Cosplay of the Day

Today's edition of Cosplay of the Day stars a past and future interview on Derf's Domain.

The role of Mera is Stabitha and The Black Canary is none other than Panda Valentine.

Pac-Man Fever

I came across this pic while reading one of my favoite blogs. 

Unfortunately, the blog doesn't exist anymore but we can still enjoy this pic, thanks Reis. :) 

 So, enjoy Cobra Commander and Pac-Man Fever.

Just another manic Monday

Today's pic of the one and only Solomon Grundy comes from the wonderful online game, DC Universe online.

I cannot wait until this game comes out!

The Women of DC and Marvel settle it out in the ring

Thanks to West Coast Caws for making this gem I found on You Tube!

10 questions with DJ Spider

It is that time once again, Time for me to find wonderful talent in the realm of cosplay and ask the questions, that you my readers want to know.  This time my interview is with the beautiful and very talented, DJ Spider.

1. What is your name and where are you from?

I'm DJ Spider. Originally, I'm from the Caribbean, but I'm currently living in Charlotte, NC. I split my geekeries between DJing and costuming.

2. How did you discover cosplay?

Halloween was where it started,but I think my first true experience was at DragonCon in 2003, when I realized that there were TONS of people who had ideas like I did! I've always played dress-up, especially as a DJ, but seeing people that melded geekiness with costumes just tripped my trigger hardcore!

3. What characters have you cosplayed in the past?

Aeon Flux

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld

Barbarella (both her green and black suits)

Big Barda

Black Canary (JLI suit)

Blackfire

Dawn (various original interpretations)

Dazzler (both the classic silver and the 90's blue suit)

DreamQueen (Alpha Flight villain)

Amora the Enchantress

Maddy Pryor, the Goblin Queen

Hela

Jem

Looker

Molotov Cocktease

Phoenix/Rachel Summers

Sensor Girl

Silver Banshee

Star Sapphire (Classic)

Starhawk

Yzma

Zatanna (blue JLA version)

4. What sites have you worked with?

Nothing beyond my very active involvement as a co-admin on the http://www.superherocostumingforum.com/ , which has the some of the most talented, creative and caring people I know.

5. Who is your favorite character to cosplay?

Without a doubt, Dazzler. She was the first super-heroine I remember being drawn to, and she'll always be close to my heart. But I'm always drawn to larger-than-life characters. I'm over 6 ft tall, so the bigger (or meaner) the better! Oh, and if it's an obscure character or a silly costume, I'm probably in! (ex - my Looker costume)

6. Do you read comics? If so, what are your favorites?

Oh, good golly, I have a HUGE list! I am always a sucker for a pretty cover, and any book that has a sense of humor :) Currently, I'm very much enjoying Jim McCann's work on "Hawkeye and Mockingbird", and Christos Gage is doing a bang-up job on "Avengers Academy". "Chew" is a fun, macabre little book that deserves all the accolades it's getting! Anything that Alan Davis is doing art for is an automatic for me, and I'm a big fan of classic George Perez. And if there's a cheesy holiday special out there, I probably have it LOL

7. Are you a gamer, if so what is your favorite game and on what system?

I'm not much a gamer -- I lack that killer instinct! Scrabble is about as touch as I get :)

8. What are your future plans in terms of cosplay?

Sheesh, there's another HUGE list, and it grows every year -- just skimming the wishlist, I can count about 100 characters I've noodled down. I think that's why I do 4-6 new costumes a year...I want to do them all! I'm working on the 2011 list, but nothing is set in stone yet. At some point, though, I'd like to get a She-Hulk and a couple more Barbarella costumes done. There's probably someone from the Wonder Woman mythos due shortly as well. And apparently there's a movement to get me into a Giganta outfit as well!

9. Where do you like to show off your costumes the most?

DragonCon and HereosCon are my current regular haunts, and I love them mightily! And Halloween kind of pales in comparison :)

10. What would you say is your favorite genre to cosplay?

Comic book characters, followed by movies/tv characters.

Solomon Grundy's Bad Day

Solomon Grundy may have been born on Monday, but it looks like today was a bad day.

I just love this panel, don't you?

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne

Well, what can I say about Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne?  Let us sum up what has happened to Bruce in case some of you do not read DC Comics.  Darkseid shot Batman with his Omega Beams apparently killing him.  Then it turns out that he was really sent back in time to travel through the time stream to bring the end of the world as we know it.  Of course this was Darkseid's plan all along.  Well, the Return told the stories of Bruce's trials through time to get back to where he belongs and all the troubles that got in his way to get there.  Yes, I found some stories strange or some just flat out had you questioning why you bought the issue.  I continued to read because I wanted to see exactly how Bruce was going to come back.  All in all, it was a good mini-series to explain how Bruce Wayne made his triumphant return. 

My favorite cover for the series was issue #3 with the Pirate look.  So, that is the cover I decided to share with my review.  I give the entire series a 7 out of a possible 10.  I will say that I am enjoying the journey home titles that I am currently reading, but that review is for a later post.  Until next time, Keep Reading!

thealicemalice.com is coming

The lovely Alice Malice has her own website and it will be ready soon. 

I, for one, am excited about the site exclusive cosplays she will be doing!

While we wait for the new site, let us enjoy some of the sneak peeks she has allowed me to share with you.

You can also enjoy Alice Malice at the following sites:
http://thealicemalice.blogspot.com/

For her Facebook page, click on her picture to the right in my links section.

Finch Fridays

I found this wonderful piece on David Finch's art blog.  I love this illustration of Hawkgirl! 
You can find more of his wonderful art at http://davefinchart.blogspot.com/
or you can keep checking here every Friday for Finch Fridays.

Joker's Wild

A sketch I did of the one and only Joker. 

This sketch was inspired by the Batman animated adventures cartoon in the 90's.

10 questions with Harley Quinn

For today's cosplay interview, I decided to go with a blast from the past.  With the help of the always beautiful Harley Quinn, we were able to salvage her interview that we first did together when I first started this blog.  So, let us enjoy the one and only Harley Quinn,

1.What is your name and where are you from?

I'm known online as Princess Bee or Clowny Princess but my name is Elise and I'm from Australia.

2.How did you discover cosplay?

Just from being online the concept seeped in. Although I was aware that many folks dressed as their favourite characters, the whole culture of cosplay I wasn't familiar with until I rejoined the HQ fandom after a hiatus and began poking around on deviantART as I began to pursue the VERY long-held dream of dressing up as HQ.

I mean, I'd wanted a HQ costume for years and years but the term 'cosplay' was new to me, as was all the associated community. I mainly conceptualised it as crazy Sailor Moon fans who'd been reported to Fandom Wank and hardcore Star Trek and Star Wars fans and maybe some others from other big fandoms.

I got very excited when I began to realise just how big a scene cosplay was and how committed people were because I saw in that commitment my own passion for Harley and yet another means to express it! After I attended my first geek con here in Oz and saw all the folks there in costume, I was totally 100% hooked. And just from 'socialising' online in cosplay commuities I became aware of how extensively and diversely people cosplayed and I fell in love with the whole wonderfully self-indulgent, creative, playful nature of it.

3.What is it about Harley Quinn that makes you love her so?

This is actually really difficult for me to define absolutely. I can speak about it in various ways but never feel like I do it justice – and certainly not in a concise way! ;)

There has always been something about her that resonated with me very deeply. Maybe there is even a little destiny in it – the first time I ever saw her was when I was channel surfing and it was the look of her that made me stop, her voice that made me sit down to watch and her playful wickedness that hooked me.

We have a lot of similar character traits and interests and aspects to our personality – a friend's boyfriend once remarked to her that I sometimes am “more Harley than Harley” - even in terms of being “little big girls” and needing a certain dynamic in our relationships.

Being a hopeless romantic with a very passionate and devoted streak, Harley's love story with the Joker is also a big connection point for me. Its twisted hopelessness touches me on a very deep level and I think it's often misunderstood. I try to raise a bit more awareness of it at www.jokerxharley.com

But I also love Harley's determination, free-spiritedness and ultimately, her faith in herself. She gets knocked down but she always gets up again. She is often underestimated and taken for granted, to devastating effect on those foolish enough to do so. There's a lot going on under the blue eyes but she's canny enough to pretend there isn't, and work that to her advantage. She has a huge heart and a well-intentioned nature but also has a genuinely cruel and selfish side.

I guess, to put it in a nutshell, what I love about Harley so much is her humanity, and how that humanity reflects my own manifestation of it so much.

4.Have you ever cosplayed anyone else?

Haha, always I get this question! No, no I haven't.

There are a LOT of other characters I would love to cosplay as, either because I identify with them or just love their costumes, but none for the same reasons I cosplay as Harley and why I'm so devoted to cosplaying Harley. For me, cosplaying another character would be about achieving as perfect as possible a recreation of that character and to do that I have to be willing to put in the hard yaks, the money, the time, the effort – and no character inspires me to that level of devotion like Harley does.

THAT said – I AM doing movieverse Watchment Silk Spectre I this coming weekend at a con – Sally Jupiter was actually the first character to occur to me to cosplay after Harley. I get her and the costume is gorgeous. It came about sort of unexpectedly - a friend of mine makes the most exquisite reproduction of the costume I've yet seen so I asked to borrow hers. She said she could just make me one pretty quickly and quoted an amazing price so I took her up on it.

And I have got a few other idle plans. If I do end up cosplaying the list of characters I am interested in, it will happen slowly over many years. I will only be doing Sally for a few hours on a Friday night as it is – I am very committed to HQ cosplay and very much devoted to my association as an individual to my HQ cosplay – I don't want any other cosplay I may do to interfere with that.

5.How does it feel to be recognized when you are out and about?

Do you mean when I am in HQ cosplay? As myself or as Harley?

Well, to have people come up and get excited to see 'Harley Quinn' is really amazing and rewarding and gives me an incredible warm, delighted feeling, especially to engage with people in character and see them smile and enjoy it. I feel like I've succeeded in what I set out to do which is provide a fantasy-illusion for others – and for myself! That fantasy of 'being' Harley.

When people come up to me when I'm in cosplay and recognise me as 'me', Elise? That's kinda surreal to be honest, but very awesome and so far everyone has been super nice! XD

6.I know you read Batman comics, but do you have any other favorite titles?

I refer to myself as a 'limited capacity geek'. It is something I am a little embarrassed of, that my geekiness is quite limited in focus to primarily just the world of Batman.

The truth is I don't have much time for more than one fandom and I invest a lotta energy in this fandom! XD Also, because of my obsessive-compulsive streak, I have a few pedantic issues with hopping into a fandom free-floating. I actually began comics reading with X-Men, but I found that the knowledge of all these hundreds of stories that had already happened, all this continuity I knew nothing about, just drove me a little batty. Knowing I could probably never have them all was too much!

My love for HQ and the Joker was enough to overcome this compulsive streak, but it has to be sated in other ways – for example, I can reconcile not having every single issue of Batman EVER, SO LONG AS I have every issue the Joker & Harley have been in ever. It's a manageable goal and mostly satisfies my completionist side. Also, because they've had shorter runs, I limit my 'must have every issue ever' fixation to the animated Batman titles.

I also do collect the Secret Six – it was nice and easy because it only began last year which means I have them all from issue one, mwauhahahaha, ahhhh beautiful continuity! ♥

I have also enjoyed the Ninja Turtles comics, X-Men, Hellboy and some other stuff I really don't read with any regularity. I'm sure there are bunches of comics I'd love if I got stuck into them – I've always been intrigued by Dawn.

7.What are your plans for the future?

Cosplay wise or just generally?

Cosplay wise I wish to continue improving my Harley Quinn cosplay and continue to be the best Harley Quinn I can be... to do this I continue my physical training and costume development and just trying to come up with new and exciting things to do in terms of telling stories and such. I want to continue to build my profile as a HQ cosplayer and hopefully continue to bring her alive in a way that others enjoy and can engage with. Continue to go to cons, travel more overseas and such. I would love to make my work in all things HQ professional someday somehow, but I'm not sure what shape that could take... though I have a few ideas! :)

As for more general plans, well... I've got a few big dreams and working to make them happen. If I started going into it, it woould take all day! XD

8.How often do you come to the states to cosplay?

Uh, never! San Diego Comic Con this year (2010) will be my first ever time! I wish I could come over a whole lot more as I also just generally love the States. Unfortunately, it is a huge expense so it takes a lot of planning and preparation. One day, when I'm independently wealthy (having made my fortune somehow through Harley Quinn, lol...)... ;)

9.Where do you like to show off your costumes the most?

In contexts where the folks around me will appreciate them. Those who recognise the character and are excited by cosplay – so, my fellow geeks! :D You get the most meaningful interactions with other people who are into the same things you are and who love the character as well. So, mainly cons and other geek-related events! ^_^

Harley's costume is so striking I find it gets a really positive response pretty much everywhere, people get really excited and intrigued by it, but those who know the character are always way, way more enthusiastic and there's a greater sense of connection. I ♥ geeks!!

10.What are your other passions besides cosplay, Harley, and Mr. J?

I love performing – at the moment I am primarily performing as a burlesque artist and stripper, but I am working on building a Marilyn Monroe impersonation act as well as looking to pursue a general career in acting. In addition to this, I harbour a desire to work in the circus one day (relatively soon...) and to this end I am training in clowning, sideshow stunts and trapeze artistry.

I'm pretty politically-minded too, on a radical social justice level. I'm a champion of almost evey underdog you can imagine! ;)

I have a deep love of vintage fashion and try to dress vintage every day. My favourite period is the 30s – early 60s. I can get pretty emotional over beautiful clothes and shoes. XD

And apart from that, spending great quality time with my friends and family, going to events and shows that are exciting, interesting, stimulating and unique, travelling whenever I can (never often enough!) dancing and just generally having fun, being a good and kind person and living each day to the full with a mind both in the now and towards the future!

Links:

If you'd like to connect with me, just check out http://www.harlequinnade.com/

That site is a portal to my cosplay, my website devoted to JokerxHarley, my Joker-focused blog and the website I am perhaps best known for, Harley's Haven, which has been running for close to fourteen years. It also includes links to my facebook, twitter, deviantART, fanfiction and the like. :)

Happy Thorsday!

I discovered a blog called Kirby-Vision.  It is a great blog that features artist's versions of the Great Jack Kirby's work and the characters he created.  That is where I found this awesome Thor by an artist known as Basile.

Jessica Nova as Lydia

Check out the lovely Jessica Nova as Lydia from Beetlejuice.

Be sure to check out the full set at http://www.cosplaydeviants.com/.*

To see more of Jessica's cosplays, check out her devianart page at http://darkmoonchild.deviantart.com/.*

*Warning: There will be nude pictures.  You have been warned*

Jessica Nova's Wrestling Fan Page

Ever wonder what it would be like if the Riddler took on Supergirl in a wrestling match?  Ever wonder who would win between Harley Quinn and Batgirl in a submissions match?  Well, thanks to the beautiful Jessica Nova we can find out.  For those of you who do not know Jessica, She is a very beautiful cosplay model that I have interviewed in the past as well as post some of her photo sets.  Anyway, another hobby she has is wrestling.  She doesn't always wrestle in costume, but she is always awesome.  Well, a fan of hers decided to start their own yahoo group to showcase Jessica's talent.  Check it out today!

 Click to join JessicaNovaFanClub

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/JessicaNovaFanClub/
Also check out SKW
http://www.sleeperkidsworld.com/

Cosplay of the Day

The lovely Riddle as the Black Cat.

1977 Solomon Grundy Vs JSA Calendar art

It's Monday which means it is time for some good ole Born on Monday material. 

Pictured is a 1977 Solomon Grundy Vs the JSA calendar art. 

I do not know what month this was for since I was only three but I just love the artwork, don't you?

Bizarro

Bizarro is by far one of my favorite villians in the DC Universe. 

I think Grundy is the only one who tops him. 

I did a Bizarro search on Deviant art and found this wonderful jem. 

I hope you like it.  It is by an artist that calls himself, Billzarro.

Fun with Toys

I hope its not after midnight.



Kalibak Sketch

While I was on the topic of Darkseid, I figured I wuld share a sketch I did of his adopted son Kalibak.  This Kalibak sketch was inspired by the Super Powers Galactic Guardians cartoon.  I hope you like it.

Granny Goodness on Smallville

Did any of my readers happen to see tonight's episode of Smallville?   I want to know what you thought about Granny Goodness and the coming of Darkseid.  I thought the episode was pretty good but I do have hesitations as well. One thing that I thought was cool was the portrayel of Lois Lane's mother by Teri Hatcher.  I think it was cool to keep anyone who has worked in the realm of Superman on the show.  Tess being one of the creations of Granny Goodness was an interesting twist but finding out that Tess is really a Luthor was a buzz kill. Another thing that is bugging me is the appearance of Dessad as a young good-looking man.  We all know that Dessad is anything but.  Towards the end, we also see Godfrey back as the Darkseid possessed prophet of doom and things to come.  Exactly what will happen when Darkseid comes to cause the apocolypse is anyone's guess.All in all, I thought it was a good episode but I do have my doubts as well.  I cannot wait to see where this is going.  Please feel free to tell me what you think.

Finch Fridays

It is time once again to showcase one of my favorite comic artists of all time, David Finch. 

For this post, I chose to share the cover he did for the Avengelyne/Shi comic.

Happy Thorsday!

Happy Thorsday!

War Wolves Wednesday

I was doing some comic related image searches like I usually do when I cam across an old Excalibur pic featuring the War Wolves.  I remember as a kid thinking these guys were cool.  So, I decided to make today War Wolves Wednesday so you can enjoy their awesomeness! XD



10 questions with Lisa Tran

Time for another interview with talented and beautiful cosplayer.  This time my interview is with the lovely Lisa Tran.

1. What is your name and where are you from?

Lisa Tran from San Diego, CA

2. How did you discover cosplay?

I just had this incredible urge to dress up as Psylocke, my favorite X-Men character. I toyed with the idea for a few years and then decided to do it in 2002 at SDCC and had a great time! It was such a wonderful experience that I started making a new costume every year for comic con and found out that it was called cosplay and that there were lots of other people who did it. I started meeting other cosplayers who told me about cosplay.com and when I went on the site, I was really inspired by what others were doing. I love meeting people and looking at their work as much as I like wearing the costumes myself!

3. What characters have you cosplayed in the past?

My signature costume is Psylocke since I wear that one to SDCC regularly but I also really love my KOSMOS and Juclecia costumes. Most recently, I made “Shi” from Shi comics and that one was a lot of fun to wear.

4. What sites have you worked with?

I really only am registered with cosplay.com so I don’t post to other sites but my dear friend ZiggyB (who is an incredible photographer) has posted photo shoots of mine to his site as well. I’m listed as “Psylocke” on both those sites.

5. Who is your favorite character to cosplay?

Psylocke is my favorite for sure.

6. Do you read comics? If so, what are your favorites?

I actually haven’t read many in recent years but I would say my favorite is “Everyday Magic.” It’s a standalone that features Zatanna – a classic!

7. Are you a gamer, if so what is your favorite game and on what system?

Hmm, I have an xbox 360, ps3 and wii – or what is known as “the trifecta” at home. My favorite system is the 360 and I’m currently playing FFXIII. I have a pretty decent RPG collection which includes original copies of FFIII, Chrono Trigger, Xenogears and a lot of other stuff but probably my favorite game of all time is Suikoden II. It’s truly an underrated game and the best of that series.

8. What are your future plans in terms of cosplay?

My dream cosplay would be one of the Knight Sabers’ hardsuits but until I figure out how to work fiberglass, I’m settling with making Alucard’s white suit from “The Dawn” next, most likely.

9. Where do you like to show off your costumes the most?

In the past, I’ve gone to AX and SDCC.

10. What would you say is your favorite genre to cosplay?

Hmm! That is a tough question…either video games or comics. It depends on the convention. ;)

Be sure to check out these wonderful links for Lisa

LINKS:

Pics of her Psylocke costume

  http://www.cosplay.com/gallery/101954/

Pics of her version of Juclecia (from Magna Carta)

http://www.cosplay.com/gallery/61041/