Tell me about the outfit you are wearing – who are you cosplaying and how did you decide to pick this particular character ?
The outfit I am wearing is for no particular character; and it is my own design. When this picture was taken it was my first Con and I was not sure what to expect. I make a lot of costumes so I took some of my accessories and made the character I call “Ivan.”
Tell me about the process of making your outfit – was it easier or tougher than you imagine it to be ?
The construction was not hard seeing as I didn’t make the outfit. I wear this clothing on a regular basis and the design on the face was something that just popped into my head. I have a bit of an obsession with gas masks so that is what inspired the look.
Any interesting stories from people’s reaction to your outfit at the con ? ^^
I got a lot of positive feedback for my outfit. I was stopped quite a few times for pictures and everyone I talked to seemed to like it. I heard quite a few “He’s creepy” comments, which I enjoyed very much. I come from a background of acting in haunted houses, so if I’m not making you uneasy or scaring you, I’m not doing my job.
How did you get started cosplaying and what got you interested ?
I have always loved anime. My first exposure was watching Akira and Evangelion when I was seven years old. I also jump at any chance to put myself into costume, so the two seemed to fit together nicely. Then a friend of mine convinced me to come to a con with him—needless to say I loved it.
What is the con that you first attended and what’s your favorite con that you’ve attended so far and why ?
The first con I attended was Fanime. This is also my favorite because of the great location and activities.
What does cosplay mean to you ?
Cosplay to me is the gathering of like-minded people who want to express their love of an amazing genre of animation.
If you had unlimited funds/technology/time, what is your dream cosplay ?
Good question. There are three that I would have to choose from. The first is Alucard from the Hellsing series. The second is Ryuk from Death Note. The third would have to be Ivan Isaacs from the Priest series. These are my three favorite characters and it would be difficult to choose between them.
