequate sculpt are the positives. The TFA-era Babu Frik 2-pack version (P3-EX-TARGET-3PO) with its temperature-reactive eyes and movable elbows is the more compelling C-3PO in the programme.
Part of Star Wars The Black Series | Phase 3 Red Line. Related: C-3PO with Babu Frik P3-EX-TARGET-3PO | Obi-Wan Kenobi Force Spirit P3-EX-WAG-OWK-SPIRIT.