For those of you who don't cosplay-- have you ever considered it?

[AndyFish]

Cosplay just isn't my thing-- I don't like attention as it is so I'd be uncomfortable bringing more-- but I did consider cosplaying twice-- once as Lewis Wilson's Batman when Chuck was first making me the serial cowl. I was thinking about having him make the whole suit in shades of gray and then would have had a makeup artist friend paint my face in BW tones but she killed the whole idea when she said I'd likely get makeup on the cowl. That Wilson suit looks a lot more comfortable than the tights Adam wears.

Another time my sons were set up selling at a show, I was already wearing a brown leather coat and a friend owned a Rocketeer helmet, I was going to pop that on and then go be an obnoxious customer at their booth before revealing my true ID which would have hopefully gotten a laugh, but when I put the helmet on I could barely see and it rubbed against my nose and I wasn't going to deal with that.

I also own a Stallone Dredd Helmet-- I love that horrible movie -- and I have a Red Hood/Spider-Man hybrid mask that's actually comfortable and you can breath in it. I also own a serial Green Hornet mask and a green wide brimmed fedora-- that is extremely comfortable, but it's just not in my nature to "suit up"?

How about you other non-cosplayers? Ever think of doing it?

[Bryan Grantham]

I don't know if what I did in my youth qualifies as cosplay, but I used to pretend to be Batman at elementary school. The fallout from that was being bullied in high school.
Then, after I got married and had two kids at once, money was tight, so I would make some extra money on weekends working for a local entertainment broker, by wearing character outfits to birthday parties or special occasions. That's... not cosplay. But it was fun!
Now, I'm 61 years old...and definitely don't have the shape I did when doing those birthday parties. BUT.... I cannot believe the quality of uniforms, cowls, equipment available these days. I was born too soon! I would have loved to have that Adam West uniform when I was a young adult. So, yes, I'd love to cosplay, but I'd probably get more laughs or pitying stares. Hey, wait a minute...
I could be ALFRED using the uniform to impersonate Batman and save Bruce!!

[Yellow Oval]

Years back around 2010 or so I seriously considered designing and making a perfect costume reproduction of a real-life '70s Neal Adams Batman. I've seen a couple that were close but never spot-on as it were. The Cons I attended usually had Batmen in store-bought rubber suits. I have the height and build so I was just fine with tight grey spandex but it seemed the inspiration went as fast as it originally appeared and I just let the idea go as well as my attending cons also went by the wayside. Looking back now it seems my wife becoming ill was probably the major factor in my loss of interest. Well, as Emerson, Lake, and Palmer once sang - 'C'est la vie..."

[hisyouthfulward]

Ok, Andy, here I am back in '20. At Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI, they do this cool Hallowe'en walk and they encourage people to dress up. That was the year for Schmovid and that scuttled my plans so I used it for giving out Hallowe'en candy instead. I had my fun and I think that's as far as my dress up days will go. Besides, I'll be 64 in a few months and I'll let more "youthful" people have their fun.

Batsuit.jpg (110.47 KiB) Viewed 315 times

[AndyFish]

You look great!

[hisyouthfulward]

Ha! Ha! Thanks, Andy...ah, to be 58 again!

[Therin of Andor]

TOS Therin of Andor as a redshirt by Ian McLean, on Flickr

Late starter, I guess, but my first ever cosplay was at age 21 in 1980, which later appeared in "Star Trek: Picard" in 2023!


Picard and Therin in the "10 Forward Avenue" bar by Ian McLean, on Flickr


"Star Trek Explorer" magazine, Issue 14 by Ian McLean, on Flickr

Check those pics again, because I am actually featured twice more on that wall in the bar:


Me as Therin meeting me as Grol by Ian McLean, on Flickr

My Robin costume also took on an unexpected life in the media!


Battalion in the media by Ian McLean, on Flickr


Battalion, 1989 by Ian McLean, on Flickr


Battalion, 1989 (but pic is from Australian premiere of "Supergirl" in 1984) by Ian McLean, on Flickr

My mother had helped me make it for a science fiction convention in 1984. I had only wanted a Robin costume since... 1967.


Wonder Woman and Robin at Medtrek II, 1984 by Ian McLean, on Flickr

[Jim Akin]

I don't know if Halloween counts as cosplay, but I've been Robin twice.

The first time was in the mid 80s. I'd intended to go as Batman but ended up giving the TV-inspired cowl I'd fashioned from a paper bag to a taller friend and pulled together a quickie Boy Wonder outfit. We weren't the most accurately costumed duo, but everyone at the party figured it out.

The second time, in 1988, my uniform was much better, but I intentionally tore it in spots and wore lots of make-up cuts and bruises to portray then-recently murdered Jason Todd. The comic featuring his "Death in the Family" (at the hands of the Joker, as voted by readers) had come out less than two weeks before, and received considerable mainstream media attention. Or so I thought. Everyone at THAT party knew I was Robin, but no one understood that I was back from the grave.

Another year, in between those two outings, I went as the Joker, in a Romero-inspired costume and make-up. My gf was an Yvonne-inspired Batgirl. Somewhere are a few fun pics of us sparring for the (non-digital) camera.

[BiffPow]

All fun pics and EXCELLENT cosplay costumes, worn very well!

[Scott Sebring]

In all honesty, other than dressing up for Halloween (not the same), I didn't know there was such a thing as "cosplay". I would see people dress up at Comic Con here and there but didn't realize it was a thing. My wife who is very creative and crafty, thought it might be fun to make a Julie Catwoman suit for Comic Con after feeling inspired seeing folks in their colorful tribute to their fandoms. I figured if she was doing Catwoman I should try to get a costume as Batman with her. That was 2004. I was 40. Who knew? For me, it introduced me to so many wonderful, positive, fun and creative people that have become lifelong friends to this day even though I haven't cosplayed since around 2017 (never say never). Sure, just like any fandom/hobby, there are different folks who may be more narcissistic , opportunist, creepy, attention seeking and what not. I don't stick around with such folks. But, for me, most of my experience has been very positive and joyful when simply seeing the look on many, many faces when they see a character they love and grew up with. It's about the character, not me. At least, that's been my take on it.
One's mileage may vary.