Cosplay Is For Everyone: Planet Comicon Kansas City 2023

Cosplay has become synonymous with Comics and Pop Culture Conventions. Whatever the theme, when people gather to celebrate their fandom, there will be Cosplay. If you think this is limited to comics, movies, TV, and gaming, you’ve obviously never been to a sporting event, or a concert, or a ren faire… 

Cosplayers often spend months or years making their costumes, and enjoy meeting and interacting with new people in their fandom. Attending events like comic cons or fan expos is a great way to meet people with the same interests and share their love of characters. Cosplay is for anyone who wants to dress up and have fun. When you’re at an event like Planet Comicon Kansas City, it’s easy to spot other cosplayers. They are EVERYWHERE. It’s a great way for people to show off their creativity and bring characters from their favorite comics, games, television shows, and movies to life. 

The cosplay community is generally kind and inclusive of all levels and types of cosplayers, from beginners to professionals, young and old, able bodied and disabled. Costumes can be as simple as an orange leisure suit and a pair of thick glasses, or as complex as a 90+ hour build with an operational jetpack. Cosplay is a medium for all kinds of creative expression. Want something screen/page accurate? Cool. Have an idea for a fun twist on a classic? Also cool. Completely original? Knock yourself out. 

People create costumes to become their favorite character, actor, monster, or superhero, and social media has made it much easier to find build groups of likeminded fans to help each other make their visions come to life. Cosplayers frequently meet to share their costume designs and help each other out. It’s a great way to meet new friends and show mutual admiration for certain characters.

Cosplay is for everyone. It’s a great way to show off your favorite character and express your love for them. It also helps people build their confidence by dressing up as their favorite characters and being able to transform into something of their own invention. 

Here are some of my favorites from last weekend at the Kansas City Convention Center.