Con Season : Packing Guide

  Con season is well upon us and with the fun and excitement also comes the task of packing (if you need to travel for cons like us). Packing is an essential (if not burdensome) part of the con experience and in some cases can even make or break it. Thankfully plenty of cosplayers and con goers have lived through the horrors of forgetting a prop, a piece of the puzzle, I. D or even an extra pair of underwear and have come up with some helpful list so you don't have to. Sure some of these items are easily replaceable with a quick visit to the local department store but to save you the hassle and a few extra bucks we have a few tips and tricks to make sure you are getting the most out of your packing task. Not to mention some of those items took months to make and we really don't want to forget those.

#1. THE PACKING LIST


  Now I know this sounds pretty obvious but it is really important that you make a packing list. I like to live on the edge and have a certain joi de vivre air about my life. I've come to realize , in the last couple of years, I am not a very organized person (boy do I try). The aesthetic of a clean place is visually very pleasing to me but for some reason I can't live my life that way. I live more of a chaotic organized one. I know where everything is when I need it. I'm not the type of person who makes lists ( I have the fortunate advantage of friendships that usually save my butt when I forget something but I can't always expect them to have what I need) So I make a packing list.

  It is important that you individualize your packing list. For example should you need a higher level sunscreen (like me) because your friends do better in the sun than you pack it or pay the consequences.


#2. PACK LIGHT
Again I know this sounds like common sense or maybe even odd to the non-cosplayer but for the cosplayer it is important to remember that everyday clothes will not take up the majority of your weekend. It is still essential that you pack some comfy clothes to take a break from the costumes.

You should also plan events that are non con related and might necessitate everyday clothing. If the weekend is strictly con don't worry about it.

Narrow your list down to essentials and strike out any items that are not necessary for the weekend.

 #3. PACK SPECIFICS
If you are cosplaying at the convention you are attending make sure to make specific cosplay packing lists for each character.
 Each character has a set of very specific elements that you need in order to pull the character together. Granted you could probably do without a few of the items but do you want to? You worked so hard and you want to show people what you have created. Making a checklist for these characters guarantees you will most likely not forget anything.

#4. PLAN
Plan each of your costumes for specific days and around events you want to take part in. This year our major costumes for AN were Gimli and Legolas. We decided to wear them on Friday because Saturday had a One Piece photoshoot we wanted to attend. Although Gimli and Legolas might have done better on Saturday (generally a busier day) we wanted the chance to meet other One Piece Cosplayers and fans. We neglected to check the weather for comfort levels during the con but lucked out as Friday was cooler than Saturday and Sunday. If you are willing to suffer through the weather for the art by all means power to you. Remember that the human
body can only endure so much. Take breaks and plan your events so you will be comfortable and prepared to stand for photos. Also remember to stay hydrated and keep lots of water on you.

Make sure you also pack directions, tickets and times for events. Being prepared will ensure you have the best con experience you can.

#5. PACK SUPPLIES
In addition to the water and snacks it is important to pack cosplay supplies. Should one of your props break or a hem comes undone you don't want to be thrown into a panic. Having emergency sewing and prop supplies will save you a trip to the local department store or from having a meltdown.

In this case I also had a backup plan should I not finish one of my cosplays. If you are confident with all of the costumes you have avoid the unnecessary task of packing an extra costume.

#6. PACK A FRIEND 

For a great time make sure you are in good spirits with some of your best pals. Because cons are an adventure and you need good friends through ups and downs of the weekend. People willing to deal with you if you get a bit crazy. If you are fortunate enough to have a bag courier for the weekend thank that person endlessly and shower them with love. It isn't easy to carry a wallet and phone on you when your character doesn't have a bag or pockets. (thank you skin tight suits) 

Most importantly remember to have fun! Cons are a great place to meet people and to meet people that have the same interests as you. If something in your cosplay didn't turn out the way you wanted (I've been there) trust me no one else noticed. They think you did a fantastic job and are just as excited if not more that you brought this character to life. 

Not good at making your own list: 

• Steal from us 
• Borrow from others - Great sites like cosplaytutorial have pre made lists so you don't have to make your down  ( CON PACKING LIST )

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Cosplayer of the Week : Moon Flower Lights

Moon Flower Lights

Our featured cosplayer this week is Moon Flower Lights! The blog was first introduced to her cosplay because of its love for Doctor Who. Moon Flower Lights had a full selection of Amy Pond Cosplay for you to chose from. The amount of detail and time it must have taken to acquire the exact attire from Pond's closet left us awe stricken so we had to check out more of her costumes and she did not disappoint. Not only was she thorough but you could really see the love for the fandom come through in her costumes. As one of her many followers on tumblr we have watched her build costumes from scratch that look screen accurate. Her willingness to be open and accepting of others in the cosplay community has made her one of our absolute favourites! We can't wait to see what she has next in store.

What got you into cosplay?
I’ve always loved dressing up for anything I could as a kid, and always wanted to put costumes together. But for my first actual costume-I have long been a big Harry Potter fan and back when the 4th movie came out I decided I wanted to go to the midnight showing. I threw together a costume (which was basically a tie and sweater and jeans) and used my actual hair to be Hermione. I had so many people that knew who I was supposed to be and had so much fun that I decided to put together an actual Hogwarts uniform for the next movie. 

What was your first cosplay?
My first cosplay was Hermione Granger. The first cosplay I sewed myself was River Tam.

How long have you been cosplaying?
I started truly cosplaying back in 2007 for the 7th Book midnight release and the 5th midnight movie of harry potter. I didn’t get into it as a hobby until 2008 when I decided to go to Dragon*con and made two costumes for it (and have been addicted ever since)
What is your favourite part of putting on your cosplay?
I love becoming a new person. Through costumes, through makeup and wigs, i can become someone totally different. I can be a beautiful princess or a fierce warrior (or both at the same time). It also lets me show my fandom, to bring a character that I love off the screen or page and to life. There’s a moment I have when I put the full costume on for the first time where I look at myself in the mirror and don’t see myself- I see the character, i see myself transform, and I love that moment. i can be anything, I can be anyone!

What’s the best part of cosplay for you?
Meeting other fans, seeing other people’s reactions (especially kids). I love when people get excited about my costume or character, and I love being able to talk to those people about my fandoms. I’ve made so many amazing friends through cosplay, just because I met them when we were dressed in the same fandom costumes. I also love meeting little kids that get so excited about meeting the character I’m dressed as. It just makes my day!

What is your favourite cosplay? (personal collection)
This is such a loaded question to me because I have so many that I love for different reasons. My current favorite to wear is my femme!Rick Grimes costume from the Walking Dead because i have an amazing group of friends that I do that costume with, but Snow White from once upon a time and Katniss are also two of my favorite characters to wear too!

Do you have a current cosplay or cosplayer favourite? (other people’s collections)
I don’t have just one. there are so many talented people in this community that I can’t even choose just one. There are so many amazing costumes out there, so many amazing cosplayers that I’d run out of room if i tried to name them all!

You can check out more of Moon Flower Lights' Cosplay here:
Facebook
TUMBLR

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Agent Carter and The Expansion of the MarvelU

Grayson
It's that time of year again when we celebrate or have our hearts broken as news of renewals, pick ups and cancellations of our favourite TV shows comes out. Some of the more exciting news came when Marvel and the powers that be (ABC) announced that they would be picking up an Agent Carter series.

The show will centre around Peggy in "a post WWII world, when the men are returning from war and she is finding herself highly marginalized, while attempting to deal with the aftermath of her love, Steve Rogers." (Entertainment Weekly)

So why should we be excited about the series?
We all saw Hayley Atwell's stellar performance of the take charge independent Peggy Carter in Captain America : The First Avenger. Carter had previously been a character that could have been easily overlooked but Atwell grabbed our attention. So much so that they decided to give her her own series.

The show will focus on a female protagonist fighting convention and making her way in the world. We will hopefully not only see clandestine action but the expansion of the MarvelU, meeting characters we know and love through the creation of SHIELD and see some familiar faces such as Howard Stark and the Howling Commandos. 

Marvel also announced that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has been picked up for another season. Despite the shaky start and mixed reviews/ratings of the show, the show has really evolved into something magnificent. We expect with more time it will only grow and continue to evolve.

The show began by taking us on weekly missions involving super powered beings and explored the inner workings of SHIELD. Once the story hit a major story arc and tied into the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the show exploded with richness.

With guest stars from the major films such as Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders and Jaimie Alexander reprising their roles as Nick Fury, Maria Hill and Sif and the introduction of known characters such as Deathlok Agents of SHIELD can only go up from here and help expand the MarvelU movieverse.

We can't wait to see what each shows has to offer.

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Cosplayer of the Week: AVX Armourist

AVX Armourist  (avxarmour.tumblr.com)

Our featured cosplayer this week is AVX Armourist! He is a veteran cosplayer as well as an experienced prop and armour maker whose resourcefulness and eye for details makes his costumes amazingly realistic. He’s not the only who benefits from his hard work and fantastic costumes either; he contributes to the cosplay community through work-in-progress pictures on his blog avxarmour.tumblr.com. AVX Armourists dedication to his craft is truly inspiring to cosplayers everywhere and we can’t wait to see his next project!

What got you into cosplay?

I’d have to say that it was probably my mom. As kids, she’d always make my brother’s and I’s costumes for Halloween, but that didn’t last forever. There was a point where I became “too cool” for Halloween in high school, where nobody was really doing it anymore, so it kinda faded out there. But getting into college and eventually starting to go to cons got me all excited about dressing up again. All that was limited to Halloween, but eventually it got cranked up to 11. My brother and I had wanted to do something big one year and had the idea to be stormtroopers. Sadly, to actually get a licensed version, it costs over $800, so we had come up with something else. Then, my brother stumbles on a little blog (I forget the address) that had someone building an entire suit of Master Chief (Halo) armour for less than a licensed version of that. Two months of research and hard work and I built my own! 

What was your first cosplay? 

I’ve worn costumes throughout my whole life, but the first cosplay I did? If we’re counting the first costume I made for something other than Halloween, it was Reno from Final Fantasy 7, for Anime North 2006. 

How long have you been cosplaying?

 I’ve been technically been dressing up all my life, except a stint in high school. But I’d say I’ve working at it as more than just a hobby for 6 years now. 

What is your favourite part of putting on your cosplay? 

I’d have to say it’s the wow factor. I’ve worn plenty of costumes, some better than others and some not as eye catching as others, but nothing compares to the attention one can garner from a spectacular cosplay. I once won a local bar’s Halloween contest ($1k for 1st place), and the whole night I walked around the bar, I turned heads. I got many amazed looks and the whole bar cheering for me as I stood on stage and won the crowd’s approval for 1st place. It’s an incredible feeling to be noticed like that when you’re not used to it. 

What's the best part of cosplay for you? 

Meeting random groups of people from the thing (movie, game, comic, book) that you’re cosplaying from. Shout outs from people that reference that thing too is a close second. 

What is your favourite cosplay? 

(personal collection) I’d have to say my Master Chief one. It’s the one that took me the longest to make, actually looks intimidating in person and I had a few fantastic photoshoots done for it. 

Do you have a current cosplay or cosplayer favourite? 

(other people's collections) Hard to say, I have several sources of inspiration. People like Harrison Krix of Volpin Props, for his epic Mass Effect weapons. Sean Thorsson of Thorsson & Associates Workshop, for his jaw-dropping (and surpringly light) Warhammer Space Marine armours and Laura of Nebulaluben fame, for hers and Erriku’s Borderlands cosplays.

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(source : Redworthy)

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Free Comic Book Day: How To

How to celebrate Free Comic Book Day:

• Wake up nice and early !
• Dress up as your favourite character (cosplay or casual cosplay) or pick out a themed outfit. 

I chose a blue and red motif riding off the wave of excitement of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and my Kate Leth "Girls don't read comic books. Obviously." bag. 

• Head on over to your local comic book store and pick up your free comics
• Please remember that this is a service provided by your local comic book store and it would still help out for you to purchase something at the store. 
• Gloat about your haul. 
• Come home, get comfy, or go out with friends and read your comic books.
• Done reading? or don't have a comic book store in the area? Don't worry you can still partake in the festivities. 
• Pull out your favourite trades or comics and read them or pull out your favourite comic book movies/series and watch away!  

Most importantly have fun! Find new stories that you love and enjoy! 

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The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Grayson

(**nb) Yesterday was the official release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and of course we headed out to see it. I may or may not have dressed up as Gwen Stacy. Let me preface this post by saying that it will not be spoiler free and that I really enjoy the reboot of Spider-Man and if you don't then you probably won't like it here. I also really enjoyed the new movie so this post might be really biased. (**)

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

  A couple of years ago (2012) The Spider-Man franchise got a movie reboot. I'm not even here to say that I wasn't a fan of the first Spider-Man films but after the third one all bets were off. I mean what were they even thinking?  But here was its chance to start new, be young and fresh. Sure the Amazing Spider-Man was a rehashing of Peter's origin stories and it didn't push the Spider-man movies to new heights but there was something about them that I loved. Maybe it was the love I knew Garfield has for the character or maybe it was just because I was excited to see Spider-Man on the big screen again. Maybe it was a combination of both. Regardless I really like the vibe of the new movies. I think they get Peter Parker far better than their predecessors. I'm also not going to say these movies aren't without fault or that the writing is flawless, because they aren't, but that doesn't take away how I feel about them. I really enjoy it and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is no different. 

  People kept calling this movie the "Batman Returns" of the Spider-Man Films but I think people forget that despite all of the traumatic events that happen in Peter's life, Spider-Man is very light hearted and fun. The puns and jokes were not misplaced in this movie whereas with Batman Returns, it was a nod back to the 60s and nobody wanted that. You can really see the love that Andrew has for the character come through in this movie. The first movie struggled with its footing and finding the right characterization of the character but the Amazing Spider-man 2 should have put all of those reservations people might have had about Garfield's interpretation/performance of the character to rest. It is a coming of age story for Peter Parker, a story about a young man trying to find his place in the world. The actor was able to keep up the energy of the character. He played up the fact that Peter is light hearted and fun that in his own special way he is very charming. But Garfield genuinely played the touching moments with skill. We were allowed to feel for and with Peter Parker which is kind of the point. Seeing Peter's brain at work in the film was also something I enjoyed and something I found lacking in the first attempt at comicbook/movie adaptation. There are so many things I love about the character in this movie I am struggling with the idea that people don't like Garfield's Peter : 

• Peter's relationship with Gwen (Spider-Man Blue is one of my favourite Spider-Man stories. To see their relationship play out on screen is something I enjoyed)
• Peter's relationship with the 'little guy' (sticking up for the kid being bullied)
• Peter's love of science (Helping the kid with his science project, being impressed by the science project, tinkering with his web shooters, researching the effects of electricity and conductors) 
• Throwbacks to comics like the tuque and scarf and the parents' origin story.
• That Peter was an integral part of New York 

For me the flow of the story felt / read like a comic book, more specifically a Spider-Man comic book. The action sequences, the music and the choreographed fights all play out like a Spider-Man Ballet. Visually very appealing to watch. I also think there were very interesting artistic choices that read very comic book like the web hand grabbing out for Gwen. For all of these reasons I really love the films. 

One of the biggest complaints I see about the film is Electro as the villain, granted he is poorly written but as a theme I think his character works very well. " Soon, everyone in the city will know how it feels to live in a world without power," Unfortunately the idea I feel never really gets to be executed to it's full potential. 

But Dane Dehaan's Harry Osborn is something to marvel at. His ability to exude confidents and power while all the while coming through as weak and vulnerable is amazing. Harry being born out of desperation and fear is far more compelling than out of vengeance. 

I couldn't talk about how much I loved this movie without talking about Gwen Stacy. For me the character was handled far better in the films than on paper. Maybe that's because I love Emma Stone but a lot of it has to do with Gwen's determination and being completely in control of her own decisions. She isn't ready to settle and she knows that she is intelligent. But never in my life had I been so stressed about something I knew was coming.

The decision to cut Mary Jane from this movie also doesn't seem like a mistake to me. It in fact allows both female characters a life outside of Peter Parker. Their downfall as characters is the "rival" relationship they suffer from over Peter Parker. Bringing her into the films would have allowed too easily for people to hate Mary Jane or create an unnecessary love triangle. For me it was an interesting and smart decision to separate them. 

Lastly we have to talk about the great choices by the costuming department. Should anyone ever ask me again what character's wardrobe would I love I would say movieverse Gwen Stacy. 

The boys aren't bad either.

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