A lover of coffee and AVID stalker of Renee Montoya through the DC Universe. Massive Greg Rucka Fan and a weakness for Nicola Scott, CullyHamner and JH Wiliams III art.
Trainer of horse, rehabber of ex-pacers and rider of the golden beast "Zinda".
Seamstress and 3 times Runner UP WCS Australia.
Cosplays and creates fabric related art.
Addicted to a good book, a warm blanket and a good woman.
Waiting to marry NS Kane (australian law still way behind)
Given that this week we get to start Wonder Woman Rebirth, we will feature the Wonder Woman of Down Under, Lani.
Lani is one of the few cosplayers that doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk. Well known for her cosplays of women with a lot of power under the hood such as Forever (Lazarus) and Diana (Wonder Woman), she is also incredibly down to earth and one of the nicest people I have had the pleasure to talk with from the cosplay community.
Wonder Woman Photo by: Cosplay Australia
Name/alias: Lani / Heroine For Hire
Location Brisbane, Australia
When was your first cosplay High school during the 90s.
What was it Lara Croft
Cosplay achievements: I guess having creators give me major love. Greg Rucka, Kelly Sue Deconnick and Marguerite Bennett are all amazing humans. Having Greg publish my Forever Carlyle in an issue of Lazarus is well up there with a highlight of my life. The greater Internet community writing articles about my Wonder Woman was pretty nice too.
Forever Carlyle: Lazarus Photo by: Pezonator
Cosplay pet peeve
In doing it? Underestimating the time it will take every single time (also shipping materials from the US – nightmare) .For Cosplay in general? I think it’s the idea that cosplay is for anyone in general. Cosplay is just an artistic way to express a love for your fandom; I think that idea needs to be celebrated more.
What inspired you to get into cosplay?
More recently, partially because I wanted to develop skills and I kept seeing these amazing cosplays coming up all the time. Partially because I know I can represent something different maybe, and maybe someone can get inspired by it.
What is the piece you are most proud of?
Red Sonja is my new most proud because of attempting Scale mail for the first time. Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman are well up there though.
Red Sonja Photo by: Tom Ellwood Photography
Who is your dream team to work on a cosplay with?
Oh as in other cosplayers? I haven’t really done a *team* yet. However, there is something super exciting coming up for the end of this year with Belikovs Costumes and Baby Got Cap Cosplay.
What is a typical day in the life of you when working on a cosplay?
CHAOS! Lots of yelling at things. Sometimes a EUREKA moment too.
How long does it take to do an average cosplay?
From start to finish with no disasters it usually takes a fortnight if I really get into it. The longest has been two months and the shortest has been a week.
Lara Croft Photo by: Duckworth Industries
What is the process how do you start from picking out the cosplay to finally wearing it?
First of all a character really has to mean something to me. So I have a list of my loves and concepts and art work handy as I’m cruising around the internet. Then when I finally decide that I’ve wasted enough time NOT doing it, I will break down the costume into its parts and try to sketch out details from every angle. I will shop around for fabrics and possible patterns if I need them and order the Worbla (or whichever thermoplastic I am using at the time) and start to pull it all together. I’m never working on just one aspect, it’s often every little bit at once so that while something is drying or I’ve had enough of sewing there are other aspects of things to be working on. Then it’s just about putting the time in and not being afraid to ask for help and not procrastinating about the harder bits.
Who are your inspirations?
In Cosplay it’s my friends, my friends are amazing people who really constantly challenge themselves the way I also like to challenge myself. I think it’s important to surround yourself with people who are always going to make you strive to be that bit better and add just that little more extra thing to your cosplay. Other than that, it’s really down to the Characters and the creators. If I LOVE a Character and a creator has done amazing things, I will work my butt off to do that justice.
What is the current project you are working on?
I am working on Rebirth Wonder Woman and Nebula from Guardians of the Galaxy.
What is your dream project?
I think I am doing it! Wonder Woman is my lady. Though I can’t look past the urge to do a big armoured piece eventually.
Captain Marvel Photo by: Cosplay Australia
If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be?
Well Yaya Han is amazing, the intricate details and skills that woman has. But Major Sam is incredible! The amount of work and details and effort she puts into everything blows my mind.
How has the industry changed since you first started?
I think it’s become more competitive, and in a way less inclusive feeling to outsiders. There is a more business aspect to the way people present themselves (which isn’t bad at all, don’t get me wrong) and so there can be a perception that you have to be at this high level immediately which isn’t the case at all. Instead consult a doctor as soon cheapest cialis as possible. With the help of this medication man is able to withhold the purchase tadalafil online stiffness of the penis and all the arteries and veins are closed. Work stress is another contributing factor buy levitra pdxcommercial.com to ED in men. This viagra cialis achat type can be further categorized as immune-mediated or idiopathic. How do you feel about the change to mainstream thanks to shows like The Big Bang Theory and the movies now in the cinema like Spiderman and Batman vs Superman?
Hey the more people who are around to listen to me talk on and on and on about my geek loves the better. I think there are some issues with fandom things, and recently there’s been a lot of discussion about that which was long overdue. But if it means here is more people buying comic books and more people to keep things afloat then hell yeah.
Wonder Woman Photo by: Pandora
Fun time:
Who is your favourite comic book character?
How dare you make me choose just one. I can give you my top 5 of all time: Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel, Danny Rand/Iron Fist, Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, and Big Barda.
Who is your favourite author (books)?
Greg Rucka, Brian K Vaughn, Brian Bendis, Charles Soule, Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker.
What is your favourite movie?
I cannot choose just one, I love too many movies. Ha-ha.
What is your favourite band/music artist?
Soundgarden, Muse, You Am I.
What is a quirk you have (like dipping fries into chocolate Sunday)?
As an athlete (we always have the weirdest things) but I always thought it was a bad omen to go into competition uninjured.
Lady Thor Photo by: Pezonator
Pick-
Day or night
Night
Star trek or star wars
WARS
Coffee or tea
COFFEE
Summer or winter SUMMER
Cats or dogs
DOGS
Batman or Superman
SUPERMAN
Movies or a book
BOOK
Pizza or Burgers
BURGERS
Coke or Pepsi
COKE (zero)
For those wanting to see more of Lani’s work you can find her on Facebook and Twitter.
Michael Alan Nelson is a writer currently is residing in LA, California. With 2 awards (2004, 2011), several short comic stories based on the HP Lovecraft’s Cthulhu and Supergirl to his name, his latest run has been with a rather interesting series going by the name of Hexed.
Tell us a bit about Hexed
MAN: Hexed is about a young woman named Lucifer who makes her living as a thief in a mystical underworld, all while trying to find a way to remove the hex that has been placed on her by the mysterious Keeper of Secrets. Lucifer works for a woman named Val Brisendine who operates an art gallery as a front for hiding all the magical pieces Lucifer steals. But as Lucifer goes about her thieving way, she crosses paths with several baddies, some of whom are dangerous in the extreme. The story follows Lucifer on her quest to free herself from her hex while keeping the world safe from deadly magic and the evil creatures who wield it.
How did you get into Hexed?
MAN: I created Lucifer (and the Harlot-Keeper of Secrets) in my series Fall of Cthulhu. But as that series wrapped up, we realized that Lucifer was such a fun character that we didn’t want her story to end. We thought it would be fun to put her in a universe of my own making. Thankfully, the folks at BOOM! Studios liked the character and the idea of creating my own universe for her so they let me run with it. The rest, as they say, is history.
Who was your favourite character to write?
The Harlot with Val running a close second. While I love Lucifer, there’s something about the Harlot’s foreknowledge that is so much fun to play with. I can also use an odd diction with her that I can’t with Lucifer. Some of the turns of phrase that I like to write would sound odd coming from a young woman, but not so much from an ancient mystical god. She can be snarky, heartfelt, and threatening all in the same sentence. That’s something that would be more difficult to pull off with a human character.
Was it the character itself or the story that made you pick that character as a favourite?
MAN: The character. Everything comes from the character. Don’t get me wrong, I love the story and the arcs the characters take, but it really is their personalities that make them come alive for me. The Harlot’s underlying madness, Val’s patient frustration, Lucifer’s cross-your-fingers-and-hope-for-the-best devil-may-care attitude. Having those characters with those traits really make writing them enjoyable. If it was just moving them through plot points, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun to write (or read).
What inspired you to work in comics?
MAN: My brother got me into it actually. He coloured comics in the 90s and knew that I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I had been struggling with novels and short stories since I was a teenager, so he asked if I thought about writing comics. So he introduced me to a few people in the industry and I started studying on the process. A couple years later, Ross Richie (the founder of BOOM! Studios) asked me if I’d like to write a short comic for his Zombie Tales anthology he was publishing. So I gave it a shot and, for some reason, he liked it and has been asking me to write for him ever since.
What is the piece you are most proud of?
MAN: Hexed. It’s by far the best thing I’ve ever written. I’m proud of most of my work, but I think the full story of Hexed, from its very beginning to the very last issue is, hands down, the best story telling I’ve done to date.
Who is your ultimate dream team to work on a comic with?
MAN: Oh, that’s a difficult question to answer and one that entirely depends on the project. There are so many wonderful and talented people in the industry that it’s hard to narrow down a “dream” team. To be honest I would just want to put them all in a room and eavesdrop on them talking about the craft of graphic storytelling.
What is your current project?
MAN: I’m trying to develop a few stories at the moment, just working on a few comic ideas and some more prose as well. I won’t have anything coming out in 2016, but I hope to see some of these ideas come to life next year.
What is a typical day in the life of you when working on comics?
MAN: I’m sure it would look quite boring from the outside. I wake up, drink some coffee and start writing. When the writing gets tough, that’s when I take a walk to help clear my head. Then I’ll head back to it, taking a break every now and then to eat or go for another walk. But my brain is pretty much toast by mid-afternoon. So I try to get as much done as early as I can. But if I spend my morning scanning news feeds or lurking on Twitter, the day ends up being a wash.
How long does it take to do a single issue script?
MAN: I’ve written some scripts in 24 hours and others have taken me a full month to write. But usually I can hammer out a first draft in a week. Then it takes about another week to do any rewrites or address any notes my editor may have.
The time also depends on the publisher/creative team. For most of my BOOM! Work, I write a complete script first before sending it off to the artists. When I was writing for DC, I would write “Marvel” style scripts which were much quicker since I was only giving a general overview of what happened on each page. However, that meant writing the bulk of the dialog after the art came back. That added a bit of extra time.
What is the process you go through?
MAN: Whenever I write a story, I usually create the interesting moments first. I’ll come up with the scenes, the tent-pole moments, then find the best way to connect them. I try to outline whenever possible since it helps if I know where I’m headed. I’ve written stories before where I had no idea where the story was going to go and, more often than not, it turned out to be a mess. Sometimes it works, but not very often. But if I have a key moment that I’m building toward, it makes creating the connective tissue that much easier for me.
Who are your inspirations?
MAN: That is a long and inexhaustible list.
What is your dream project?
MAN: A Hexed television show. It would be an utter dream to see Lucifer’s story on the screen.
If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be?
MAN: If I could pick ANYONE, living or dead, it would have to be Orson Welles. I would give anything to have had the chance to sit in a room with him and listen to him discuss story and character, let alone have him take me under his wing. I have no idea if he could have made me a better writer, but I bet he could have certainly made me a better story teller.
Have you done anything at a convention, as in had a table in artist alley or a booth or been a guest?
MAN: I’ve been going to conventions as a guest of BOOM! Studios for over ten years now. So I’ve had a chance to meet fans from all over North America. I was even a guest at the Middle East Film and Comicon in Dubai one year. That was such a fantastic show and a great experience meeting fans from that part of the world. I also occasionally do more prose-focused shows like BEA or ALA, though not quite as much as I used to.
What was the most memorable fan moment you have had?
MAN: I’ve had so many memorable fan moments, but I think the most surprising was when a fan of Hexed came to the booth to show me her Lucifer tattoo. I was completely stunned and amazed that my story had moved someone so much that they were willing to permanently mark their body to show their love for the character. It was an incredibly humbling moment.
Have people ever cosplayed your work?
Avoiding all of the technical aspects, the simple result is that a man with ED will be able to produce the medicine. order soft cialis Most people are not even aware that they are in their earlier stage of sufferings. find now now viagra 25 mg The product is made viagra vs cialis available for quick global purchase. Impotence viagra price is one of the most common male sexual disorders that interrupt lovemaking. MAN: Yes! Last year was the first time I saw someone cosplay Lucifer from Hexed, though I had heard rumours that someone had been cosplaying as the Harlot somewhere else in the country. Oh, how I would love to have pictures of that!
How has the industry changed since you first started?
MAN: When I began writing in 2005, the industry was pretty much dominated by the Big Two. However, in that time we’ve really seen the rise of the independents like Image and BOOM! Studios. They’re taking the industry by storm and I love it! We’re seeing such great stories and ideas that go beyond the superheroes that the medium has been known for. It really is a new golden age and it’s fun to be a part of it.
How do you feel about the change to mainstream thanks to shows like The Big Bang Theory and the movies now in the cinema like Spiderman and Batman vs Superman?
MAN: It’s always wonderful to see comics and their most popular characters go on to other mediums, but I would like to see that mainstream popularity transfer to an increase in popularity for the MEDIUM of comics, not just the characters that began there. People will rave about an Avengers movie making a billion dollars and that certainly is a wonderful thing. But the popularity of the films aren’t directly proportional to the popularity of the comics. Yes, the comics a movie is based on will see an uptick in sales when the movie comes out, but I don’t believe that uptick is coming from a majority of new readers coming into the medium. And that’s what I want to see. I want to see people who love these films go and read the comics those films are based on. And once they fall in love with the medium itself, go out and find other stories they enjoy. That’s why I’m such a huge fan of The Walking Dead. Because I believe the show has brought in new readers to the comics medium. I want to see more of that.
Anything extra you would like to share:
MAN: Yes, buy my books! And not just my books, but the books of any creator whose work you enjoy. If you love someone’s work, support them so they can continue to create the stories you enjoy.
Fun time:
Who is your favourite comic book character?
MAN: Spider Jerusalem
Who is your favourite author(books)?
MAN: George R.R. Martin
What is your favourite movie?
MAN: The Princess Bride
What is your favourite band/music artist?
MAN: Joe Satriani
What is a quirk you have (like dipping fries into chocolate Sunday)?
MAN: I get really freaked out if I see someone put their socks and shoes on by covering one foot completely before starting on the next foot. You put your socks on first, then your shoes. You don’t dress one foot completely and then the other. That’s just…wrong.
My first official cosplay was in May of 2005 for the premier night of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith in Miami, Florida. I was an all-white Star Wars, Episode 2: Attack of the Clones Clone Trooper. I received the armour kit three months earlier as a gift from the Florida Garrison of the 501st Legion Star Wars Costuming Group as a Thank You Gift for allowing them to be part of my son’s Celebration of Life Ceremony. My son (Christian Richard Stafford), passed away at the age of eight in my arms from Leukaemia, March of 2005. He thought his cancer battle was actually his Jedi Trials as he was a huge fan of everything Star Wars. I fed his belief by being his Jedi Master while he was in the hospital and taught him lessons on sword fighting, meditation and mindfulness. He would never leave his hospital room without first putting on his Jedi robe.
The day after he passed away, I went to the crematorium and dressed him one last time in his Jedi costume and robe so that he would forever be the Jedi he hoped to become. On the night of the premier in Miami, those of us working the event were given the privilege of seeing an advance screening several hours before the general public. At that showing, I went to the concession stand and purchased an order of nachos, a hotdog, and pink lemonade. As I sat in the theatre with the rest of the 501st and Rebel Legion costumers, I placed the food and drink in the seat next to me and in the cup holder separating my seat from the next, I placed a small metal container with a Jedi badge affixed to it that contained my young Padawan. I fulfilled my promise to my son of taking him to see the last Star Wars movie. I have been a costumer ever since, and I do so to honor the memory of my son, Christian. He never got to grow up…SO WHY SHOULD I?!
photo credit: Martin Schiff
Cosplay achievements:
Thanks to cosplay, I have had a long list of achievements. I have been in two major documentaries: “Heart of an Empire” and as part of the Star Wars Blu-Ray Box Collection under Special Features “Star Warriors.” “Star Warriors” documents the 501st costume group and how George Lucas and Lucas Films chose 200 individuals from around the world to represent Star Wars fandom by having us march in the Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade in California. George Lucas was the Grand Marshal and we got to march as Imperial Forces in front of thousands of fans and televised worldwide. I was also selected by Lucas Arts and flown to New York City as part of the 501st to March on Time Square as part of the release of the game Star Wars: Battlefront 2 and the release of Revenge of the Sith on DVD.
My picture made the front page of the New York Times, and we were all on the CBS Morning Show. It was really cool to find out the I was listed on IMDB for my part in the 501st documentary “Heart of an Empire.” I later got internet attention when I started showing up in my now famous King Aquaman leather armoured costume. I had people from all walks of life telling me they had seen me on one website or another, showcasing images of my costuming. The King Aquaman armor was constructed by an uber talented leather worker named Sam Lee from Prince Armory. It took over a year to fully construct based on our combined design.
But one of my biggest achievements was not even an award. Several years ago I was leaving a convention here in Orlando called MegaCon. As I left the show floor and was heading out onto the main concourse, a little old lady stopped me and asked if her husband could have a photo with me. I was dressed in the classic version of Aquaman that included the low cut neckline and the black shorts over the green leggings with the fins on the calves. I quickly obliged and stood next to the frail old man and holding my trident, I did my best hero pose for him. After his wife had taken several pictures with her disposable camera, I began to walk away, and that was when the old man lightly grabbed my arm and told me, “You are exactly as I imagined you would look like.” I thanked him for the compliment and again began to leave and again he stopped me and said, “You are the living embodiment of my imagination.” At this point I again thanked him, but also felt things were getting a little weird.
He saw the puzzled expression behind my smile and asked if I knew who he was. I politely told him that I did not. That is when he told me, “My name is Nick Cardy, I invented Aquaman.” He was on his way to a panel of Golden Age Comic Artists and saw me and had to have a photo of me because I was exactly what he pictured when he first developed Aquaman. So my biggest achievement is being told by the creator of the character that so many people recognize me as, that I am The True Aquaman. To this day I am humbled by that encounter. Nick Cardy passed away a couple years ago and I never got to see the pictures of us together as I did not have a phone on me at the time since Aquaman has no pouches on his belt to hide it in. But it is an amazing memory for me none the less.
Cosplay pet peeve:
Cosplay bullies in any and all forms: body shaming, costume divas that think only they can be a particular character, cosplayers that use false accusations to bully others out of cosplay for their own reasons, cosplayers that act like they are royalty and are better than the rest of us cosplayers and convention goers that disrespect anyone’s cosplay whether it is store bought or handmade and not perfect. We are a community of geeks and nerds that love to express our fandoms with costumes. It’s about having fun and socializing with others who share our mutual fandoms. This is not high school, and we do not need to make this a popularity contest. Respect everyone and their choice of fandoms and the way they choose to represent their love of a character in costume.
What is the piece you are most proud of?
First, I would say my Iron Man costume as it was my first major cosplay costume. It weighs in at 85lbs. and is a total labor of love to wear as it is not comfortable, but it is loved by all the fans who see it. And the one I am best known for now is my King Aquaman armor. From the idea conception to finally wearing it was a year-long wait, but I am very proud of how it turned out and love the feeling I get wearing it and the feeling of being regal I have when I am walking around in it. The old saying, “The suit makes the man,” and in the case of my Aquaman armor, it truly does.
photo credit: Martin Schiff
Who is your dream team to work on a cosplay with?
In the last 10 years, I have gotten to work with so many amazing people that putting together a Dream Team would leave out so many incredibly talented individuals that I absolutely adore. Just to throw out a few names would include Danny and Heather Kelly, Chad Tango, Charles Hass, Brian Parsley, and Chase Law. Some that I would love to get to work with, but have not worked out the logistics yet, include Saraphina Cosplay, RJ Foster, Rebecca McGillicuddy, and Nica Stone to name a few.
What is a typical day in the life of you when working on a cosplay?
This question can be interpreted in two ways: when I am constructing a cosplay and when I am working as a cosplayer at a convention. I’ll answer both. I am a stickler for detail work when I develop a costume, so I try to make sure I have all the right tools and supplies to do the job correctly the first time. If I know something will require snaps added to it, I make sure I have the proper kind of snaps and the snap tool laid out and ready to use. I often work in a large open area on my hardwood floor that I cover with a drop cloth and then use large pieces of thick cardboard to protect the flooring underneath from cuts, dents, scratches and paint or glue drips. When I get started, I usually forget to eat or drink as I get so focused on the task at hand that I will work for hours and lose total track of time. Because of this, I tend to hold off on working on projects till one of my days off.
At conventions, I try to get to the event early so I can meet with the convention promoter and get my table or booth set up as quickly as possible. I then tend to wander around and introduce myself to the vendors and get an idea of what they have, so that if I see something I like, I can try to make a deal for it before the end of the convention. I usually suit up in the costume for the day about 30 minutes before general opening of the doors, so I have time to fix anything that might go wrong and get acclimated to temperature of the convention site. Sometimes they are now well air-conditioned and other times they might have it cracked down really low in anticipation of heavy crowds and lots of warm bodies.
I hardly ever sit or stay behind my table at events as I like to interact with fans and guests who stop by. It’s much easier to do a selfie with a fan while standing next to them then it is to lean across my table and do so. During lulls in the convention traffic, I try to again visit the different vendors, now in costume, so that they get a chance to get photos with me since they are usually not able to venture far from their merchandise or artwork. They really seem to appreciate the thoughtfulness on my part to bring a segment of the convention experience to them. I will chat with people all day long about all aspects of cosplay and particular fandoms while at the show.
But if I see a child who wants to do a photo with me, I will pause any conversation to honor the photo request of a family. I truly enjoy the interaction with the guests and fans alike at conventions. I typically bring my own food to the con and try to eat it as discreetly as possible so as not to have photos show up on the internet with Aquaman stuffing his face with grilled chicken and brown rice. (LOL). Another thing I am very careful to do is always use a stall when I need to use the bathroom as it is not safe with current cell phone cameras to simply do your business in costume and have to worry about photos of it showing up on the web. This is a good practice for any male cosplayer.
Who are your inspirations?
My major inspiration is and will always be my son, Christian. I do all of this for his memory. If I had to honestly trade all that I have done in the cosplay world to have him back…HELL YES, I WOULD! Beyond my son, I would say I am inspired by those cosplayers that truly put themselves out in the community at large for the sake of real charity work. Those that visit hospitals and clinics, those that raise money for charities and those that stand up for those who do not have the strength to do it themselves, such as the anti-bullying cosplayers.
photo credit: Any-Occasion-Photography
What is the current project you are working on?
I actually have several that are in the planning stages. Three new versions of Aquaman are being developed over the next year, an aquatic character suit is being completed in the next six months. The Force Awakens version of the X-Wing pilot costume and a couple other surprises are being sketched out.
What is your dream project?
This is a hard one as the King Aquaman was such a massive undertaking and overall successful project. I would really like to have another Iron Man costume that if as close to movie accurate as possible with electronic moving parts and sound system that allows me to sound like Ironman. I’m keeping my eyes out for someone talented enough to build the version I would ultimately want to have and wear.
photo credit: Ernesto-Javier
If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be?
As a mentor, I would really appreciate having Scott Fensterer. He is an incredibly talented artist, prop builder and make-up artist. Learning a tenth of what he knows would be incredible. He was one of the last five competitors on this seasons Syfy Channel show Face/Off. Not only is he a talented artist, he is an amazing man all the way around and I truly look up to all he has to offer as a great human being.
How has the industry changed since you first started?
The cosplay community when I first started over ten years ago, was much more fandom loving based. Unfortunately, due to the mass media glamorization of the cosplay community—with reality shows and major coverage of the cosplayers at events like San Diego Comic Con and New York Comic Con—the community has been inundated with people seeing the prospect of being at conventions as the new cool place to been seen at. This has led to a large increase in shaming and cosplay bullying by individuals who are not truly in the community for the love of the fandoms they represent, but rather to be seen as cool because they are in a costume from the current popular craze in the media. This has me defining the community in two factions. My personal definition of a Cosplayer is: a person who dons a costume and does their best to represent the character in both actions and knowledge like an actor taking on the role. A Costumer: is a person who wears a costume because they simply like the character, but are not trying to become the character. Like a sports fan wearing a jersey of their favorite team, but obviously not being an athlete. Some would argue that a costumer is someone who makes their own costumes, but I prefer to call them costume designers. We are all allowed to use our own vernacular. It is highly useful for young super viagra online men, who smoke, to stop now. Today, buy Kamagra via online is known as one of get viagra cheap robertrobb.com the best medication. Internal sexual provocation is must to experience best result of this capsule can be enjoyed for 36 hours and due to this medicine is cheap viagra india addressed as weekend tablet. Getting this male impotence drug over the web assists ED patients to save their efforts to seek the drug at levitra viagra online the local drugstores.
The mass media has made conventions big business for a lot of promoters, but the spirit of the fandom driven events has suffered for it as it is now much more a mass market event to sell products and less and less about fans coming together to enjoy their mutual love of different sci-fi and fantasy genres.
photo credit: Martin Schiff
Fun time:
Who is your favorite comic book character?
Easy…Aquaman!
Who is your favorite author (books)?
Jules Verne, a man way ahead of his time.
What is your favorite movie?
Original Star Wars and Princess Bride. Both are great hero stories.
What is your favorite band/music artist?
Tough one as my musical tastes truly are all over the place. Nine Inch Nials and Florence and the Machine are a couple of my picks.
What is a quirk you have (like dipping fries into chocolate Sunday)?
I tend to eat all of one thing on my plate before I move to something else.
photo credit: Martin Schiff
Pick-
Day or night
Day, I love the feeling of sunlight on my face.
Star trek or star wars
I like Star Trek, but I am a child of Star Wars and it will always be my favorite.
Coffee or tea
Definenty tea. I love a kettle of Moroccan Mint Green Tea every day.
Summer or winter
Summer, I cannot stand going days without seeing the blue skies and sunshine.
Cats or dogs
DOGS! I love love love dogs. I tend to be an alpha male to them.
Batman or Superman
I prefer to throw those options out for a third, Aquaman. (LOL)
Movies or a book
I love all kinds of movies, but a book always beats a movie, but I can get through more movies due to time constraints.
Pizza or Burgers
Pizza for cheat days, and a good burger (Five Guys) when I have weight training days.
That girl cosplayers will always have the prettier selection of costumes that I won’t have the opportunity to do.
What inspired you to get into cosplay?
I was so infatuated with Belldandy since she’s so pretty and gentle and stuff, and so I thought, what if I could be someone in there, like Keiichi, but I didn’t have a motorcycle when I was 18, to which I chose the next best character I felt I could pull off.
Macross Frontier (Kindan no Elixir): Sheryl Nome Photographer: Fumina Kamiya
What is the piece you are most proud of?
Sheryl Nome – Kindan no Elixir / Prince. I’ve always wanted to cosplay my waifu.
Who is your dream team to work on a cosplay with?
Skilled people to make an unforgettable performance, who can follow schedules and be on time.
What is a typical day in the life of you when working on a cosplay?
Measuring shit, drawing shit down, cutting shit up, cutting myself, making a mess, joining shit together, poking/burning myself, ow, add finishing to shit… done…
How long does it take to do an average cosplay?
Typically 2 weeks, if I’m not lazy.
What is the process how do you start from picking out the cosplay to finally wearing it?
Do I like it?
Yes, proceed to 2.
No, don’t do it.
Do I think I can make it?
Yes, proceed to 3.
No, don’t do it.
Do I have money to eat?
Yes, proceed to 4.
No, don’t do it.
Plan all steps required to make the costume.
Sketch and itemize sections.
Digitally superimpose general image onto self in actual scale.
Get general actual dimensions for all items required.
Do the steps required to make the costume.
From 4c, draw templates on paper by hand or ideally CAD it out.
Transfer templates to materials (foam, cloth, etc.)
Cut materials and join them together (glue, sew, etc.)
Do intermediate test fittings to make sure you don’t need to redo everything if something messed up.
Costume is complete and ready to be shown to the world.
Who are your inspirations?
Tom Hanks and Sean Connery, just to name a few. Cosplay wise, really good costume makers who have really detailed fabric knowledge and skills.
Sakura Taisen: Oogami Ichirou Photographer: Maria Tachi Cosplay
WCS
WCS stands for World Cosplay Summit. It’s where more than 2 dozen countries send a team of two to compete in Japan for the title of Best Cosplayers in the world.
What dates were you representing your nation at WCS?
August 2013 and August 2014.
What costumes did you take?
August 2013: Final Fantasy XI – Corsair.
August 2014: Sakura Taisen – Oogami Ichirou / Aoi Satan / Chibi Koubu.
What was the experience like? Tell us about the process from heats in your nation to finals in Japan. Erectile disorder, also cialis for sale cheap known as erectile dysfunction, is a condition where there in unusually thick yellowish or whitish discharge from the vagina and may be accompanied by tiredness and pain in the cervical region. Why might a man take any sort of active cialis cheap no prescription appalachianmagazine.com ingredients. The principle of chiropractic is based on the cialis price canada speed at which it impacts the body. They can produce penetration properly after getting this kind of buying this viagra generika.
Singapore is a small country so there’s only registration around March and selection that is done in July.
The finals are held in August, where there’ll usually be PR and media stuff for days before the detailed costume judging, which is conducted by an international panel and held before final performances. We’ll then have the red carpet parade in the morning of the finals and then perform and wait for results in the evening.
What was the highlight for you?
Standing on the stage where the (cosplay) world looks at you for 2 and half minutes.
What was your proudest moment?
Being nominated for the Nico Nico awards in 2014 after a disastrous 2013; but it was also the saddest because we lost to cat girls.
Any funny stories or bloopers?
Sebestian and I were trying out a last minute stage effect in our hotel room. The air popper was stuck on the back of his helmet and it didn’t activate when he pressed it twice. He took it off to check what’s wrong with it and it blew up confetti almost in his face.
What advice do you have for others attempting to enter WCS?
Stamina is very important. 2 weeks of cosplaying will take a toll on your body.
To write and direct a full length theatrical stage piece.
If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be?
Steven Spielberg; on how to create captivating performances.
How has the industry changed since you first started?
It’s got a little idol-ly and cosplaying because the series is popular across the world now as compared to when most people were cosplaying because they really like the character and want to bring him/her to life.
How do you feel about the change to mainstream thanks to shows like The Big Bang Theory and the movies now in the cinema like Spiderman and Batman vs Superman?
I don’t really watch TV so I can’t really comment on those. Movies wise, I guess it’s interesting to see what the director’s feels and edits. Some were pretty interesting and some were a huge miss.
Anything extra you would like to share:
Remember cosplay is ultimately to bring your character to life, not just who has the prettier face or who has more bling in your costumes.
Kane cosplaying as Batwoman. Picture by George Wong
Sitting in a darkened room, with the sounds of Shrek creeping through a wooden door in Sydney, NS Kane is typing away at a keyboard, plotting a plot. New to comics, she is an aspiring writer from the Land Down Under and is hoping to become another Australia comic-success story, following in the foot steps of people like Tom Taylor (Injustice: Gods Among Us) and Nicola Scott (Black Magick).
Seamstress
What is your current project?
The project is called Seamstress, and it’s about two seamstresses who work for both heroes and villains in their world, creating the famous outfits that they wear.
What inspired you to work in comics?
Actually my partner Kate did since she is an actual seamstress in her spare time. When I was sitting in my lounge with a friend, he turned around while watching her run back and forth carrying cups of coffee and said “you are a human sewing machine that runs on coffee.” At that moment I bolted to the computer and started writing, two years later Polli and Cassi were born.
What is the piece you are most proud of?
Well I love my Seamstress very very much but I’m equally as proud of my next project coming up called Toxicity, which is outside my comfort zone, but challenges me as a writer to really think outside the box.
Who is your dream team to work on a comic with?
Greg Rucka, JH Williams, Dan Mora, Blond the colourist, Rex Locus, Nicola Scott, Marguerite Sauvage, Stjepan Šejić, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado. Lol and that’s just for a start!
What is a typical day in the life of you when working on comics?
Well I go to work, whine for half the day that I’m not writing comics, then I find a few minutes to jot down a rough outline of my ideas for either a plot line or a 22 page issue. Then I usually come home and start loading the notes into a pretty format that looks cleaner before I realize I have made so many spelling mistake and spend the rest of the night cleaning them up.
Nyteowl: written by NS Kane
How long does it take to do a single issue script?
Depends on the script, sometimes I’m not feeling the mojo and it takes weeks, and sometimes it could take me less than three hours to knock out the script. But nothing is perfect, so I like to usually take a week to have some time to read then re-read it making sure everything is sitting right.
What is the process?
Usually loads of coffee is a good start, but I don’t do anything without music, it’s definitely a must for me to be in the writing mood. Then I sit down with my templated format and my rough plan to start writing away.
Who are your inspirations?
Greg Rucka is my biggest inspiration followed by Michael Alan Nelson and Tom Taylor. All these men really do give me hope that you can do what you dream, that you can write what you want and that even being from Australia will not limit you to reach the biggest comic companies across the world.
What is your dream project?
To write for Batwoman. That’s my biggest goal in my life, since she started me on this comic journey, and she is where I want to be. I want to give her a new life and the passion that she restored back to me.
Red: Caution
If you could pick anyone to act as your mentor, who would it be?
GREG RUCKA!!!! Yes if he would put up with my annoying pestering every five seconds I would love to have him, if only for a few hours, to give me that nudge in the right direction.
Have you done anything at a convention, as in had a table in artist alley or a booth or been a guest?
Not yet, but it’s still early days for me so I’m hoping to debut Seamstress next year down here in Australia.
Have people ever cosplayed your work?
Unfortunately, no. Though I hear down the grape vine that something might be in the works! But it would be amazing to see any of my works come to life.
How has the industry changed since you first started?
Since I found comics a few years ago, the industry has exploded with talent, so I’m really excited to be in the thick of it right at this moment now.
How do you feel about the change to mainstream thanks to shows like The Big Bang Theory and the movies now in the cinema like Spider-Man and Batman vs Superman?
Well those shows have opened the world of comics up from being a child’s interest to a more adult scene. It’s nice to see people my age embracing this fantasy world and becoming more involved in it letting their inner child break free.
Tell us about Polli and Cassi:
Polli: Seamstress
Polli is a unique individual with light pink bubble gum hair. She only wears the latest fashion styles when she’s not doing business. Usually found in a sleek, seductive dress, she is the epitome of rich snob and knows it. With the cover of running a fashion house and magazine, Polli has no qualms about flaunting her decadence for the world to see, hiding in plain sight. But it is [that] confident high from her creations in front of the villain’s that boosts her thrill factor, having them only come back for more despite her rather unpredictable temper. Polli also has a quirk which is a considerable addiction to coffee.
Cassi: Seamstress
Cassi, on the other hand, is a recluse. Only leaving her ‘Nook’ when she must, Cassi is usually found wondering around her hidden studio in just a baggy T-shirt and her underwear. She mostly avoids contact with her clients and all people in general, preferring to spend her time with machines more than man. A complete contradiction to her twin, Cassi is humble and caring with a stubborn sense of pride for her work. Cassi doesn’t care much for fashion and has a cheeky attitude that winds her sister up every time the topic is spoken of. Cassi also has a quirk which is a significant addiction to soda.
How long are you looking to have this series running?
It would be prudent if you follow some easy ways to stay stiffer lowest viagra price http://downtownsault.org/downtown/ and all night in bed without taking medical aid. There is a lot of cheapest generic levitra medicine for curing the erectile dysfunction. As per medical reports, heart diseases, smoking, diabetes and obesity affect the smooth blood flow in the reproductive organs of men and makes them perfect by supplying the blood in the veins and arteries that make the erectile status more long and satisfactory. cialis online store Perhaps a steering problem would be easier to tolerate at a lower brand viagra speed and if you only drove on sunny days, never in the rain. As long as it can! But I’m hoping to have at least three volumes out for the series if I can.
What is your favourite moment in what you have written so far?
Oooo, that’s a tough one, I have so many moments in each series I don’t think I can choose but one of my most heart wrenching is in a future issue of Toxicity when the main character Synner has to say goodbye to someone she loves, I cried while writing it and I still cry each time I read it.
Anything extra you would like to share:
The Kickstarter for Seamstress is running currently to fund the series. It’s been a long journey to get the book up and running and I just hope that people enjoy the rewards on offer as well as the story I want to bring to the world.
Fun time:
Who is your favourite comic book character?
BATWOMAN!! Everyone knows this!
Who is your favourite author (books)?
Mikhail Bulgakov
What is your favourite movie?
My go to movie is Spirted Away
What is your favourite band/music artist?
Heavy metal, give me anything with drums, guitar and screaming.
What is a quirk you have (like dipping fries into chocolate Sunday)?
List making, lord I have a list for everything I even have lists for lists.
Synner: Toxicity
Pick-
Day or night
Night
Star trek or Star Wars
Oooo damn you. Star Trek if it has Janeway
Coffee or tea
Coffee
Summer or winter
Winter
Cats or dogs
Dogs
Batman or Superman
duh Batman!
Movies or a book
Movies
Pizza or Burgers
Burgers
Coke or Pepsi
Pepsi if I could drink it, lol
For those wanting to see more of NS Kane’s work you can find her on Facebook, Twitterand the Kickstarter for Seamstress
Next issue release date of current project: January 2016
Michael Alan Nelson is a writer currently is residing in LA, California. With 2 awards (2004, 2011), several short comic stories based on the HP Lovecraft’s Cthulhu and Supergirl to his name, his latest run has been with a rather interesting series going by the name of Hexed.
![[Yukiko] 03](http://www.gigageekmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Yukiko-03.jpg)
