Namora cosplay by Jen AKA Mockingnerd. Source: Submitted via our Flickr group.
Sometimes already amazing costumes can be even further enhanced by setting or photography and that’s definitely the case here.
Today marks the start of a new feature on Gamma Squad as we work towards showcasing and spotlighting the entire cosplay community. Cosplay has been a big part of the experience for most con attendees for some years. But with the blogsphere, cosplayers and costumers creativity can be presented to a far wider audience than even the largest convention and at Gamma Squad we want to be at the center of this fandom!
I’m Angelophile and I’ve been part of the comics community for many years and running a cosplay spotlight feature on my Tumblr for several months now, showcasing what I consider to be the most creative and imaginative cosplayers, from those with minimal budgets to professional costumers. I’m very pleased to have been invited to do the same here on Gamma Squad in what I hope will be a feature popular with readers and cosplayers.
Why cosplayers themselves? Well, if you’re a cosplayer, this is your chance to really get involved and showcase your work in front of an even bigger audience! Gamma Squad is making a commitment to comprehensively cover the cool, creative, costumed, cosplay community (Stan Lee eat your heart out!). Each week there will be a spotlight on my favorite costumes and a monthly cosplay contest in which we’d love for you to participate.
Each month we’ll be picking a theme and inviting cosplayers, costumers and photographers to submit related pictures of their work to our Flickr group to be considered. We’ll then pick our top choices and post them on Gamma Squad, winning the prize of exposure and adoration of the masses! (And who doesn’t want that?) We will be judging costumes based on a mix of creativity, costume quality and photography rather than budget in an effort to put all cosplayers on a more even playing field. For example, if your costume is innovative (if you use an optical illusion for example), you really get into character in your photo or if you utilize your surroundings (such as wearing a Namora costume in an Atlantis-esque aquarium, as you see here), you could place above someone with a big budget costume.
The themes for the upcoming months are:
So, if you consider yourself an Iron Man, a Captain America, a Wasp or a… Dr. Druid, here’s your chance to submit your kick-ass costume.
Now, without further ado, it’s time to cast the spotlight on some awesome cosplayers!
The Ventriloquist and Scarface at Megacon 2010. Photo from Flickr’s Samaritanx. Source: Flickr
A criminally neglected Batman…um… criminal gets the cosplay treatment, bringing hope to balding, aging men that they too can be a wow at cons.
Black Widow cosplay by Lady Skywalker. Photo by Kevin Green. Source: Tumblr.
It takes more than a leather catsuit to make a great Black Widow. It takes attitude. And Lady Skywalker has that in spades.
Booster Gold and Blue Beetle at Fanime 2011. Photo by Flickr’s Diane Q. Source: Flickr.
Some fantastic costuming for Booster Gold and the new Blue Beetle, even if the background Robin looks unimpressed.
Death of the Endless – Cosplay by Miss Godzilla of Cosplay.com. Photo by Peter Deane. Source: Cosplay.com
A source of inspiration for a whole generation of goths, Neil Gaiman’s creation is brought vividly to… life. That can’t be right, can it?
The First Captain America – Isaiah Bradley cosplay by THE SMOKE. Source: Submitted via our Flickr group.
The phrases “Captain America” and “Bad Ass Motherf***er” rarely go together, but in this case, we’ll make an exception.
Rogue Cosplayer at San Diego Comic Con 2008. Photo by Flickr’s James Blair. Source: Flickr
Rogue is a favorite on the cosplay scene and a green and yellow bodysuit, leather jacket and some Southern sass can go a long way, as this cosplayer demonstrates.
Clark Kent cosplayer at Wondercon 2011. Photo by Flickr’s Conpix/Nightbeat. Source: Flickr
It doesn’t always need a big budget to produce a memorable costume, as is ably demonstrated by this cosplayer.
Ms. Marvel by Roxanna Meta. Source: Flickr
Roxanna’s has done a lot of amazing cosplay, but few as fierce as this Ms. Marvel picture. She claims that “the bronze mother had it coming.” And who are we to argue?
Flaming Carrot at San Diego Comic Con 2009. Photo by Flickr’s Parka81. Source: Flickr
Proving that you don’t have to be a spandex-clad superhero to make an impression – sometimes you can be a root vegetable.