At the humble age of 3, TJ ran away from his parents during a vacation in Colorado. They found him in an arcade, standing on a chair, playing Neo Geo's World Heroes. Years later, TJ has a passion for video games across most all genres and is particularly interested in the cultural shifts and trends of video game development. When he's not playing around on PCs and consoles, he's writing creatively and working on short stories and ideas for novels or checking out bad movies with a few friends over a few drinks and some laughs, whichever comes first.
T.J. Denzer
Mutants United: The Best X-Men Cosplay Ever
Whether they’re taking up the sparkling personas of Jubilee or Dazzler or the futuristic styles of Bishop or Cable, there’s a wealth of opportunity bring the diverse and colorful world of X-Men to life through cosplay. These cosplayers exemplify that diversity in stellar form. These are the best X-Men cosplays.
Time After Time: The Best Hawkgirl and Hawkman Cosplay
Throughout the comics and comics-inspired media, Hawkgirl and Hawkman have seen fluctuating levels of action and fandom, though Hawkgirl has gained prominence from her time as a member of the Justice League on the eponymous animated series and as Hawkwoman in The CW's Legends of Tomorrow. This has translated to some wonderful interpretations on the cosplay scene as well. (But hey, Hawkman has a few stalwart fans representing him as well!)
Each cosplayer takes it upon themselves to craft these warriors and bring them to life in interesting and creative ways, playing their parts as the reincarnated avian duo of justice. These are the best Hawkgirl and Hawkman cosplays!
The Man Who Laughs: The Best Joker Cosplay
When it comes to an icon like Batman, creation of a true foil requires care and precision, and there is perhaps no one better to fit the bill than the Joker. Created by Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, the Joker debuted in the first issue of Batman back in 1940. Originally meant to be killed off in his debut, The Joker instead survived to become Batman’s perfect antithesis in morality, philosophy and methods. He is a criminal mastermind who has been in the spotlight in many of Bruce Wayne’s most trying of times as defender of Gotham.
No doubt, it is his place high on the throne in the pantheon of Batman baddies that drives cosplayers to take up his iconic bleached skin, green hair, and sinister smile. From the toothy grin, to the flashy get-up, these cosplayers bring the Joker to life in a fashion that will leave you calling for the Caped Crusader. These are the best Joker cosplays.
No Brighter Stars: The Best Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel Cosplay
Introduced in 1968, there a few women in comics with such a storied history of strength and determinaton as Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel. Carol is a character who works hard at building the brightest possible tomorrow and the best version of herself. It's precisely that kind of attitude that inspired Kamala Khan, the young hero from Jersey City, to adopt the Ms. Marvel codename when she came into powers of her own.
No matter whether they’re taking on the mantle of Ms. Marvel or Captain Marvel, these cosplayers bring the best of the hero to the surface on the convention floor. These are the best Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel cosplays.
Bringing Other Worlds to Life: The Best Video Game Cosplay
With such rich tapestries to draw from, video games provide cosplayers with incredible creative opportunities. We’ve compiled a massive collection of cosplay inspired by video game characters to celebrate the dedication and passion of these fans, with costumes that runs the gamut from the truly iconic to the downright obscure. Some of these costumes are simple and clean; others are dazzlingly complex; but each cosplayer brings a personal touch to these memorable heroes, villains, and side-characters. These are the best video game cosplays.
More Than Super: The Best Power Girl Cosplay
This week we bring you a gallery that puts the spotlight on the best Power Girl cosplayers. In the easily recognizable white uniform, red cape, and blue gloves and boots, each cosplayer embodies the powerful stature and cool confidence of Kara Zor-L. Power Girl may have gone through a number of retcons throughout her publication history, but these cosplayers capture her at her best and brightest. These are the best Power Girl cosplays.
To Me My X-Men: The Best Original X-Men Cosplay [Mutant Week]
The original X-Men, co-created in 1963 by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, featured only five young mutants. Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel, and Iceman made up Professor X's first class, and the world’s last line of defense against Magneto and his evil Brotherhood of Mutants.
No matter which mutant hero is your favorite, each of these characters sees some representation among a devout fan base. In every form and in every evolution, these characters can be found throughout the convention circuit, and we've gathered some their appearances here just for you. Journey back to the atomic age as we look at the best original X-Men cosplay.
From A Spark To A Storm: Celebrating inFamous
Sucker Punch Productions has long been a capable studio in producing unique and enjoyable open-world platforming video games. The Sly Cooper series put Sucker Punch on the map and ensured a place for the studio to successfully return several times over. However, there came a time when the studio wanted to step outside its familiar franchise and get a little grittier. In 2009, this desire came to fruition when they released inFamous: a game about super powers, good, evil and parkour. The game was a successful break away from the usual for Sucker Punch, providing a unique take on the idea of what a regular man can do given extraordinary powers and today we celebrate its initial release.
Gotham’s Bird of Prey: The Best Batgirl Cosplay Ever
Batman doesn’t do it alone. Gotham is a big city, and the Caped Crusader has called on a number of trustworthy allies and protégés to help him keep the peace. This time around, we’re putting the spotlight on one of his most popular partners: Batgirl.
With so many different personalities under the cowl over the years, it’s no wonder that cosplayers take to the character with such gusto. Batgirl is a popular go-to for fans, and a common sight on the convention floor. Each cosplayer brings their own flair to the wonderful icon that Batgirl has become; from the colorful ’60s costumes to the sleekness of the Black Bat costume, from Bette Kane to Stephanie Brown, these talented fans wear the mantle with pride. These are the best Batgirl cosplays.
The Belle and The Bandit: The Best Rogue and Gambit Cosplay
Rogue and Gambit have had a sketchy history beyond their tenure as X-Men. Both of them have been villains, and are linked to other, much more sinister characters in the Marvel universe. Could it be that’s why they make such an interesting couple?
Rogue and Gambit have a fanbase that loves to cosplay --- in fact they're one of the most popular couples cosplays on the convention circuit. So whether you enjoy the rugged charm of Gambit, the vibrant strength of Rogue, or the balancing act of the two of them together, you can get a taste of both in all their forms here in this gallery of the best Rogue and Gambit cosplay.
When Lightning Strikes: The Best Storm Cosplay
There’s a lot to admire about Storm. She's not just a powerhouse and a figurehead. She’s a strong character, one of the first prominent black characters, and the first black female character to hold a major role in mainstream superhero comics. She's such a resonant and important character that it’s easy to see why cosplayers would want to adopt the mantle of Ororo Munroe.
Gods of Thunder: The Best Thor Cosplay
The mantle of Thor has been taken up in many forms in the cosplay world, and we’ve gathered some of the best of them here. The classic version of Thor is certainly a go-to, as is Beta Ray Bill, an alien warrior who once gained the power of Mjolnir, and even before Jane Foster picked up the hammer, Thor was a popular character for female cosplayers. No matter the take, the epic magnificence of these cosplayers can’t be denied. These are the best Thor cosplays.