A long time ago, a classic science fiction saga debuted.
It has spawned legiions of fans and its effects reach far, far, away.

A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY — Not such a long time ago, science fiction films weren’t the eye-popping extravaganzas they are today.
The typical sci-fi movie had aliens in lame costumes and plots with holes so big you could fly a Star Destroyer through them.
That all changed when George Lucas unleashed the first Star Wars film on the moviegoing public 30 years ago, and a legend was born.
“They’re good movies,” said Dan Pedersen, a Lakewood fan whose favorite character is Darth Vader. “It’s a classic struggle between good and evil, and that’s why the stories hold up.”
The saga of rebels and an evil empire bent on galactic domination told in the six Star Wars movies is familiar to everyone who hasn’t been living on a desert island (or planet) for the last three decades.
Monday marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the first movie, known these days as “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.”
The success of that first Star Wars movie spawned two sequels, three prequels, a Christmas special that was such a flop almost no one acknowledges its existence anymore, a couple of movies based on the cuddly Ewoks made famous in “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi,” and several cartoon series.
Collectors have bought up action figures, video games, role-playing games, lunchboxes, life-size cardboard stand-ups of characters and pretty much anything else that a movie franchise logo could be stuck upon.
Josh Vardous, of Lorain, is the past president of the Ohio Star Wars Collectors Club and is spending the weekend with fellow aficionados at one of the rare Star Wars conventions in Los Angeles.
“It’s just interesting with all the mythos just built in,” he said.
But that doesn’t mean he’s liked all of the movies. The most recent movies — particularly “The Phantom Menace,” which featured Darth Vader’s childhood — have been panned by critics and fans. Vardous said the most recent versions lost some of the soul and magic that made the original trilogy so good.
“They’re definitely not something I love to watch,” he said. “But there’s bits and pieces I enjoy.”
And even though the movies have run their course (creator Lucas has said he doesn’t plan to make anymore), the story continues in novels, comic books and a planned television series.
Vardous, 28, said he kind of just fell into collecting Star Wars stuff, but it’s become a passion.
“I love the movies. I love the collecting,” he said.
But then Vardous and Pedersen aren’t your typical fans —both are members of the 501st Legion, a worldwide organization of fans who dress up as their favorite characters from the movies for charity. The group has even received recognition from Lucas himself
It isn’t a cheap hobby. Pedersen, who at six foot seven is the same height as David Prowse, the actor who portrayed Vader in the first three movies, largely gave up collecting Star Wars memorabilia to save about $3,000 for a replica costume of one of the most famous movie villains.
“I don’t buy like I used to. There was a time a few years ago when I bought everything,” Pedersen said. “It’s expensive.”
Being a huge Star Wars fan isn’t always easy, Pedersen said. The 28-year-old has taken some grief over the years, especially for dressing up as Darth Vader, but once he tells people about the charity work he does in costume such as visiting children in the hospital, it usually subsides.
And he doesn’t let it get to him.
“I embrace my inner nerd,” he said.Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com.

COURTESY DAN PENDERSON
Dan Pedersen of Lakewood purchased a Darth Vader costume and appears in the garb for charity. The storm trooper is Joshua Vardous of Lorain.

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