2010 was a landmark year celebrating the 30th Anniversary of what many consider to be the best Star Wars film made, The Empire Strikes Back. For Hasbro action figure collectors, it presented a mixed bag of peaks and valleys as the year progressed. Toy Fair got things started with this year's BMF, the AT-AT, and the announcement of the new Vintage Collection and its fantastic retro style Kenner packaging.

While you're at Wal-Mart looking for Jabba, you might see Matchstick in some of their exclusive DVD figure 2-packs.  It's a good figure with a distinctive design, so it wouldn't kill you to pick him up to pilot your vehicles.  Or would it?  (It wouldn't.)  Read on!

Standing in front of one of the rollercoaster rides of 2010, the Gamorrean Guard is one of those must-buy figures from the year. You got one by now, right?  If not, go get one.  Then, after you've done that, you can read on!

Oh, I do love the Jawa action figures.  This guy is part of a 2-pack of great cartoon-style figures, one of too few aliens to appear in the TV-focused action figure line.  And it's still cheap, too!  Is it worth grabbing?  Read on!

Originally released last year for Target's Geonosis Arena sets, these red Battle Droids, one being a commander, are prime for the army building. Look out for a correction to a smaller size for the eyes by Hasbro for better accuracy. 

As we wrap up 2010, let's look at one of the first figures from 2000-- it's the very first R2-B1!  Made with a chrome dome and only two legs, this figure wasn't exactly a step forward but it sure was colorful.  Is it worth snagging?  Read on!

Oh, what a difference ten years makes.  There was a time where Han Solo (Stormtrooper Disguise) was an unbelievably big deal-- first as a mail-in, than as this store exclusive.  Today?  Worthless.   It's still a nice figure though-- read on!

Is this Darth Maul the best so far?  Maybe!  It's certainly the best at sitting, and it's easily the best toy one so far.  There's still room for improvement, but this 1999 release is so good, Hasbro still has it in circulation today.  Read on!

If you like black repaints, and evidence says you do, this Omega Squad Commando figure is just the thing for you.  Based largely on the Boss design, he's black now... with no real color other than some silvers and greys.  Fancy!  Need it?  Yes.  Read on!

UPDATE: URL Corrected Ad: Vintage continues with the Star Wars Action Figures Vintage Wave 5 Case!   New figures include Luke, Han, a Stormtrooper, and  a few others spanning the saga. Pre-orders are expected to ship in early 2011, click through for pricing and the assortment!

Vader's crack unit gets repacked again for Saga Legends 2010 after being released for The 30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends assortment from 2007. Again, the body of the ROTS super-articulated Clone Trooper (III-41) from 2005 is used and applied with the distinct markings of the 501st Legion. Win all around.

One of the most iconic aliens in the entire Star Wars saga are the Cantina Band musicians, which surprisingly didn't see plastic for the first time until 1997. Also surprising: the 2007 version of the character is the 1997 one with new paint. Is it any better?  Read on!

While the head sculpt is "New Hope" Chewie, being originally released as part of the 2005 Early Bird Kit promotion, Hasbro spattered some slightly distinguishing paint apps for the Hoth treatment. The body itself, with its awesome sculpt and mostly masterfully hidden articulation, not to mention the almost perfect scale, originated from VOTC Chewie in 2004. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just repaint it. It certainly applies here.

SL17 C-3PO is a repack of The Saga Collection release from 2006 featuring the golden deity on his Ewok throne. The vac metal is quite striking and perhaps too clean on this figure, but the overall result is good and true to that particular scene from Return of the Jedi. Would an Ewok fire spit Han and Luke be too much too ask from Hasbro? Probably.

Hasbro corrected the first release of SL12 Obi-Wan Kenobi, the AOTC "you don't want to sell me death sticks" version from Saga 2003, to the intended and represented, not to mention much better done, TAC iteration from 2008. How do mix ups like these happen at the factory? We can only guess, but Hasbro may need to go home and rethink their life...err...quality control.