Star Wars: C-3PO

Star Wars Special: C-3PO (subtitled The Phantom Limb) is a one-shot Star Wars comic book, set immediately before the events of the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It explains how protocol droid C-3PO obtained his red arm, which was prominently featured in the film. The book was written by James Robinson with art by Tony Harris and published by Marvel Comics on April 13, 2016. Robinson and Harris were the creative team previously responsible for the DC Comics title Starman between 1994 and 2001.

Star Wars Special: C-3PO
Issue #1 cover (April 13, 2016)
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
FormatLimited series
Genre
Publication dateApril 2016
No. of issues1
Creative team
Written byJames Robinson
Artist(s)Tradd Moore (cover)
Penciller(s)Tony Harris
Letterer(s)Joe Caramagna
Editor(s)Jordan White

Plot
Goodness! Han Solo! It is I, C-3PO. You probably don't recognize me because of the red arm.

 — Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

The story opens with the crash landing of a ship on an unknown planet. The only survivors are six droids, who emerge from the wreckage just as it explodes: C-3PO, VL-44, PZ-99 (a security droid), CO-34 (construction), 2-MED2 (medical), and Omri (First Order protocol). Omri is being held prisoner as it knows the location where Admiral Ackbar is being held captive. The comic book details the droids' journey to a homing beacon 87 kilometres (54 mi) distant, which they hope to activate to alert rescuers, despite having ordeals with the planet's impending hazards, including its droid-eating predators.

Publication

In March 2015, Lucasfilm announced "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens", a publishing initiative consisting of "at least" 20 novels and comic books from multiple publishers intended to connect the previous films with The Force Awakens and its forthcoming sequels.[1][2] C-3PO #1 was announced in September 2015 and was intended to explain why the veteran protocol droid has a red arm. The comic was written by James Robinson with art by Tony Harris, and initially was to be published in December 2015.[3] The one-shot was published by Marvel Comics on April 13, 2016.[4]

Reception

Reviewing for IGN, Jesse Schedeen wrote it "was a story worth telling" and praised Robinson's deft portrayal of C-3PO's relationships and memories.[5]

In other media

In an interview, J. J. Abrams, the director of the film, stated "Moments like Threepio's arm came from the desire to, well, mark time."[6] It has been rumored that C-3PO's red arm is an Easter egg referring to the character of Venom Snake in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, who has a red-colored prosthetic left arm.[7] Abrams and Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima are known to be friends.[8] It is not clear if the tribute is intentional.[9]

The story told in the comic was later made into a playable level for the video game Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens, available as a free download exclusively for PlayStation 3 and 4 users.[10]

References
  1. Breznican, Anthony (March 9, 2015). "Star Wars to release 20 books in journey to The Force Awakens". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  2. "'Journey To Star Wars: The Force Awakens Publishing Program Coming Fall 2015" (Press release). StarWars.com. March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  3. "How did C-3PO get his red arm? Find out in Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1". StarWars.com. September 4, 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  4. "The mystery of Threepio's red arm revealed in Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1 – Exclusive preview!". StarWars.com. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  5. Schedeen, Jesse (13 April 2016). "Star Wars Special: C-3PO #1 Review". IGN. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  6. J.J. Abrams (November 2015). "Lucky VII: Superfan J.J. Abrams on directing The Force Awakens". Wired (Interview). Interviewed by Scott Dadich. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  7. Mahmood, Sikandar (27 January 2016). "Hideo Kojima Was Mentioned in Star Wars Episode VII, Did You Catch It?". SegmentNext. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  8. Tailford, Scott (5 July 2016). "LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens - 10 Easter Eggs, Secrets & References You Must Find". WhatCulture. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  9. Avendano, Yamila (21 December 2015). "Star Wars: The Force Awakens Unintentionally Makes a Reference to MGSV". Twinfinite. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  10. McMillan, Graeme (9 August 2016). "New 'Lego Star Wars' Update Lets Gamers Help C-3PO Get a New Arm". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
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