Blue Milk Special

Inside the Rebel Legion – Part 2 “Voices of the Legion”

In Part 2, I wanted to pose an open question to the Rebel Legion. I hear the 501st and Rebel legions get along just fine when they troop together, however a popular pose I’ve come across for photos seems to be a Rebel on their knees at gun point surrounded by the Boys in White! The 501st also has a much bigger membership worldwide. Being bad is sexy, apparently. So, what are the perks of being a good guy? Tell us why being a Rebel rocks!

StarWarsDave told us he prefers to be a Rebel, even though he may make a 501st or Mandolorian costume in the future. Here are StarWarsDave’s top 10 reasons, in random order:

1) I prefer not to wear a helmet
2) We are not used as Nerf Suction Cup targets at events
3) Most of us can move freely in our outfits
4) Most rebels have a uniqueness; a name, not a number designation
5) I prefer not to sweat much at events
6) Garment bags are easier to carry than trunks
7) We don’t build flipping death stars
8 ) By nature, we stand for justice, yet are rebels
9) We are not stranded on a space station of mostly men
10) I get to play Han Solo, what more can I say?

Marie Cannon – Rebel Legion member
“I chose only the RL, and I don’t need to rationalize it. The good guys are the heroes. Bad guys are just that, bad. They are there for the story, but good will always triumph over evil, that’s the whole message of Star Wars.
“The number of members is irrelevant. Kids love Jedi and pilots and wookiees and ewoks…. and we have Luke Skywalker! They run away from stormtroopers.”

Yeo Kero (Charles Wright) – Terrapin Base XO (pictured above).
“First of all, we can sit down! Us Rebels don’t have the encumbrance of having armor in places that make kicking back easier. It also allows us to do more dramatic poses. We also have a little more customization. “Stormtrooper…Stormtrooper…Stormtrooper” Pilots can customize their helmets and Jedi can have different color schemes and lightsabers. There are advantages to not being “faceless” masses. You can hear, be heard, have full vision. You’ll never catch Rebels marching down a corridor and bonking their noggin on a bulkhead.” 😉

Jon “Hazard Three” Paulson – Sunrider Base CO
“Why a Good Guy? – Why not? Personally I’ve never understood the whole “evil world killers” making kids smile angle, but hey, it works and kids benefit so I say go for it. It’s just for me … I’d rather be a “Good” role model, even if it’s a fictitious one. And the Rebel Legion costumes have so many more benefits than the 501st costumes do, both for costumers and the kids who see us in public. A quick head-to-toe proves it … our faces are open and for the most part not covered by a big scary helmet. This allows for increased interaction with the smallest of fans who are often scared by the 501st’s grim visages. A smile and an audible soft voice go a long way to win over a timid child.

“For our bodies, most RL costumes are soft, giving us increased movement for interaction. Getting down to a child’s level can make the difference between getting a hug or watching them run away toward their parents. Our props too are often more interactive too. I portray a Rebel Pilot and the smile that comes over a child’s face when I ask “Do you want to wear my helmet?” is a gift each and every time. So that’s a lot of benefits for those who see us, but what about for the wearer? It’s easy … costumes are cooler, we can actually sit down to rest, and we don’t have to make a production out of it to use the restroom. =) The $15 I spent to put a double-headed zipper in my flight suit was the best money I ever spent!”

Jenn Harper SL-9695 Maris Brood – Terrapin Base / Old Line Garrison
“I have yet to kneel to any Imperial and I don’t plan on changing that! (But that actually has more to do with my Rebel Legion costumes being white and pale blue, making it a bad idea to kneel in them. =)
“Most Rebel costumes are ‘face characters’, with a few exceptions. We’re not hidden by heavy helmets or masks. When we troop, we have a direct connection with guests and visitors. They see us smile, and know we’re talking to them. We’re also a lot more mobile than say, a Storm Trooper or Lord Vader. Often we encounter small children who are afraid of the characters, and being free of armor we’re able to kneel down to their level and help them push past their fears. This is great for us, and the helmeted characters, because we can be that bridge between them.
“Besides, I get to play a queen. The Empire has a shortage of those!”

Amalphiea / Kellie – Costume Judge – Wretched Hive CO / Terrapin Base
“Because we use our geek powers for good. Everybody loves a Jawa, I can sit down, climb stairs, and never bump my head on anything. Plus, with my light up eyes, I can always see in the dark.”

Quin Mar – Terrapin Base
1) I like to stand out in a crowd.
2) White plastic is so outre.
3) I get to see everything at the Con.
4) I don’t break my costume when I bump into a table, children, wall, sink, door, other helmet heads who can’t see me. (Queue my husband swearing as he breaks yet another piece on his Jango Fett costume.)
5) OMG, I get to run around with a light saber and make children smile instead of shriek in fright.
“Plus, I just like being on the good side.
“My favorite moment so far was when I handed a child my light saber. His eyes were as big as saucers, his mouth in a round o of wonder as he squeaked out, “I can?” He was over the moon with delight.

But, perhaps our favorite answer came from Jenna…

SongofAmazon / Jenna – Legion Costume Judge – Terrapin Base
“My name is Jenna, and I’m here to rescue you!
“There is something really special in being the hero, especially to kids. Sure, there are the little kids that will run up and hug storm troopers’ legs, but as Padme, Leia, Han, Luke, or even an x-wing pilot, you just might be some kid’s hero. They’ll go home and tell all their friends who they met that day.
“Like, I am pretty sure these two kids met their hero that day at the baseball game. It wasn’t Jenna in a white dress with funny hair they met. No, they met Princess Leia.
“Also, as a Star Wars girl, it is really important for me to show my face and be there as a ‘role model’ for younger girls who might be exploring scifi and starting to like it but also starting to wonder if that’s acceptable for girls. I can’t count how many times I’ve heard girls tell their brothers or friends that, see, girls can do Star Wars too. That’s not something you can do from behind a suit of armor or a helmet.
“And yes, we can sit down.”

Many thanks to Ed Bartlebaugh, CO of Terrapin Base as well as everyone else who helped spread the word among the Rebel Legion so we could round up a few answers. Have the Rebel Legion swayed you? Or is the lure of anonymity and shiny villain armor too much?

Check out the Rebel Legion website
Terrapin Base on Facebook
Terrapin Base forum
Terrapin Base Unit Listing at Rebel Legion

DON’T FORGET STAR WARS NIGHT!

If you live in the Maryland / DC area you might be interested in attending Star Wars Night at the Baysox Stadium in Bowie, MD this Saturday 22, 2013. The 501st Legion and Rebel Legion will be there courtesy of the Old Line Garrison and Terrapin Base in costume. A great opportunity to experience a mixture of Star Wars and baseball for the whole family. Leanne and I will be there to drink it all in and have a great time. If you see us, don’t be shy to say hello.