I've been a crazy Star Wars geek for almost m whole life, but unlike most, I became a fan through comics, not by movies. The first movie that got me hyped up was Phantom Menace in 1999.
I still remember seeing the tv commercial the first time and the scene of Darth Maul igniting his double-bladed lightsaber was so cool and new back then. Then I also started seeing the posters everywhere and I even bought some very expensive magazines just to get some of those posters for myself. Star Wars posters also inspired me to do art and that was when I got to know who Drew Struzan is. If you do not know who he is, I'm still sure you have seen his work as he illustrated a lot of hit movie posters from Cutthroat Island to Blade Runner back in the day.
Childhood inspiration
I even made my first cosplay back then. I asked my grandmother to make me the clothes and my mother bought me this cheap lightsaber knock-off and then my friend's mom did my face paint for me.
It wasn't much, but it was more than enough for me to play as Darth Maul back then.
Shortly after the movie was released, Darkhorse Comics started a Darth Maul comic series and I even won a little art contest with my old fan art.
Really had no idea I would end up becoming a 501st Legion member a decade later, but sadly I haven't made another Darth Maul costume since. I probably would if I didn't have a beard. Maybe one day...
