Mighty Muggs: A Defense of Darth Maul

This is my new tv stand decor item. Mighty Muggs is a toy type from the Hasbro company. It is made from "100% recycled awesome", though I am unsure what that means. Nevertheless, I thought this particular MM figure was pretty cool for three good reasons.

(1) Darth Maul has always been awesome in the STAR WARS universe. His appearance as the Phantom Menace from Episode I was brilliant, and his use of the double-blade light saber phenomenal. The body tattoos and art was reminiscent of Mephistopheles, except way cooler and the ability to manipulate the Force. In addition to this, his few lines provided some insight to his interpretation of the Force, and his beliefs to bring down the Jedi were very clear.

(2) Several of my friends call me Darth. It is one of my many nicknames. One reason for this is that many of them know that I love STAR WARS and so they call me that. Furthermore, I created an alternate identity on Facebook as Darth Logeon.

(3) Darth Maul is so cool that my senior year of high school I woke up a few hours early on Halloween so my brother could paint my face in the style of Darth Maul. Since my brother is an artist and he is a STAR WARS fan, the end product looked very, very cool. Sadly, back then I did not appreciate pictures and so I have no pictures to provide as substantiating evidence.

There you have it. A defense on why Darth Maul is absolutely one of the coolest villains ever created. One other thing I failed to mention. When I bought my MM figure I just couldn't help myself to one other STAR WARS purchase: a bobble head Boba Fett.

Darth Vader

There comes a time in every young man's life that he finally realizes what he wants to be when he grows up. There are multiple dreams and ambitions, but there is always one definite epiphany. At least there was for me. An epiphany that rattles to the bone marrow.
I wanted to become Darth Vader. If wielding the ultimate powers of the Dark Side wasn't enough to tempt me, there was the numerous other traits of Lord Vader that were certainly admirable. He, like Johnny Cash, was a man in black. His suit was constructed to fit him perfectly, casting that ominous shadow everywhere he went. He had a lightsaber for cryin' out loud. What kind of person doesn't want to own a lightsaber? Vader also was the second most powerful person in the galaxy (at least in order of command by the Empire) and had the authority to demolish entire planets. Logically it can be determined that Darth Vader could do whatever he pleased.

But then comes the dilemma. Darth Vader, a Dark Lord of the Sith, had too many problems. Being Darth Vader comes with the burden of loss and anguish. To take on the mask means taking on his pain. He believed that Padme would die and he wanted to save her. Satan, I mean,Chancellor Palpatine twisted Vader's mind to where he didn't know what to believe. He only thought that he had to trust Palpatine to help him save Padme. Foolish, aye, but out of love. A deep love for Padme. And there was also the sorrow of having killed numerous (practically all) Jedi. He not only failed in the Order, but he failed himself.

So being Darth Vader is a tricky business. Indeed the powers and shiny black suit would be mine, but as would the heartache. I believe I must pass on it. Though the Dark Side tempts me, I shall not give in. I shall remain myself, loyal to the true Force. The Light Side is too strong to leave. And Vader finally comes back over to it, so why should I want to be him anyway? I'm sure he'd forsake all that's Dark.....