Here's why C-3P0 has a red arm in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

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WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Star Wars: C-3P0 #1.

Among the many questions Star Wars: The Force Awakens left unanswered was the mystery of C-3PO's red arm, a peculiar decision which was a source of major contention between JJ Abrams and C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels on set. Thanks to Marvel one-shot comic Star Wars: C-3PO #1, the story behind the humanoid robot's red appendage has been revealed.

Titled 'The Phantom Limb', the comic reveals that Threepio was part of a group - which includes four other Resistance droids in addition to First Order protocol droid OMRI - whose ship crash landed on an unidentified planet. The droids escape and journey into the hostile alien planet to search for their crew, but OMRI - who has information on where the First Order have taken Admiral Ackbar - leads them into a trap.

In the ensuing ruckus all droids except C-3PO and OMRI are destroyed, with C-3PO losing his arm to a sea creature. While taking shelter from the acid rain OMRI has a change of heart, sharing Admiral Ackbar's location with Threepio and ultimately sacrificing himself so that the gold droid can be rescued. To remember his friend, C-3PO keeps OMRI's red arm and eventually wears it as a tribute. Which is simultaneously creepy and heartwarming...

Check out the cover for the comic below...

Directed by JJ Abrams and starring Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Adam Driver, Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be available to digital download on April 11, 2016, and out on DVD and Blu-Ray on April 5, 2016 in the US and April 18, 2016 in the UK.

Images: Disney/Lucasfilm

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Amon Warmann
Amon Warmann

Amon is a contributing editor and columnist for Empire magazine, but is also a Film and TV writer for 12DOVE, Total Film, and others. He has also written for NME, Composer Mag, and more, along with being a film critic for TalkSport. He is also the co-host of the Fade to Black Podcast, and a video mashup creator. Can also do a pretty good Bane impersonation.

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