The Good: Good concept, Decent detailing, Fairly good articulation.
The Bad: No accessories, Misses a worthwhile joint.
The Basics: The 2-1B Surgical Droids are a staple in the Star Wars universe for multiple generations, but the recast doesn't significantly improve the droid figure to make it indispensable.
When the dam breaks around my home, it truly lets in the flood! Two months ago, I had no figures from the Star Wars 30th Anniversary action figure series. But then, I got in the Mustafar Lava Miner figure (reviewed here!) and the Mustafar Panning Droid (reviewed here!). The third figure from this collection to enter my personal collection was also one of the final figures I purchased from the comic book shop I had worked at and it was the 2-1B Surgical Droid. This was the second 2-1B figure to be made and the first one in more than a decade. And it's worthwhile, but not essential.
For those unfamiliar with the 2-1B Surgical Droid, it appeared near the climax of Revenge Of The Sith (reviewed here!) in the background of the medical chamber where Darth Vader is assembled. The Emperor takes the burned Darth Vader and 2-1B is one of the medical droids which attends to his organic components as he is made into a cyborg.
The 4" 2-1B is at least the second sculpt of this droid to reach the market, the first being the Power Of The Force version in the mid-1990s.
Basics
The 2-1B Surgical Droid figure stands 3 1/2" tall and is generally humanoid in shape. The 2-1B Surgical Droid is gunmetal gray with a slight metallic sheen and features a transparent midsection, which was more visible in The Empire Strikes Back. The sculpt is impressive, getting such details as the three-dot eyes sculpted into the eye sockets perfectly! This droid features what might be considered a breathing mask, which is attached to its chest by a tube, though as a droid it does not breathe. This version of the 2-1B also features the sculpted tubes on the arms and two different hands. The right hand is the three-pronged grabbing hand, the left is a surgical tool which looks like a laser scalpel or protoplaser. This version of 2-1B stands on two large, round feet and it is surprisingly solid. The sculpt also has such impressive detailing as the round port on the droid's chest and the three indentations on the right shoulder!
As for the coloring, the 2-1B Surgical Droid is cast in a faded metallic gray-blue color which looks very realistic. Despite the monotonal nature of the coloring, the figure looks worn, which is pretty neat. The elements that ought to have different colors - the shoulder stripe, the chest port, the tubes - are all appropriately and expertly colored. The eyes are also painted yellow for authenticity and they look good!
Accessories
The 2-1B Surgical Droid is a pretty simple droid and it comes only with the stand. Like some of the 2007 30th Anniversary Collection figures that appear to have been intended for the 2006 Saga Collection, the 2-1B Surgical Droid features a stand. The stand is a 2 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" deep by 1/8" tall stand that is gunmetal colored with the name 2-1B Surgical Droid on the front. The stand features a single peg which plugs into either of 2-1B's feet to allow him to stand.
Playability
The four inch toy line was designed for play and the 2-1B Surgical Droid is very good in that regard, with a few playability issues. The 2-1B Surgical Droid has fair balance on its own, but usually stands all-right. It stands on its stand just fine and looks good for display.
The 2-1B Surgical Droid is articulated with simple swivel joints at the head, hinge joints for the knees and elbows and fully-articulated hinged ball-and-socket joints for the groin socket, ankles and shoulders. The groin articulation is overkill as this oddly does not afford the figure a huge range-of-motion because of how the figure is sculpted. Similarly, the bellbottom type sculpt at the ankles inhibits the rotation with the use of the hinge function. Moreover, Hasbro misses a serious joint by failing to allow either wrist to rotate. These would have increased the playability some and it is disappointing that they cannot move.
Collectibility
The 2-1B Surgical Droid is part of the 30th Anniversary line that was released in 2007. The 2-1B Surgical Droid is 30th Anniversary Collection figure #06. The 2-1B Surgical Droid was fairly uncommon and this whole set was not widely released, so it is still sought after today. Oddly, 2-1B was released in 2007, yet mine has a 2008 copyright on its butt! Given how uncommon this figure was, I would recommend it, but because it has recently been re-released as part of at least two multipacks, its investment potential is likely diminishing.
Overview
The 2-1B Surgical Droid not a knock-your-socks off figure, but it helps those playing or displaying to have a medical droid or two and this is the best one so far.
For other figures from Revenge Of The Sith, please check out my reviews of:
2011 Vintage Collection VC46 AT-RT Driver
2010 Saga Collection General Grievous
2009 Legacy Collection BD47 Commander Bacara
2006 Saga Collection Episode III Heroes And Villains Collection General Grievous
2005 Revenge Of The Sith Collection 56 Mustafar Sentry
6.5/10
For other Star Wars toy reviews, please check out my index page by clicking here!
© 2011 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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