Collectors Choose Japan's Best Star Wars Merch

Before the days of Family Guy's Cleveland/ R2-D2 or the bizarre POTF2 [that's the Power of the Force 2 action figure series] Proton Torpedo R5-D4, there was the granddaddy of astromechs packing heat. Who needs a Rocket-Firing Boba Fett figure when in 1978 you could have a Rocket-Firing R2-D2?

I love this toy produced by Takara, and how Japanese licensees would often add their own take or spin on Star Wars products. Who would need (or suspect) Artoo to launch missiles? I mean think of the possibilities; surrounded by Jawas? BRING IT ON. Chased by TIE fighters? BLAM STRAIGHT IN THE KISSER.

Standing a little higher than the Kenner version, Artoo's body is made of die-cast metal and similar to its Kenner counterpart in that it featured a clicking head dome. Each Artoo came with a sticker sheet, three missiles and a display base. A missile could be loaded into the body and launched forward from pressing the switch on the back of the toy. -- Dave Tree