Cosplayers – We Support You!

This month on social media uproar: the comic artist Pat Broderick bemoaned on Facebook that cosplayers and event organizers that invite them to conventions bring ‘nothing of value to the shows’. Soon, this was followed by supporters, including retailer Raymond Lui who proudly declared he once kicked a cosplayer out of his booth for not knowing who created Doctor Strange.

Comic artist, Pat Broderick’s rant caused a stir in the cosplay/convention community last week.

Oh, dear. This isn’t the first time (ahem, Tony Harris, Denise Dorman), nor will it be the last, that a comic convention exhibitor is going to bemoan the good old days when they made handfuls of cash from diehard fans, and comics reigned supreme.

Or that an artist will bash cosplayers costumes for being too revealing, too cheap, too inaccurate, or too unflattering, with phrases such as this uttered on a regular basis:

“They don’t notice most people trying not to look at them because they’re walled in by weird and lonely dudes whose attention validates their brazenness. I’m all for taking pride and rockin’ what you’ve got but no, you do not have a black woman’s ass. You have a fat white woman’s ass – BiteTV

But fandom is a swiftly shifting field, and fans show their appreciation in different ways. As the community has become more comfortable with dressing up for the event, cosplay has quickly become one of the highlights of the convention experience – both for the performers, and for the ‘audience’ (other fans and exhibitors). Twice this year I’ve been honoured to see cosplayers of characters that I helped publish, and both times I almost cried. It’s an incredibly moving experience to know that someone took time to show their love of a character in such a tangible and personal way.

I’m not the only one to think so, after the discussion boiled about cosplayers roles at conventions, many well-known creators chimed in to voice their support of the cosplay community. Some are snarkier than others (I’m not very comfortable mocking an artist’s age or volume of work), but the public outpouring of love and support shown for their fans comes through palpably.

One of the leading ladies in the fangirl community, Sam Maggs, also discusses the issue on The Mary Sue, and it’s well worth a read.

“Unlike some others, I actually go to shows BECAUSE of cosplayers. I’ve had my fair share of fame; I make a good living; I really don’t need to sell much of anything at conventions to keep me financially secure, I’m there to have a good time. I love meeting the fans, young and old. When I meet a fan who may not be that aware of what I do, I don’t take offense. It keeps me humble. And, if my smiling at them, chatting with them or just plain listening to them causes them to check out what I do, then that’s a real accomplishment.” – George Perez

“Make-believe is what drives our industry (and many others). Our industry should be inclusive not exclusive. If you’re not keen on “inclusive” and don’t…well, get with the times, there’s another option

Exit to the left.” – Marco Rudy

That’ll show 'em pic.twitter.com/KasmycHNGr

— Ice Skate Leth (@kateleth) December 5, 2014

Instead of blaming cosplay for low sales maybe people should take a look at their own work and think about what they could be doing better..

— Michael Walsh (@Mister_Walsh) December 5, 2014

A creator's take on cosplay is a good barometer on whether they're part of the problem.

— Kieron Gillen (@kierongillen) December 5, 2014

Hey guy who hasn't drawn a comic in ten years. Is cosplay REAAAALLY what's holding you down?

— Jason Latour (@jasonlatour) December 5, 2014

Comics only become more popular when the audience becomes bigger. Cosplay makes people aware.

— Jimmy Palmiotti (@jpalmiotti) December 6, 2014

Sick of bitter old comics dudes complaining about cosplayers.

— Cameron Stewart (@cameronMstewart) December 5, 2014

I've had people cosplay as my characters & there is no greater thrill. You literally feel like "I've made it! They love me!"

— Faith Erin Hicks (@faitherinhicks) December 5, 2014

Old artists still complaining about Cosplay? Cosplay is wonderful. It's a celebration. Comics culture is a thousand times more fun with it.

— Ray Fawkes (@rayfawkes) December 5, 2014

Said it once and will say it again. Cosplay is one of the absolute best parts of conventions, no matter what irrelevant old white dudes say.

— Megan Lavey-Heaton (@savvyliterate) December 5, 2014

Yeah, I'm really over people scapegoating cosplayers as some kind of "narcissistic" blight on conventions. What planet are you on?

— Mariah Huehner (@TiredFairy) December 5, 2014

Update, old men still being awful

— Jamie McKelvie (@McKelvie) December 5, 2014

You can get bitter and frustrated about the changing convention landscape or you can make the most of the expanded potential audience.

— Jim Zub (@JimZub) December 5, 2014

I really wanted to buy work from comic creators at the show but I was mugged by cosplayers so I guess that's a real problem

— Chip Zdarsky, ok. (@zdarsky) December 5, 2014

I've seen cosplayers line up for hours to get a sketch/signature. And they're unlikely to flip it- they always ask it to be signed to them.

— Fiona Staples (@fionastaples) December 5, 2014

Come on, Pat, you don't see the Friday the 13th sequel actors hold bitterness against cosplayers at cons and you share the same relevance.

— Jason Loo (@Rebel_Loo) December 5, 2014

I have literally NEVER noticed any kind of correlation between the concentration of cosplayers at a con and book sales.

— Iron Spike (@Iron_Spike) December 5, 2014

Cosplayers love comics enough to put hours and hours into a costume. Those things take a lot of work and love. They care.

— (╯°□°)╯ ┻━┻ Kel McD (@kellhound) December 5, 2014

.@SamMaggs I bet Disneyland would sell a lot more merchandise if those girls in princess costumes would get the hell out of there.

— Diana McCallum (@WordsOfDiana) December 5, 2014

Amazing how when women decide they want to like themselves and dress up and have their picture taken, they are seen as "narcissists"

— Abby Howard (@AbbyHoward) December 5, 2014

Here are my thoughts on cosplay expressed in emojis:

So I guess some jerk was talking trash about cosplayers. How pathetic do you have to be to dump on people who like to wear cool outfits?

— Aaron Diaz (@dresdencodak) December 5, 2014

What do you guys think? Share your thoughts with us!

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