My first cosplay attempt was at San Diego Comic Con in 2000, but we won’t talk about that. It was bad, so very bad, and lucky for me, no photos exist. (Let’s just say it involved a whole can of red hair spray, because I wasn’t yet versed in the power of a good wig.)
But what is cosplay? “Cosplay” is a Japanese term derived from the phrase “costume play.” Cosplayers make, buy, or commision costumes of their favorite characters from comics, anime, books, video games, etc., and wear them to conventions with other fans. At conventions, you can take photos, meet other fans, attend panels and performances, meet creators and performers, and buy stuff.
While I’d been going to comic conventions with my dad since I was seven years old, I didn’t actually start cosplaying seriously until 2002. By then, I already missed being in art school, and cosplay was both a creative outlet and social activity. I had a blast at those early-00s conventions. But after a few years of being a “cosplayer,” I stopped. It’s an expensive and time-consuming hobby, and as with any large group, the cosplay community was not without its fair share of drama. After nearly twenty years, I was over it. Something that was supposed to be fun had become stressful. I stopped going to cons entirely.
But then, years later, my friends in New York City started getting into cosplay and fan conventions. Eventually, I got sucked back in, and this time, it was different. While I’d been gone, the vibe at these events had changed. The concept of cosplay had expanded, no longer feeling as rigid or judgmental as it had when I’d started. Cosplay was for everybody, open to individual interpretation. The focus was simply on having fun. Through the experience of being part of the cosplay community, leaving it, then returning, I learned a few things that I apply to my writing.