Review: Star Wars Black Series Droids retro-carded Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)
- Mephitsu
- 36 minutes ago
- 6 min read
“Yes, it was a sacrifice, Artoo, but that’s what friends are for”
Star Wars: Droids (The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO) was one of two animated spin-offs from the original Star Wars trilogy, airing in 1985 across a solitary 13-episode season that explored the adventures of Artoo and Threepio before they found themselves on the Tantive IV in A New Hope. Kenner’s action figure line also continued into the Droids series, with a selection of Droids-themed 3.75-inch figures released in 1985, an extension of the final Power of the Force figures from the original movies, and including a collector coin alongside the figure.
Marking 40 years since the end of Droids in 1986 and some of the final Kenner figures, Hasbro has returned to the Droids series for a wave of Star Wars Black Series Fan Channel carded figures for late Summer 2026. Each figure is carded, paying homage to the original Kenner designs, and comes with a collector's coin scaled up to the 6-inch figure.
These new Droids cards are scaled up for the 6-inch line, but use the colours and artwork of the original Kenner line, with a blue header with the Droids logo at the top. The Artoo release mirrors that from 1985 in terms of artwork and wording, with the bubble, including an extension for the coin, sitting to the right of the card. Behind the bubble is a coloured panel as per all of the Kenner cardbacks from the 1980s, and like the other carded Kenner homage figures from Hasbro, the card front foregoes the Hasbro logo and instead carries the original Kenner logo next to the age warning sign.
Around the back, the entire cardback is coloured the same blue as the header on the front, with a pictorial checklist of the full 4-figure wave at the top. Under this is the short background text we get on most Black Series releases, which positions Artoo in Droids as prior to his adventures in A New Hope, and having ‘whirlwind adventures with his fussy companion.’ As a carded figure, there is no way to open the blister without some level of damage.
Artoo as a base figure is the same as the newer R2 models first seen in 2023. The main part of the Astromech body and the two legs are cast in white plastic, including the various live-action components, but with most of these left unpainted. Instead, the decor focuses on the front panels of Artoo, picking them out in grey and blue, with a touch of silver on some lower vents. The legs, usually coloured heavily in live-action releases with blue central panels, are left almost entirely in their base white, save for some painted silver wiring near the feet section.
Artoo’s dome mirrors the more simplistic design we see in Droids, using a darker grey/blue base colour rather than silver, and with blue panels and trim around the main section of the dome and on the top section as a solid blue circular design rather than using each of the 6 segments of the dome to create the blue-on-silver pattern. The only other colours are on the side of the eyepiece, with a white panel inset with two black and red indicators.
with the 2023 R2-D2 Galaxy Collection release (right)
As we get with the other R2 (and R5) releases, the central third leg is included, and this pulls down out of the main circular body. Like the side legs, the central leg is cast in white and lacks any further decor.
The other features from the mainline release are still included on the Droids release, starting with the opening front panels. There are two at the top in the grey section, which open through a hinge. To the side of these are two larger doors, and underneath we have internal grey ‘workings’ including three sockets on either side.
These sockets accommodate the included tools, of which there are four for the main body. All of these are cast in grey and fit into any of the sockets for a variety of configurations. The tools include a data probe, a terminal probe, a manipulator arm, and the welder.
The other two ‘tools’ are the scanner and radar, which are used on the dome. There is the same removable ‘panel’ from the other releases, and this is set at the back of the dome near the raised ‘bolt’. Beneath this is a socket that allows either the scanner or radar to be inserted.
When not in use, all six tools can fit into an internal storage area. You raise this up and out via the dome, revealing a grey interior with six slots, each allowing the tools to be snapped into position. The dome can then be lowered, stowing the gear safely away.
Artoo features just 6 points of articulation, excluding these opening doors and panels. The side legs hinge at the top and at the ankle, allowing Artoo to be posed upright, or in a travelling or leaning forward position. There is also an ankle joint in the extendable central leg, aligning that along with the other two legs into a flat-to-the-floor rolling position. The last joint is in the dome, which rotates a full 360 degrees.
As it was in 1985, this new Black Series homage figure also includes a collector coin. The original 1985 Droids figures used aluminium, and while these modern replications are simply plastic, they do mirror the gold colour and the design of those original coins. Like the original Kenner R2 release, the coin features a picture of Artoo surrounded by alien fauna, with his name above the image and, under it, the word Droids. The back of the coin is mainly text, talking about R2’s role for “mechanical repair and data storage” and how R2 uses these tools to “get out of tight situations”. While the Fett and Stormtrooper coins featured a Kenner-era POTF logo for Star Wars, the back of R2’s coin uses the Droids logo, and there is no “May the Force Be With You” text. Like the original Kenner figures, there is no stand or display feature for the coin, but these do sit nicely into most 40mm coin stands for display if - like me - you’ve ripped your Boba figure off the cardback.
Artoo is, of course, one of the headline figures for this Droids collection, and alongside Threepio is an excellent replication of both what we see on screen in Droids and with the original Kenner figures. The simplistic colours give Artoo a look of cell shading, and despite the limited colour palette, he still looks striking on display.
I do appreciate Hasbro still including all of the other features from the main release, including the tools and scanners and the opening panels and vents. On his own, Artoo is a good-looking figure; coupling him with Threepio, the pair really come alive as a display set.
Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
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