San Diego Comic-Con did not have its usual panel discussions for upcoming movies and shows as the writers’ and actors’ strikes continue.
For many fans, that did not deter them from doing the time-honored tradition of dressing up as their favorite characters.
De Los sent photographer John Gastaldo to capture the joy of POC cosplaying.
Vincent Marquez
Chainsaw Man
Marquez has been cosplaying for 10 years, and he has “been lurking outside Comic-Con for eight years.”
This was his first year with a pass to the convention.
With writers and actors sidelined by strikes, Comic-Con 2023 still attracted throngs of fans. But observers say the disruptions of recent years have taken a toll.
“[Chainsaw Man] was a lot easier than my other two. First day, I was a Warlock from Destiny, second day I was Issac Clarke from Dead Space,” Marquez said.
“I’ve always cosplayed characters that were not my skin color, like I cosplayed Scorpion from Mortal Kombat, and that character is Japanese ... It’s just for the love of the characters that you’re cosplaying as. I don’t really think about race when I cosplay these characters, it’s just for the fun of it, it’s just for the love of the characters too, or the franchise.”
Pepi Meneses
Deku from ‘My Hero Academia’
Meneses has been cosplaying for four years.
“I love to be a superhero and how [Deku] learns about everything ... he learns how to handle his own power and fails and gets up and fails and gets up. I really like how he becomes a superhero over time,” Meneses said.
Kyle Robles
The Great Saiyaman from ‘Dragon Ball Z’
Robles atteneded his first Comic-Con in 2010, when he began cosplaying. This year, he went for a classic anime character.
“My character is one of the main characters that we see in the show. What I like about him is he’s kind of exuberant fun, like an old school superhero kind of character. When I’m here at Comic-Con, it’s kind of fun to see everyone react and get to do poses with them, cause everyone really enjoys the character,” Robles said.
Maurice Cardoza and Jasmine Rodelas
Power Ranger and Fennec Shand
For Rodelas, this was her first Comic-Con, while Cardoza was on his second visit to the convention.
“I’m cosplaying as the white Power Ranger. I chose this character because recently the actor Jason David Frank passed away, so it’s kind of to honor him, and it’s also the 30th anniversary of the franchise,” Cardoza said,
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“I’m dressed as Fennec Shan; she’s from ‘The Mandalorian.’ I like her because she’s one of the only Asian characters from the Star Wars universe,” Rodelas said. “I’ve always wanted to [cosplay], but then he’s my only nerd friend that I have, so since he started going, I feel comfortable going with him, not alone.”
“It’s important for people of color to cosplay, because we’re in a time where representation matters. So I think we can also inspire younger generations to cosplay as well,” Cardoza said.
“There’s a lot of predominantly white characters in the media. To know that there are characters for me to show up as, and you don’t need to necessarily, but there are characters that look like you,” Rodelas said.
Alvin Cruz
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Cruz has attended Comic-Con for 15 years. This year, he brought his daughter, and they cosplayed as two of their favorite characters from the “Star Wars” franchise, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Rey, respectively.
“I’m a huge Star Wars fan. I have five different Star Wars cosplays at home, but being able to live in that genre, in that movie and just escape into it, and pretend to live in Star Wars is really what drives it,” Cruz said.
“[Cosplay] transcends color and race ... Anybody can dress up and be a character in their favorite movie. There’s no judgment.”
The Williams family
Super Mario Bros.
Kevon and Marissa Wiliams took their children, Xyah and Duece, to Comic-Con this year, and the family that wanted to emulate was an easy choice.
“My son is a big fan of the [Super Mario Bros.] movie, my daughter too. It spans generations. They loved the movie, so it’s a family affair,” Kevon said.
Emmanuel McConnell
Spartan warrior
McConnell says he began cosplaying in 2014 and started to attend Comic-Con in 2018.
“There’s a community of people that are like next-level game, and I want to be able to see what I can learn and experience from that and take part,” McConnell said.
“I’m an artist, and my artist name is ‘Spartan Artist.’ I do Spartan races and things of that nature, then I cosplay the characters that I draw; they’re usually warriors and hero types.”
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“Cosplay is good for embracing self-expression,” McConnell said. “To dress up like a fool and be out in the things that you love, that takes a lot of courage, and that as an artist, if you’re able to have that courage, then there’s a lot of things that fear doesn’t hold you back from.
“I think that’s something that’s important for everyone to embrace, and there’s a lot of African Americans that are afraid to step into that light just for fear of judgment. I think it’s worth it, even if it’s just for a little bit, to try and get the experience and then kind of see what confidence in yourself gets pulled in because you’re also stepping outside of yourself when you cosplay, and just being the version of yourself that you want to be. It’s a good experience for everyone.”
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