Rebelscum.com: Photo Archive

ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2) /
ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2) (with Sensorscope) /
R2-D2 (with Periscope)

Source:
(The Empire Strikes Back)

Date Stamp: 1977

Release Date: 1981

Carded Availability:
The Empire Strikes Back
Return of the Jedi

Assortment No. : 69590

Retail: $2.49

Weapons and Accessories:

Sensorscope

Point of Interest:
This figure was included in the Rebel Command Center, but made its first carded appearance on The Empire Strikes Back 45 back card. This figure also appeared as R2-D2 with Periscope on a Canadian exclusive skin wrapped card*.

Comments: Who saw it all? Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) (with Sensorscope) saw it all, that's who. Even though the original Star Wars generation couldn't have possibly known that the little astromech droid would have seen the entire Star Wars Saga first hand, but when considering the little droid's popularity, it certainly makes sense for George Lucas to include him in all the episodes of his opus. Still though, one must ask, with all of Artoo's advanced technology and recording equipment in his rusty innards, why didn't he sell bootlegs of the Prequels back in the day?

Major Variations: Though all vintage figures have minor variations, the Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) (with Sensorscope) figure has no major variations. Interestingly though, Kenner kept the figure's original date stamp even though this version is slightly smaller than the standard issue Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) figure that was produced before this one.

*The Canadian Skin Wrapped figures were produced for Sears Canada and were included as exclusive bonus figures in multi-packs created for the holiday catalog. Since these figures had not yet been released on card backs, Kenner produced them vacuum-sealed on lower quality cards that had every element a regular Canadian The Empire Strikes Back cards had save an actual character image or the individual colours on the name plate and behind the figure itself. The card back was completely unprinted. Though in some cases renamed from the mass released versions, the skin wrapped figures were: Dengar, Ugnaught, Lobot (Lando's Aid), Han Solo (Cloud City Outfit), General Veers, Luke Skywalker (Hoth Outfit), and R2-D2 with Periscope.