“They cost an arm and a leg now,” said Sheldon Ortiz, one of several dozen shoppers who crowded New York City’s Canal Street in search of Darth Vader face masks.

Less than two weeks have passed since the Chinese government quarantined 35 million people in the city of Wuhan because of the coronavirus. And throughout the world, face masks have quickly become the most sought-after item as people take preventative measures against the contagious virus known as 2019-nCoV.

Despite not being proven to fight infections, face masks have sold out throughout Asia, Europe, and now the US. And none has been in more demand than Darth Vader’s.

“Dude, if it can keep Anakin alive after being burned to a crisp, I’m pretty it can handle the coronavirus,” said Ortiz, who’s not alone in thinking the virus is no match against the Dark Side.

Vendors throughout Chinatown have struggled to keep the iconic face masks in stock. Some of the merchants have taken to painting simple 3M masks black — and even those have sold out.

This particular model, as well as the Stormtrooper and Shadowtrooper variants, are available on the GeekCrafters Etsy store but the supply is limited.

Due to overwhelming demand, the world is now facing a global shortage of potentially life-saving gear. Ironically, the Darth Vader face masks and respirators are produced in China, but that doesn’t seem to concern people scared of a potential pandemic.

Further uptown in New York’s Times Square, Chiquirrito Suarez — a busker who cosplays as Darth Vader for tourists — has never been more popular. According to the Mexican entertainer, he’s been offered up to $500 in exchange for his Darth Vader mask. Of course, not everyone is looking for a fair exchange. Suarez claims several people have threatened him with physical violence if he doesn’t hand over his mask.

“La Fuerza siempre me protecta ya güe,” said Suarez.

The hunt for Darth Vader masks is something Disney was ill-prepared for, echoing their lack of foresight into Baby Yoda’s popularity. Fortunately, CEO Bob Iger said plans were underway to restock official Darth Vader masks at all licensed vendors throughout the US, but nowhere else.

“Until China learns to love our Star Wars films… they can stick to flimsy paper masks,” said Iger via conference call.

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