As a writer, I’m aware that just one or two words really can transform a sentence. Take this proposition:

The Freeman’s Auction House in Philadelphia is auctioning off 100 helmets this Saturday with an average starting price of $1,500.

Pretty bland, huh? Now let’s try it again with two extra words:

The Freeman’s Auction House in Philadelphia is auctioning off 100 Darth Vader helmets this Saturday with an average starting price of $1,500.

Yeah, now we’re talking. And unlike Ford’s model-T, your choice of color is not restricted to black. Instead, every helmet has been customized by an underground artist who started with a full-size prop replica. The collection was completed in 2007 and has been on touring exhibition including appearances in Europe and Japan.

So how different can one Vader helmet be? Well, a simple change of color and logo can truly transform the impression you get. Witness how artist Axis brings some disturbing overtones:

While the work of Anthony Ausgang is, shall we say, somewhat less intimidating:

And Buff Monster takes a similar approach:

While Girls Drawin Girls perhaps takes pink to its limit:

Other artists chose to reimagine Vader in a more modern setting, such as this offering by kaNO:

And this one by Ferg:

Meanwhile other artists play on Vader’s iconic status, such as this offering from Wade Lageosse:

And finally Mad Barbarians come up with a design which is plain bananas:

If the auction is out of your price range, you can still share in the auction as the entire 200 page color catalog is now online.