Derek Flinner is Darth Vader.

“It's a dream come true,” said the 35-year-old Prospect man.

While many people might pick the iconic Star Wars bad guy as a Halloween costume or for dress-up, Flinner is one of the elite few in this area who took the extra step — a year and the half in the making — to fashion a costume as screen accurate as possible and make charity appearances with the 501st Legion, a worldwide Star Wars costuming organization made up of fans.

“There's a night-and-day difference between (Halloween costumes) and those of us who are trying to make the best out of our passion,” Flinner said.

“Sometimes I wonder how many selfie pictures people have taken with me are on the Internet. I have no idea,” Flinner said.

Greg Ochaba of Butler has been a member of the 501st for about nine years. He said at present the Garrison Cariba, which includes members in Pennsylvania and Delaware, has about 180 members. Of them, less than a dozen live in Butler County, “And he's the only Darth Vader.”

Ochaba, who portrays a commander, said having a Darth Vader in the group really helps keep the atmosphere fun at charity events.

“He's the rock star ... everyone flocks to him and lights up,” Ochaba said. “I'm proud to say I knew him before he was Darth Vader.”

Flinner grew up fascinated with Star Wars.

“Obsessed,” he said. “And the first time I saw Darth Vader on the screen, I said, 'That's one heck of a figure.'”

But not until recently did Flinner make the commitment to portray one of the characters publicly. He said often people who choose to go this extra step pick other characters, such as storm troopers, because the costumes are less elaborate and less costly.

But “I'm six-foot-seven so I would have been an odd-looking storm trooper,” he said. “I'm the right height, weight and build (for Darth Vader) so I said, 'I'm going to do it.'”

Flinner set about making his costume as true as possible, based on the “New Hope” film; sometimes making pieces, sometimes commissioning them and sometimes hunting them down on the Internet.

He got costume parts from around the world, including Argentina, Germany, Great Britain and Canada.

“You can't go to a Star Wars store and pick this stuff up,” Flinner said.

He finished last October and his costume passed the 501st approval process. He's been appearing at charity events, such as library literacy campaigns and at Make-A-Wish events.

Don't even ask how much money he's spent piecing the outfit together. He said he didn't keep count.

“You just do a little dance and say, 'I finally got there,' when it's finished,” said Flinner, who notes that most people in the group take pride in the craftsmanship of their costumes.

“We try to bring the experience as close as possible. And it's as well put together as we can do,” he said.

Once the outfit is complete, it is up to the portrayer if he or she wants to act and speak in character. Flinner, for example, has a breathing machine and built-in voice changer.

“But nobody sounds like James Earl Jones,” he said.

Sometimes, the charity events have scripts to make children comfortable and keep them from becoming scared by the characters. But mostly it's ad-lib.

“Occasionally I will say something like, 'The force is strong with this one.' The kids just love seeing Star Wars characters,” he said.

“Sometimes children are afraid. But we're not there to instill fear. We are the bad guys doing good,” he said. “Through the limited visibility I have in that helmet, I can't tell you how many smiles I've seen.”

Flinner said he recognizes there's a revived community interest with the release of the “The Force Awakens.”

The 501st's next official appearance is April 9 at the Butler Library.

And, although it is not a 501st project, Flinner also plans to appear at the Pittsburgh Comic & Collectibles Show at the Clearview Mall Saturday.

Flinner, an IT guy by day, said his wife Abby is supportive of his passion. And as for his children, 3-year-old Piper and 1-year-old Eden?

They're not afraid of the big dark suit.

“Piper wants to be a storm trooper. She has a Halloween costume of a storm trooper, and she wears it just as much as she wears a princess dress,” Flinner said.

If You're Going

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Pennsylvania comic book chain New Dimension Comics will present its annual convention, the Pittsburgh Comic & Collectibles Show, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Clearview Mall's center court.

Attendees can take advantage of freebies and giveaways.

All attendees will have a chance to win raffle prizes. Winners will be pulled every half-hour.

Darth Vader will be in attendance from noon to 3 p.m., along with other Star Wars costumed characters.

Local artists John Martin, Jack Vasvary and Roy Hughes will be on hand to sign and sketch. Comic book vendors will be set up as well.