The 501st Legion: Bad Guys Doing Good at Emerald City Comicon

Almost as long as there’s been Emerald City Comicon, the 501st Legion’s Garrison Titan has been there. As the convention has grown bigger each year, the Star Wars interactive space for families has grown with it. For this year’s ECCC, the 501st Legion teamed up with the Alpha Base Rebel Legion, Jet City Saber Guild, SARLACC, and the Ewok Builders Club to create a Star Wars experience unlike any other—all for a good cause.

Every year the Star Wars costuming and props groups in the Seattle area join forces to create a Star Wars interactive area at Emerald City Comicon. To enter, all they ask is for an optional donation to the Seattle Children’s Hospital. (In previous years, the fundraising efforts benefitted the Children’s Therapy Center in Seattle.) 100% of the donations go to Seattle Children’s Hospital.

This year’s exhibit was the largest yet, created and run for four days with the help of over 100 volunteers from each of the Star Wars costuming and collecting organizations. All of the builds and displays are funded by the members themselves, Garrison Titan member Nicole Miller says, sometimes with the assistance of a GoFundMe campaign to help with the costs.

At Emerald City Comicon 2017, convention-goers were treated to stunning photo ops on a speederbike in the forest of Endor, around the dejarik table on the Millennium Falcon, and inside the cockpit of an X-wing. Volunteers were on hand to help kids and adults alike suit up and strike a pose.

Last year the Garrison Titan donated an incredible $20,000 to the children’s hospital as a result of all of their hard work at that year’s Emerald City Comicon. This year will likely exceed that amount, as the high-traffic area is proving to be more popular year after year.

“As soon as one Emerald City Comicon ends, planning for the next one begins,” says Miller. The early planning stages to build a landspeeder for 2018 have already begun, and Miller herself hopes to see a tauntaun join the Legion on the show floor at the next convention.

Visit the 501st Legion web site for more information about appearances and charity work nationwide.

All Photos: Kelly Knox