Maine didn’t have any good guys until two weeks ago.
Now we have one. An Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Portland area.
Now rebel recruiter Erich Shafer wants to find Obi some friends.
Shafer, 36, a commanding officer in the Rebel Legion, a worldwide group of costumers who dress as “Star Wars” heroes and allies, is hoping to grow the ranks in Maine.
Shafer, of Massachusetts, is the head of the Legion’s Alderaan Base, which covers all of New England except for Connecticut and boasts 52 members with 109 costumes. Many do double-duty as Jedis, X-Wing pilots and Princess Leias.
Shafer has 15 costumes — and, full disclosure, also belongs to the 501st, a larger group of costuming fans who dress as the Dark Side of the “Star Wars” universe.
“But my heart has always been with the good guys,” he said.
Like the 501st, good-guy rebels appear at comic conventions, movie-related promotions and charity events. One of Shafer’s favorite appearances was a child’s Make-A-Wish birthday up in Maine.
“That’s the kind of event that I believe a lot of us will drop everything to try to get to to make sure we make the kid’s day,” Shafer said. “When I first looked at joining the organizations, from the outside, it’s a very unique group of people. They’re very passionate — we are very passionate — about our hobby, but we’re more passionate about the smiles and the joy we can put on people’s face, about raising the money for charity, about creating that kind of goodwill. If somebody has a love for ‘Star Wars,’ if they want to do good things for good people, this is a great way to do it.”
Basic requirements for joining the Rebel Legion: You must be 18 or older. Own a screen-accurate costume that meets established specs. Participate in one event a year.
And, bam! That’s it. You’re a Jedi. Or Mon Mothma. Or one of 11 on-screen versions of Luke Skywalker. (The 501st’s requirements are similar, but check out both websites for full details.)
At the Rhode Island Comic Con in early November, the 501st and Rebel Legion partnered to raise $3,600 for the ALS Foundation in honor of a Rhode Island man who died not long after being accepted into the 501st. Members had helped Peter Allen finish his TIE Fighter Pilot costume after learning he was looking to join.
At the comic con, fans made donations in exchange for posing in a fan-built Millennium Falcon cockpit replica.
“As cool as it is to have those rock-star moments out in front of the crowd when all eyes are on you, the moments like with Peter, raising that money, that’s the kind of thing that makes me very proud to be a member of both the Rebel Legion and the 501st,” Shafer said. “We’re able to put party lines aside and come together for a good cause.”
kskelton@sunjournal.com
Star Wars costumers want YOU
Ready to join the Rebellion? Find details at www.rebellegion.com
Feel the Dark Side calling? Find details at www.501st.com
Prefer to be a neutral hired gun? The Mandalorian Mercs might be for you. Find more at mandalorianmercs.org
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