Marvel Tie-In Comic Explains Why C3PO's Arm Was Red in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

The world experienced a jolt of joy when Anthony Daniels' classic character from all six previous Star Wars films appeared in last year's The Force Awakens, but there was something fairly different about the famous droid at the beginning of J.J. Abrams' sequel: he had a red arm. In a recent Marvel tie-in comic, the reason for this is finally revealed!

According to Uproxx, Marvel's latest Star Wars comic reveals that, years back, there was a mission to rescue Admiral Ackbar that involved C-3PO, and that also meant delivering an Imperial protocol droid for the information it had in its hard drive. During this time, the two droids become close -- and ultimately, the Imperial droid sacrifices himself to protect Threepio, so the droid decides to keep his friend's arm as a tribute.

It's unclear why he was so adamant in getting his original golden-colored arm in the film, however.

As The Independent reports, the comic, co-written by James Robinson and Tony Harris (best known for co-creating DC's Starman), explores C-3PO as something beyond the comic relief he's always been in the Star Wars movies. Throughout the recently released comic, the fact that droids' memories are deleted time and time again is treated thoroughly -- something audiences know has happened to C-3PO in the past.

Interestingly enough, in the new material it is revealed C-3PO actually remembers bits and scraps from his former life, as it's important to note this droid has been around for a very long time: between the time he was built by Anakin Skywalker during The Phantom Menace to the point where we meet him again in Force Awakens there's about 50 years.

The comic greatly explores the nature of C-3PO in particular as a protocol droid, including how he's had to go off his programmed capacities and in general the way droids are treated within the Star Wars universe: they're just tools, even though some have sentience.

Star Wars Special: C-3PO: The Phantom Limb is one of many tie-in Marvel comics in which Disney explains what happened in the 30 years between the last installment, Return of the Jedi, and last year's Force Awakens.