John Mangus is a member of the Bast Alpha Garrison, the Louisiana Chapter of the 501st Legion. He and fellow volunteers are part of a 5,000-member worldwide costuming organization that promotes the interest of Star Wars.
Members create their own costumes, attend events and contribute to charities in their communities. In 2011 approximately 5.8 million dollars were raised for charity by contributing 501st members like John.
Known to fellow troopers at SL2494 (or Sith Lord 2494), Mangus portrays a movie-accurate homemade Darth Maul. Along with stormtroopers and even Vader himself, Darth Maul and the Dark Side will unite as a Force of heroes for charity in the fight against leukemia.
The 501st Legion will present a fan table during Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from January 28-29 2012.
As a special attraction, Bast Alpha Garrison presents ‘Shoot The Trooper' all weekend.
"A replica set of the Death Star provides a backdrop for participants to fire NERF darts at their favorite Star Wars character," according to Jeff Kent of the 501st. "Free photo opportunities are available on the set with the costumed characters. The attraction is designed to help raise money with 100% of the donations going to the 'Taylor Lee Mangus Special Needs Fund.' The event takes place on the main show floor both days during show hours."
John Mangus will also pose as Darth Maul for special photo ops on Saturday. Though no donations are required to pose for a photo with any member of the 501st Legion, donations are requested. Proceeds will assist in the care of a very special young lady.
“Taylor is my niece,” stated Mangus. “She’s the daughter of my brother Pat Mangus, a retired new Orleans police officer. Taylor is an outstanding student with an average greater than 4.0, just a well rounded young lady. She was diagnosed with ALL leukemia in Baton Rouge and sent to St. Jude in Memphis for 2 months. She is home now off and on, when she is not taking treatments at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. Some of her treatment is inpatient. Some is outpatient. She is undergoing chemo currently and will be returning to St. Jude at some point.
“There are lots of daily needs that Taylor has that are not covered by insurance. Taylor is so immunosuppressed she can’t have hand towels and regular dishes, plates or glasses because of the chance of there being even a small amount of bacteria. She cannot even attend this event. She must wear covers over her shoes and face. There are transportation costs for her to go to St. Jude. She is on a restrictive diet. All that adds up.”
A fan has offered to donate a Darth Maul action figure to Mangus for the cause. When asked how he might utilize the toy to help Taylor, he said, “I was thinking we could raffle it off, or better yet, whoever makes the biggest donation gets it.”
Mangus shared the story of how he came to decide on portraying the Sith Lord:
“There are a couple reasons. It is good to have a bald character. I didn’t want to wear a helmet. Ray Park [who portrayed Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace] is a martial artist and I am an accomplished martial artist. I wanted to use some of these skills. Even though I am taller (Park is 5’8” or 5’9”) and was in decent shape, I wanted to be thinner and lost 20 pounds with diet and exercise. Now the costume fits bitter and looks better. I am kind of a zealot about it now!
“I’ve always wanted to do a Sith-type character. I am tall, but I didn’t really want to do Vader. The biggest stumbling block is, believe it or not, the boots. Frank Thomas English boots from 1998 are very hard to get. They don’t make them anymore. Two versions were used in the movie and in movie promotions. Once I was able to acquire those at a somewhat decent price it all came together.
"I got the makeup from the Studio Creations company that did the movie. Shane Dison helped me make a life cast of my face. It is so hard to lay there 90 minutes with plaster on your face and straw on your nose. We made a plaster mold of my face then Shane and I poured the plaster. Jeff Schunneman used a special machine he owns to make my face into a vacuum form so I have my face now in plastic.
"I used my freehand ability to draw Darth Maul’s pattern on the face then I dremelled it out and cut it by hand to make a stencil that can fit right onto my face . Then the paint is 100% alcohol-based and sprayed on with an airbrush. David Campbell did the original makeup. Brian Held will likely do the makeup for me this Saturday, and I know he will do a great job. It takes 3 hours to do, and it will not come off with water or rub off. The costume is made of silk, linen, Egyptian cotton and deerskin. That Sith may be horrible, but he is very fashionable.”
The group will also present a costume panel on Saturday Jan. 28 from 11—11:45 a.m. in Room B.
For more information on the 501st Legion Bast Alpha Garrison, click here, or friend them on Facebook.
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