The Art of Cosplay Featuring Comic-Con 2018 and More!
The Collector’s Corner
Spotlight On: Cosplay
The Costume Contest/Masquerade has long been a staple of comic book and sci-fi conventions as long as there have been conventions. But the word “cosplay” is not as new as you may think. There are many tales of where the word originated but the most common origin of the word seems to be that it was coined by a person named Nobuyuki Takahashi while attending the 1984 World Science Fiction Convention or Worldcon. It’s an amalgam of the words “costume” and “play”. Over the last two decades, as big budget comic book films have dominated the box office, cosplay has exploded on the scene bigger than ever before. People meticulously work on their costume all year to be ready for that moment they step out on stage to present their creations to roaring applause. But even before the comic book blockbusters arrived, cosplay received it’s biggest boost from Japanese manga and anime. Today, cosplay encompasses an enormous range of subjects from SCA and Renaissance players to anime, steampunk, Star Trek, Star Wars, comic books, superheroes, historical periods…pretty much anything that requires a costume.
In general, when referring to the convention circuit, there are two types of cosplay: elaborate Masquerade Contest costumes and what are called “Hall Costumes”, usually more casual and comfortable to be running around the convention in.
Here are some highlights from this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
Actors Mark Hamill (top) and John Barrowman (bottom) even got into the act!
(photos from Sideshow and TV Guide)
Here are some more interesting cosplayers from throughout the web:
You may want to get in on the fun but say “I don’t know how to sew or make all these fantastic costumes!” Well, if you’re interested in learning there are numerous tutorials on YouTube that will teach you how to make armor, weapons, costumes, just about anything you can imagine. One great resource is the Evil Ted videos which can show you how to fabricate helmets, swords, armor and many other things out of inexpensive EVA foam. There are also groups on FaceBook like The Replica Prop Forum where you can mingle with like-minded people and ask for help from people who’ve got more experience. There are also cosplay stores on the internet and in places like E-Bay and Etsy where you can purchase already made costumes (just don’t try to enter a contest and say you made it yourself!)
So don’t be shy! You, too, can be your favorite character from film, tv, anime, or comics….you’re only limited by your imagination!
