Steampunk Coslpaly Spotlight: an Interview With Dude Vader

Introducing Dude Vader

I recently had the honor of interviewing the incredibly creative and accomplished Christopher Canole. Christopher is a writer, artist, cosplayer, and more. His main cosplay is Dude Vader, a steampunk version of the redeemed villain who lived through the destruction of the second Death Star and turned back to the light side of the Force. His steampunk costume is incredibly creative, as you'll discover.

He is a founding member of the Star Wars Steampunk Universe, which includes many members now, some of whom I've interviewed in previous Steampunk Cosplay Spotlights. Those links are in the interview, so let's get to it!

The Interview

Jonathan Fesmire: First, Chris, please tell us a little about you. Who is the man behind Dude Vader?

Dude Vader: I am a WGA scriptwriter, sculptor, illustrator and occasional actor. My script Felix the Flyer produced by Big Boy Films will be one of the first movies filmed in Cuba telling the story of a Cuban mailman who ran and walked 1,200 miles up the Mississippi River to run in the 1904 Olympic Marathon. As an Earth Art sculptor I was New York City Parks first artist-in-residence and I represented the United States at the Biennale de Paris. My illustrations are hanging in The White House, Vatican, Smithsonian and International Olympic Museum. I appeared in Silk Stalkings, Apollo 13 and many movies of the week. Like Dude Vader I now live on the beach, hanging out with friends tinkering with my costume and enjoying conversations with people of all ages.

JF: How did you get into cosplay, and how long have you been Dude Vader?

DV: At last year’s San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) International my oldest friend, Terry McCully (Commander McFlash) challenged me to join the steampunk community. I pondered what would be the biggest aspect of the 2015 SDCC… Star Wars. Looking at all the Star Wars characters I saw two were made-to-order to be steampunked, C3PO and Darth Vader. I was way too large to play C3PO.

Vader’s mask inspired me to create a back-story for a steampunk version. What if Vader survived the battle with his son, retired from the Empire, moved to the beach, wore Hawaiian shirts, caught waves with the Silver Surfer, and like in his young Anakin years redesigned his arm and legs utilizing discarded kids’ Star Wars toys? Last December I met Nathan Seekerman at a steampunk fashion show. Nathan had just received the Best Costume award at the SDCC Starburner Galactic Courier Service gathering, so I figured he would give me good advice on how to improve my outfit and presentation. We hit it off great when we realized I cross swords against his dad in a fencing tournament years ago (I was UCSD fencing coach at that time). Then when we both showed up at the Queen Mary steampunk event I told him I was conducting a panel at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim titled “Star Wars Steampunk Universe” and would he like to be a panelist.

From that conversation we decide to create a crew of cosplayers specifically for our Star Wars Steampunk Universe, which now includes Steamy Leia, Baron Von Maul, Lady Sith, Capt. Solo Seekerman, Luke Steamwalker, Padme Sprocket, Count Draku, Lando and Chance Chronos, and many more new members. So Dude Vader will turn one year old at this year’s SDCC, and 45 pounds lighter from wearing the outfit 6-12 hours almost every weekend. Maybe I can now consider designing a C3PO outfit.

JF: It’s been less than a year? Your group has really made great progress. What a testament to your hard work, on top of the popularity of steampunk and Star Wars.

DV: I think our determination to teamwork is our primary asset. It began with myself and Nathan Seekerman realizing that at events two cosplayers draw more attention than one. Adding Steamy Leia, Lady Sith, Baron Von Maul and Dapper Fett during a photo shoot conducted by our photographer Kansas Johnson shifted us quickly into second gear. We decided all our efforts would be directed for future charity work. Once my panel was approved by Mary Franklin at Lucasfilm for the Celebration we applied all our creative talents to produce free hand-out postcards for anyone who photograph us at events like Wondercon and The Saturn Awards. The next higher gear shift resulted from 750+ fellow Star Wars Steampunk Universe cosplayers attending our panel at the Celebration. Since then our Facebook page gains newer fans and crewmates week by week. We anticipate a nitro boost to our efforts at this year’s Comic Con International in San Diego.

JF: Are there any other reasons you chose to cosplay a steampunk Vader over other Star Wars characters?

DV: Of all the first six episode characters, Vader is by far the most iconic. I have seen Legion501 versions at cons, charity events and hospital over the years… and noticed some kids were intimidated by the dark figure. By designing a metallic gold and copper version with kids’ toys and lights, Dude Vader would be more approachable and entertaining. When I sit to rest, kids walk around looking for their favorite characters. So Dude Vader is pursuing the “bright” side of the Force.

JF: I enjoyed the video in which you explain to a little girl how you use old Star Wars toys in your costume. How do you incorporate them?

DV: Each weekend I rummage through swap meets the way Anakin scrounged through Watto’s junkyard. Right after every appearance I add new characters to the costume. Many times when kids know I am coming to an event they bring their old toys to add. So much of Vader’s gear is 30+ years old.

JF: You seem really friendly, and you were just great with that girl. Just wondering, are you a dad?

DV: Lindalee’s interview of me at the SWCA for Beyond the Marquee was the highlight of the convention for me. I am not fortunate enough to have kids. You cannot see inside my helmet to realize I am almost always smiling when I see a kid’s wide-eyes light up upon first seeing Dude Vader.

JF: What cool details on your cosplay, incorporated toys or otherwise, might fans miss?

DV: It takes some time to survey all the characters from the first six Star Wars episodes. I try to group the characters together and place them in appropriate positions, like Jar Jar and Watto tangled in Stormtrooper Copperpus’ tentacles. There are also 30+ lighting effects, including a Tesla globe on my chest where kids of all ages can test their Power of the Force.

JF: Do you paint the figures gold as well to match the costume?

DV: Steampunking original Star Wars toy parts varies based on the original colors. C3PO was the easiest since my younger self, Anakin, designed him as a kid. Many original Star Wars characters require very little gold or copper paint to blend in. I especially like mashing up classic Steampunk and Star Wars Characters, like putting a Stormtrooper helmet on a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea octopus.

JF: How often do you work on the costume?

DV: I tinker almost every day so the next time someone sees me they will enjoy Dude Vader’s evolution. People send me Hawaiian shirts to wear, my pants seamstress Kristen Guerra gives me fashion advice and adjusts my Violet Vixen corset as my weight drops. Most of all I listen to my youngest fans for suggestions.

JF: Can you tell us more about getting involved with the Star Wars Steampunk Universe crowd?

DV: I started the Star Wars Steampunk Universe crowd with Nathan Seekerman. When 750 fans attended our Star Wars Celebration Panel we realized this universe was ready to expand. With the wonderful encouragement of Lucasfilm’s Mary Franklin, Pete Vilmur and Matt Martin our universe expands week by week. Look for a two-page spread of SWSU in the August 2015 issue of Star Wars Insider magazine on your newsstands.

Best of all, every one of our crew is a very creative person beyond just their costumes. Our photographer Kansas Johnson photographs and designs our images. Steamy Leia and Dapper Fett create our graphics. Nathan Seekerman is creating our patches. And I search the internet daily to see where our group can serve others.

JF: So far I’ve asked every cosplayer I’ve interviewed this question and gotten great answers. If you were a woman, whom would you cosplay? Also, are there any female characters you’d consider cosplaying a male version of?

DV: If you search our site you will find out what it looks like when my daughter Steamy Leia gets into my gear. If I were a woman I would cosplay Amelia Earhart. As I was drawing her portrait for the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum I discovered how heroic she was as both an aviatrix and woman in a time when women were stating fly high.

JF: You are truly a Renaissance man, and I don’t think there are that many of us. Please tell us about your hobbies besides cosplay.

DV: Every New Year’s Day I ask friends to come up with my resolution… so I took up Sodoku, Crossword Puzzles, read a book recommendation from every friend or new person I met, and even built a Batmobile (check out the images on chickslovethecar.com). My favorite activity is drawing at the Pannikin, my local coffee house, meeting new people every day and collecting their life stories.

JF: If you could (or had to, depending on your perspective) live on any Star Wars planet, where would you like to live and why?

DV: Naboo. I still dream of my life with Amidala and the poor decisions that other Vader made. In the SWSU version of reality we are trying to get back together. But she insists I do all the maintenance of my outfit. We are happy our twins sought the “bright” side of the Force to help me find my way.

JF: You have an fan event coming up. What is it?

DV: From July 9-12 I have two 18” x 24” prints of my drawings I donated to the Comic Con International art exhibit are to be auction off for charity. My portrait of Stan Lee will be for the Stan Lee Foundation (I donate many prints for them). My history of Mythology which includes about 300 images will be for the San Diego Star Wars Foundation. Originals of these prints can be seen at the Pannikin Coffeehouse in La Jolla during my month of July exhibit, “New Heroes and Dreams.”

Dude Vader Online

Thanks to Christopher Canole, aka Dude Vader, for taking the time to do this interview, and for telling us about his life and his incredible creativity!

On Facebook, be sure to visit Dude Vader and The Star Wars Steampunk Universe for pictures, news, and more. Also, remember to pick up the August 2015 issue of Star Wars Insider, which will feature Chris and his cohorts! I plan on calling my local comic shop tomorrow and asking them to put a copy in my hold box. Members of the SWSU often attend big conventions, especially in Southern California, so keep an eye on their announcements for where you can meet them and maybe get a photograph with one or more members of the group.

What's Next?

Here's the thing: I don't know what I'm going to post next! I always come up with something. There are more members of the SWSU, as well as other steampunk cosplayers, I'd like to interview, and I'll be reaching out to them.

My son and I recently moved. Now that I'm not dealing with that (as much... I do have about a dozen boxes in storage to bring over to the new apartment before giving up the storage unit), and we're settling in well to our new place and new routine, I plan to make time to work on Bodacious Creed every day. I do plan on having it published in December, 2016. I'm just as excited about the story as ever and think about it often.

As always, for extras not in the blog, subscribe to the mailing list! I send one out per blog post, which comes to two or three per week. Now that I'm working more hours at my day job, I'll more likely publish one or two per week.

If you like this blog and are looking for a good fantasy novel, you can always get one of my books at Amazon via the side bar links.

Until next time, ciao amici, and may the Force be with you!