A week or so ago, I had a great time covering LA’s AX 2010 for Anime Vice. By far, what I enjoyed the most about the show was the seemingly-endless menagerie of cosplayers in attendance (and you can see my pictures here.) Going to a convention in this capacity definitely gave me a new perspective on the comic cons I’ve gotten so used to. Specifically, it makes me even more baffled about how much negative sentiment about cosplaying I’ve heard from fans and pros alike. You’d figure people who enjoy comics about larger-than-life characters would also enjoy being surrounded by larger-than-life characters. I probably won’t ever wear a costume, myself, but I know cons would be a lot less fun if nobody else would.  Sheesh… take them away and what do you have? Plain, ordinary people… just like you see every other day of your life.  Sure, there can be lame, half-assed “costumes.” Who cares? The good ones demonstrate a truly inspiring the amount of craft and creativity.  
 
As I’ve said, “mainstream culture” can have an awfully long list of hobbies it says are only suitable for children. But what’s really worse than that is hobbyists of one “fringe” poo-pooing hobbyists of another. For the amount of narrow-mindedness that comic fandom has to put up with, you'd think more fans would be open-minded about this kind of thing... yet the snide comments keep popping up. == TEASER ==

Comic Con’s racing around the corner and, while I’ll be up to my neck in things to do, I'm looking forward to feeling like I'm stepping into another world; I'm looking forward to seeing another parade of larger-than-life characters. How many of you Comic Vine maniacs are going to SDCC? How many are you planning to dress up?

-- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Studios and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia. Pre-order the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover now on Amazon.com.

Can't say i would go in a costume myself but nine time out of ten i'd be wearing a comic related T shirt at cons i go to. It really would be a lot less colorfull at them if the cosplayers wern't around, Fair play to them.

I do cosplay when i go to all the cons last year at comic con I did Doc Manhattan with a blue muscle suit & a V-string 
 
 
Good times.....

Costumers represent! I'll be there as Bucky, Speedy, and Larfleeze! :D

While I never dress up much myself, I love seeing those who put in the effort.  Wouldn't mind being part of the 501st someday though...

I've (unfortunately) never been to a Comic Con, but when I eventually go to one, I plan to go as Nate Grey.

I love some of the creativity of the costumes at the cons. What I dont like is when the people wearing the costumes get upset because you want to take a picture with them. Hey pal if you didnt want to get asked that you shouldnt have dressed up like the Impossible Man.

" Costumers represent! I'll be there as Bucky, Speedy, and Larfleeze! :D "

If you are a cos-player, you really should share your photos here! 
I'm probably not going to make it out to Comic-Con. I've gone to Chicago's Wizard World maybe once. I've been to the Micro Con and Fall Con at the Fairgrounds in the Twin Cities. I went last year and was very impressed to see that a guy had put together an Alan Scott Green Lantern costume. I'm not one to wear costumes, but along with that one, there was a Guy Gardner as well. A year or two before, there was a guy as Superman that had a couple different costumes - traditional, Justice Lords, Death of and Returns...   

I'm just going to say it, cosplayers are stupid. they lack normal social skills and spend too much time believing that they live in that fake world. when you talk to them it's sort of awkward. I know people who do this and they ignore real life issues to solely concentrate on cons

I cant go to SDCC this year but i one-hundred percent agree with you. Having cosplayers at conventions makes conventions what they are. I love going to conventions as much as i love going to Disneyland. And cosplayers are all part of the experience.
P.S. See you wednesday maybe Tom. :)

Cosplayers (well, most of them) are cool. I appreciate all the time and effort they put in their costumes.

I love cosplayers who try and do something different. I saw a great Yorick from Y: The Last Man with Ampersand, his cloak, and gas mask and I  couldn't have been more impressed. I think cosplay gets a bad rap sometimes because it's linked to every person dressing up as a Naruto character but the really good costumes are the original ones.

I'd never dress up but your right comicon wouldnt be the same without it. But the one's that poo-poo it they may be just jealous cause they don't have the guts to do it although there are those that just need to stay out of certain outfits

I been cosplaying Batman since I was five. Hated batgirl when I was little and everyone around me told me I had to be batgirl. Of course a kid doesn't understand why but batman was still way cooler.

How many of you Comic Vine maniacs are going to SDCC? How many are you planning to dress up?

The Japanese do it right. By the way I thought it said Coldplay for a sec.

i luv seein costumes at cons. its part of tha convention experience, keep it up cosplayers. i havnt dressed up for any myself yet, but i always wear comic or video game related shirts.  i do plan on my first cosplay at C2E2 2011. i've got two costumes in tha works.

Sometimes the costumes are aweful, but sometimes they're amazing. Last time I was at my city's con, some of the security guys were decked out in SG team gear, they looked like they just walked off the set. There was also a big group of people dressed like nearly the entire cast of Street Fighter 2. Not really comic related, but great costumes nonetheless. I actually find costumes from TV or movies end up working out better, probably because they've already been successfully implemented on the screen.

i have never been to a con 
i might go to  warpcon in the west of ireland next year

I could never do that. Plus I've never been to a Comic-Con. There was one a couple of months ago in Athens but I wasn't able to go.

Thats pretty cool!

I took that Mojo picture, I demand a dollar.

there are people who dont like cosplay? how? they spice up every convention. Ive been to WonderCon the last two years and the costumes are as much a part of the conventions as the booths.Saw an amazing Nightcrawler and Angel this year.

" @inferiorego:  The dollar's wedged in one of Mojo's folds. "

I'm for good cosplay

I enjoy cosplay. I went to my first con last year and the costumes really brought color and personality to the event. The well-done ones are amazing, but even the horrible ones can be fun. People cringe, sure, but you still talk about it and more than likely get a good laugh out of it. I don't think conventions would be the same without the cosplay.

If anyone saw a kid around 15 running around SDCC last year dressed as the Comedian, that was me!