Wizard World Chicago

NAVIGATION

RECENT MISSIONS

CODCON 2007

Wizard world chicago
rosemont, IL
august 4-5, 2006

INTRODUCTION

This year has been going by so quickly, and it’s hard to believe that it’s already August. The summer will be over soon with the approach of autumn, and what better way to end the summer season than to spend time at Wizard World Chicago in Rosemont, Illinois. I’ve been lucky enough to have made it to the last three shows (2003-2005), and this year would be quite different as I would be spending the majority of my time wearing my sandtrooper armor. Instead of playing the usual role of dustrho, I would be known as TD1043 throughout the duration of the show. It would be an experience like no other.

PREPARING FOR THE ASSAULT

It was Friday morning, about 0830 hours, as I unloaded my gear from my vehicle. I started unloading everything from my storage bin into the trunk of my Subaru Forester. Everything was all laid out neatly, so that it would take no time to suit up. I began the quick process of going from everyday civilian to loyal servant of the Empire. People walking and driving by were interested in seeing what I was doing. Some knew I was dressing up to become a stormtrooper or sandtrooper, while others had no clue to what I would become.

I was pumped up about trooping in the show as a sandtrooper, since this would be the biggest event that I have participated in since joining the 501st Legion back in November 2005. Most of events have been parades, birthday parties and other miscellaneous activities, but this would one truly be the biggest event of them all. All the previous Wizard World shows that I had gone to were strictly to walk around, check out all the different people in their costumes, and spend lots of money on Star Wars items. This year I’d be one of those people walking around in a costume, so this would be a whole new experience for me.

Something worth noting is that I injured myself the weekend prior to this (at a kid’s birthday party), as I broke the big toe on my left foot. Since my orthopedic doctor told me that I would need to be on crutches and wear a post-op boot/shoe for six weeks, so you would think that I was going to be doing this show, but I didn’t let this injury slow me down because I was determined to do this show. I knew there would be quite a bit of pain involved, but I wanted to say that I had at least tried suiting up for this. Some said I would be crazy if I suited up in my armor, and those people are absolutely correct about that because I shouldn’t be doing this. Instead, I chose to do it. I taped up my foot so that my big toe wouldn’t bend at all, and added more tape to it than I had been using the last few days. I also wrapped my foot and ankle in an Ace bandage, because I didn’t want my toe to move a single inch on me. Once my foot was wrapped up real tight, it was time to continue suiting up for the big event.

It took no more than fifteen minutes for me to get completely suited up. I placed my storage bin back into my car, grabbed my big gun, locked the car, and headed on out toward the show. Instead of walking outside in the warm sunshine, I decided to take the long air-conditioned walkway all the way to the building’s main lobby. Even though the air conditioning was feeling good for the time being, things were about to get heated up real quick.

THE MISSION BEGINS

Along the way I was stopped only one time by someone who wanted to have a picture taken of me with their cell phone. I was shocked that it had taken more than five minutes before someone wanted a picture of me, as I had passed up several groups of people. I guess there are a lot of people out there who really don’t care or have a love for Star Wars. It would be their loss, not mine. After posing for a brief second I continued on toward the lobby area. What would be the start of a long day, I made my way toward the long escalator that would bring me down to ground level in the lobby. The excitement and anticipation of being mobbed by adults and children with cameras was growing inside me.

As I stepped off the escalator people all around started taking pictures of me. I heard someone shout out, “Look! It’s a stormtrooper!” Of course I wanted to shout back at them and say, “Hey, I’m a sandtrooper, NOT a stormtrooper!” But, I chose to just keep my mouth shut and keep moving on. Many approached me asking to have their picture taken with me, and I was really starting to enjoy the moment. About ten minutes later I decided to make my way onto the showroom floor, where I knew I was going to be mobbed yet again by Star Wars fans. I knew my day had just started as TD1043.

READY FOR BATTLE

The first thing I wanted to do when I got there was to meet up with Chris Spice and Pat Newell (owner and moderator of Sandtroopers.com). Spice had my badge that would let me enter the show, so without that I couldn’t go in there. Him and Pat showed up shortly after I arrived there, got my badge, pinned it on my chest (just under my armor), and we made our way inside the show.

Our initial objective was to see who all had made it to the show so far. We headed toward the Federation Toys booth since that would be our base of operations and we would then meet up with Jim (owner). It was only about 0930 hours and it was already getting crowded in the place. What should have taken no more than five to ten minutes took more than twenty minutes. It didn’t take that long because of the crowds of people, but more so because of all the pictures I had to pose for. Everywhere I went, no matter what aisle I was walking through, people had to get a snapshot of me in my weathered armor. Who wouldn’t want to have their picture taken with this trooper?

LET THE FUN BEGIN!

After hanging out with Jim and other members of the 501st Legion, it was time to start mingling with the crowd. Pat walked around with me for almost the entire day, taking pictures when others wanted to take pictures of me. I had lots of fun doing this, especially when I approached another person in costume. Some of the best moments include me pointing my blaster at Spider Man, Pikachoo (spelling?) and the fearless Predator that was stalking the show. Any time I did some action pose with these costumers, the cameras were unleashed and the flashes started firing off at free will.

As we were marching up and down the aisles we noticed a wrestling ring that took up a great amount of space. There were these hardcore wrestlers in the ring who were going at each other. It was something that reminded me of the Ultimate Fighting Championship style of fighting. One of them in the ring said, “Bring that stormtrooper up here so we can beat him around a bit.” Then the ring announcer was trying to get me to come up there in the ring, and after just a few seconds I was persuaded to get up in there with the other wrestlers.

Now, I wasn’t going to do anything drastic in my armor, but I did have fun pretending like I was going to fight these guys. I was moving around the ring pretending that I was going to take them out. One of the wrestlers stepped up behind me, picked me up, and it seemed like he was going to throw me down onto the canvas floor. I told him that this armor can’t take this kind of abuse, and he gently placed me back on the floor. Another guy who was well more than 6’5” approached me, and I stood just inches away from him face-to-face. I wasn’t ready for what was about to happen, because he decided to head butt me with a pretty big blow. That didn’t feel good as the inside of my helmet smashed into the top portion of my nose, causing an immense amount of pain inside my skull. I informed him that there isn’t any padding inside these and that what he had done hurt quite a bit, and he was very apologetic after that. I know these guys meant no harm, so it didn’t really bother me on bit.

DOUG WANGLER NOW 501ST

On Saturday, August 5, Doug Wangler was inducted as an honorary member of the 501st Legion. This was the ultimate highlight of the entire weekend, as Doug is a person who totally deserved to become part of such a wonderful organization. With more then thirty members from the 501st (stormtroopers, sandtroopers, scout troopers and more) surrounding Fed Jim’s booth, the ceremony stopped all movement in the immediate area. It was even announced on the intercom system that the area has ceased moving, and that it needed to be opened up for foot traffic. Chip Childress handled the presentation well, and you could just tell by looking at Doug’s face that he was really enjoying this special moment. This was the highlight of Wizard World and is something I will always remember.

DAMAGE CONTROL

After being on my feet for more than eight hours each day (Friday and Saturday), I think my broken toe held up well. It wasn’t in severe pain as I had been expecting, but it was sore and it had started swelling pretty bad. The rest of my body was hurting quite a bit, and each night after I got home I took a long hot bath to help sooth my aching body and muscles. I wasn’t used to being on my feet that long, let alone while wearing all that armor and the backpack.

Would I dress up in my armor again while having a broken toe, knowing that I’d be on my feet for that long period of time? I sure would. By being as cautious as possible, I was able to prevent further injury to my toe thanks to the heavy duty wrapping I did with it. I’m lucky that nothing bad happened with it. I know I shouldn’t have been on my feet like that, but I didn’t want to miss out on this major event. I’m glad I made it to the show as a sandtrooper.

CONCLUSION

All in all, I had a fabulous time at this year’s Wizard World. It was the first time wearing my armor at such a large convention. It was the first time I would be there as a member of the 501st Legion, instead of being a regular attendee. I got the chance of meeting Chad McDonald in person for the first time. I had fun hanging out with Spice, Pat, Chad and all the other individuals at the show. I’m very much looking forward to next year’s Wizard World, but it will be here before I know it.