Tag Archives: Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)

It’s another impressive re-release! Hasbro FINALLY gets Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) right as an Episode IV version of the classic astromech droid. With a “clean” deco, a shinier silvery dome, corrected legs, and upgraded card art, collectors have much to be thankful for here. The figure hasn’t looked better. We took the time to summarize all the new details for you by producing an all-new 60-image gallery complete with comparison shots and a breakdown of what separates the 2019 version from the 2024 reissue in the Collector Notes. See this lovely figure updated in our RDRs now! There’s more difference here than you may realize.

Hasbro finally gives us a new 6-inch Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) figure, and it corrects all of the sins of the first-generation release. You’re going to love this one, folks! It also is part of The Black Series [Return Of The Jedi 40] lineup. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

The Retro Collection See-Threepio (C-3PO)/Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)/Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi/Death Squad Commander/Jawa/Tusken Raider multipack gives us some excellent stuff. But is it perfect? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

The third and final Target exclusive Droids The Vintage Collection release is Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2). Click below for our full Visual Guide of this figure. You can also read our full review right here.

Let’s continue our Visual Guide updates for the Walmart exclusive Original 96 wave. Next up is ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2) (VC234). Click below for our full Visual Guide, and click here to read our full review.

It’s another O96! Check out ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2), complete with classic nameplate typo and stunning card art with The Empire Strikes Back entertainment logo. Oh yeah, and the figure? Well, it sucks! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

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Target is sending out updated shipping notices for the Droids R2-D2 and Boba Fett figures. They are now due to ship on May 26th. They also updated the product pages with May 26th as the release date. I don’t know if I’m more excited to finally receive these figures or to have that Target hold on my Credit Card for the past 8 months finally gone. 

You can still pre-order these from the site if you have not yet found them at brick and mortar stores. Click below for the pre-order pages.

Update: Boba Fett is now going in and out of stock for pre-orders

Meh. The Vintage Collection Droids Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) figure is nothing special either. Hasbro didn’t even include the “pop-up” lightsaber accessory. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 13!

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2).

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Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently made a commitment to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that for every classic Kenner figure, there needs a modern counterpart. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done and we’ll figure out where we are step by step.

We’re right in alignment with Hasbro in our vintage Kenner database. There are 21 figures under the STAR WARS banner, 29 figures under THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK banner, 31 figures under the RETURN OF THE JEDI banner, and 15 figures under THE POWER OF THE FORCE banner. (Sy Snootles, Max Rebo, Droopy McCool, and Blue Snaggletooth brings the number to an even 100 figures.)

Read our assessment, and then be sure to add your thoughts into the comments. Let us know if you agree or disagree. If you’re a customizer, show us your custom definitive figure in the comments as well! Who knows? It might give Hasbro some ideas.

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We’re continuing to check out the vintage Kenner DROIDS line. Let’s move forward with Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2). you won’t be able to afford this one either! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

Many of our cleverest readers figured out when we teased this on New Year’s Day, but here is the formal announcement! Jedi Temple Archives will begin vintage Kenner RDRs on Droids (and next month Ewoks) action figures beginning tomorrow. We hope you enjoy reading and viewing them as we did making them! Join us tomorrow for the fun!

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2). ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2) has an interesting Trilogo card back. C-3PO was repositioned, and both characters received a strong orange wash over them. Eventually, the name of the figure was changed to Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) (with Sensorscope), but that took some time. See the full Trilogo card art and additional notes by revisiting 1982’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2) figure HERE.

In 1983, Mexico’s Lily Ledy toy company released a line of Return Of The Jedi action figures under the La Guerra De Las Galaxias: El Regreso Del Jedi line look. This range of Lily Ledy Star Wars figures is interesting for two specific reasons. Firstly, the original 1978 versions of R2-D2 and C-3PO were released in this lineup. Secondly, for each figure, Lily Ledy chose a never-before-utilized Lucasfilm reference image of the characters and these images were used nowhere else in the Star Wars toy line (for any other company including Kenner and Palitoy). Featured on 30-Back, the reverse of the card back features hand-drawn images of the line of 30 action figures in addition to a few other related toys including the Millennium Falcon and Jabba the Hutt.

Today we revisit Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2). The 1978 version Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) was packaged for this line and the packaging features an exclusive image of the character.  Its name is Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) (Ar-tu-ri-to). The reference used is an official publicity image of the character against a hallway within the Bespin set. This Lily Ledy release is the only way to obtain this unique character image on the card art. The review’s Collector Notes are updated with this information. See the full card art and additional notes by revisiting 1978’s STAR WARS Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) figure HERE.

Is The Vintage Collection Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) going through a running change, or did tunghori mix up Build A Droid parts? “Cleaner” samples of the VC149 figure have shown up on eBay. Check it out.

Up next for our The Vintage Collection wave 22 Visual Guide updates is Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) (VC149). Click below to have a look at the full Visual Guide, and click here to check out our full review.

Here is another figure we should have fallen in love with but didn’t. Why is Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) this filthy on a Star Wars card? Can anyone answer this? Please don’t deactivate Hasbro! The Vintage Collection has overworked their circuits. Someone needs to take Hasbro down to maintenance! See why you may be disappointed with this figure too in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

We’re almost done with the reviews, but you can check everything else out right now including a ton of comparison images, diorama shots and the new figures interacting with other figures and vehicles. I have to admit that The Vintage Collection wave 22 isn’t doing it for me. My favorite figure in the wave is the Imperial Assault Tank Commander, and that should NOT be the case. I am thrilled about finally getting a carded “12-Back” Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) figure, but this character and card back were worthy of a completely all-new sculpt. Oh well. Luke Skywalker (Crait) is a decent release, but he is limited in movement thanks to constricting robes. His articulation system is almost voided out by it. And the Death Star Gunner should have been the crowning joy of the wave, but it has disappointed me hugely. Anyhow, check out the new images of the latest figures. Hopefully, the next wave will be a little bit better.

Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) • Star Wars • 1978

You can now pre-order several figures from The Vintage Collection wave 22 on Amazon for $12.99 each. Thanks to JTA reader Michael for the alert!

Our “Pilots, Commanders And Droids! Oh My!” marathon begins with ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2). It was awesome to get a brand new version of R2-D2 in the Kenner line with new features. Relive your memories of this classic 1982 action figure in our Research Droids Reviews today. Be sure to add your own experiences to the conversation! Reminisce your own childhood stories of this figure in our comments. Share your life-changing vintage Kenner adolescent experiences with us!

We have just completed our intense look at the first series of vintage Kenner Star Wars figures: the 12-Backs. Because May is typically a Star Wars month and 2018 is the 40th anniversary that vintage Kenner Star Wars figures arrived at retail, we felt it was the perfect time to start vintage Kenner reviews. (Oh, and let us not forget The Vintage Collection’s return is another huge motivator of this run too.) Each new month, we will focus on a new series of figures where we’ll finish the complete vintage Kenner run in December with the 1985 The Power Of The Force line. Already, they are receiving wonderful feedback and tons of you are checking them out. But we want more of your stories, so please leave them in our comments. Thanks for your participation thus far, and we hope more of you leave your vintage Kenner experiences with us in the comments going forward! Thank you for making this a success for us. We put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into them and we were hoping that they’d go over well with our readers. They seem to have. And for that we’re grateful.

We’re continuing to add the fabulous vintage Kenner Star Wars action figures to our Research Droids Reviews. Let’s continue the momentum with the Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2). Please reminisce with us as we talk about our life-changing vintage Kenner experiences.

JTA Reader Alexander F. sends us in this report of his latest purchase from Gamestop.com. He originally ordered two Artoo-Detoo 40th Anniversary Black Series figures, but when they showed up, he got a big surprise. He opened the large box to find two Supreme Leader Snoke (throne) instead of the Artoo’s. The receipt even says Artoo 40th Anniversary. This seems to happen more than it should. Have any of you had a similar mistake happen? Let us know in the comments below!

You can order the Black Series 40th Anniversary R2-D2 from Gamestop.com for $22.99, you can also get free shipping on orders over $35. Thanks to JTA Reader Kevin for the heads up!