The 3PX-series protocol droid or 3PX series droids^[2] were third-degree protocol droids produced by Cybot Galactica in 50 BBY as an extension of the company's 3PO-series protocol droid line.

History[]

The 3PX line was marketed exclusively in the Outer Rim Territories^[1], and due to the diversity of that region, had a less Human design than the mainline 3PO units. The 3PX-series could not match the 3PO's popularity, in large part due to its harsh, angular face, similar to that of the later RA-7 protocol droid model. The series thus enjoyed only a limited production run.

One of the most infamous 3PX units was C-3PX, converted into an assassin droid by Darth Maul^[3] and later refitted with the chassis of a 3PO unit by Raith Sienar.^[1]

Darth Vader used one of these droids, K-3PX, in his search for Luke Skywalker on Gamandar.^[4]

Behind the scenes[]

3PX-series protocol droids first appeared with the character K-3PX in the 75th issue of the 1977 Star Wars series by Marvel Comics,^[5] written by Mary Jo Duffy and illustrated by Ron Frenz and first published on June 14, 1983.^[6] Another 3PX-series protocol droid, C-3PX, then later appeared in the third issue of Star Wars: Droids (1994) first published on by June 21, 1994 by Dark Horse Comics.^[7] He then later reappeared in the junior novel Episode I Adventures 3: The Fury of Darth Maul and it's accompanying Game Book written by Ryder Windham^[3] and published in November 1999.^[8][9]

Appearances[]

• Episode I Adventures 3: The Fury of Darth Maul (and Game Book)
• Droids (1994) 3
• Star Wars (1977) 74 (First mentioned)
• Star Wars (1977) 75 (First appearance)
• Star Wars (1977) 76
• Star Wars (1977) 80 (Mentioned only)

Sources[]

• "Straight from the Horse's Mouth" — Star Wars Insider 25 (Picture only)
• Cynabar's Fantastic Technology: Droids (Picture only)
• Star Wars Encyclopedia
• The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
• C-3PO: Tales of the Golden Droid
• "Galaxy's Most Wanted: C-3PX" — Star Wars Gamer 3
• The New Essential Guide to Characters
• Ultimate Adversaries
• The Official Star Wars Fact File 132 (SEE 3-4: C-3PX)
• The Official Star Wars Fact File 135 (SEE 5-6: C-3PX)
• Star Wars: The Comics Companion
• Threats of the Galaxy
• The New Essential Guide to Droids
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
• Star Wars: Droid Factory (Build-A-Droid: C-3PX) (backup link)
• Star Wars: Droid Factory (Build-A-Droid: Darth Vader & K-3PX) (backup link)
• "More Menace!" — Star Wars Insider 109
• "A Long Time Ago, In a Toy Aisle Not So Far Away...." — Star Wars Insider 120
• Maul, Darth in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
• Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection
• The Official Star Wars Fact File Part 19 (CPX 1-4: C-3PX)

Notes and references[]