`Star Wars' Dark Side Lightens Up

Friday, July 23, 2010 1:08 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Wireless Flash - FlashNews) – Believe it or not, The Force of good is actually strong in Darth Vader and the dark Imperial Army.

The “501st Legion” is a crew of hardcore Star Wars fans that dress up as Stormtroopers and other bad guys from the iconic flick and do good deeds.

Along with “promoting and celebrating” their favorite franchise, Legion Public Relations Officer Dean Plantamura says they do charity work for the likes of Make-A-Wish and other good causes.

So maybe now the dark side won’t have such a bad rap.

Says Plantamura: “We do the villain characters because it’s more fun to be the bad guys. They have cooler costumes. But we’re bad guys that do good. We’re improving the perception of fans.”

Additionally, members of the 501st Legion are excited to “have a second childhood” and dress up as their favorite legendary icons.

Surprisingly, though, sometimes people confuse them for Power Rangers.

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