Kids Love Comics at the 2014 Baltimore Comic Con!

Baltimore Comic-Con Offers Interactive Kids Comics Area with cartoonists, comic creation, capes, and light saber training!

 BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - August 6, 2014 - Kids 10 and under get in free at the Baltimore Comic-Con September 5-7, 2014 at the Baltimore Convention Center -- and show organizers are once again presenting a kid-friendly comics area, full of all-ages comics, as well as the artists and writers who make them. Creators from such companies as Archie, Scholastic, Disney, Simon & Schuster, First Second, Marvel, and DC will be on hand to sketch, say hi, and help to teach young ones about the magic of comics through mini-How-Tos through the weekend, right at the Kids Comics Pavilion! Plus, kids can take part in comic crafts, game shows, and more!



 Activities in this super cool section of the show include:
 * Interactive Comics Talks from some of Kids Comics top creators, such as Ben Hatke (Zita the Spacegirl), Andy Runton (Owly), Mike Maihack (Cleopatra in Space), and more!
* Design your own super hero cape and mask
* Doodle Scribble Draw! Kids Drawing Gameshow!
* Creator sketches and autographs
* Kid-Safe Star Wars Light Saber Training
* Puppet making with Chris O>Matic! 

"The Baltimore Comic-Con has always been a welcoming, family-friendly show, and every year, we aim to make the Kids Love Comics Pavilion inspiring to young comic fans. Not only do we want kids to read comics, we show them how they can create their own! I wish there was an event like this when I was a kid," said Mark Mariano, creator of the Happyloo graphic novel series, and co-organizer (with John Gallagher) of the kids section. "Its so cool that I bring my own family here every year," added Gallagher.

 Heres a rundown of the Kids Love Comics Pavilion Creators:

 Harold Buchholz - Archie Comics archiecomics.com

 Frank Cammuso - Salem Hyde, Ottos Backwards Day, Knights of the Lunch Table cammuso.com

 Jamie Cosley (Saturday only) - Cody the Cavalier, Zucchini
Tyler Cosley (Saturday only) - AlakaZach, Ninja Squirrel jamiecosley.com

 Franco (Appearing Saturday and Sunday) - Aw Yeah Comics!, Tiny Titans, Itty Bitty Hellboy awyeahcomics.com

 Jay Fosgitt - Bodie Troll jayfosgitt.com

 John Gallagher - Zoey and Ketchup, Buzzboy, Roboy Red
Katie Gallagher -Zoey and Ketchup skydogcomics.com

 SL Gallant - GI JOE slgallant.com

 Chris Giarrusso - G-Man, Mini-Marvels chrisgcomics.com

 Jimmy Gownley - The Dumbest Idea Ever!, Amelia Rules! jimmygownley.com

 Ben Hatke - Zita the Spacegirl, Julias House for Lost Creatures benhatke.com

 Jason Horn - Ninjasaur ninjasaur.com

 Jamal Igle - Molly Danger, Supergirl, Firestorm jamaligle.com 

 Lora Innes - The Dreamer thedreamercomic.com

 Mike Maihack - Cleopatra in Space cowshell.com 

 Mark Mariano - The Other Side of Hugless Hill, Happyloo, Flabbergast mypalmark.com

 Mark McKenna - Banana Tail, Star Wars, Marvel, DC markmckennaart.com Jamar Nicholas - Leon: Protector of the Playground jamarnicholas.com

 Chris O>Matic - The Chris O>Matic Show! omatics.net 

 Chris Otto and Ben Taylor - A Dogs Life adogslifecomic.com 

 Dan Parent - Archie, Kevin Keller danparent.com 

 Andy Runton - Owly owly.com

 Gregg Schigiel - Spongebob Squarepants Comics, Pix hatterentertainment.com 

 Jeff Schultz - Archie Comics archiecomics.com 


 Kids Love Comics joins our previously announced guests, including: Eddy Barrows (Earth 2); Marty Baumann (Pixar artist); Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl); Marguerite Bennett (Batgirl); Christina Blanch (The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood); Mark Buckingham (Fables); Dave Bullock (Batman Black and White); Jim Calafiore (Leaving Megalapolis); Darrenn Canton (Tunnels & Trolls); Greg Capullo (Batman); Richard Case (Sandman); John Cassaday (Doc Savage); Bernard Chang (Green Lantern Corps); Jo Chen (Buffy the Vampire Slayer); Sean Chen (Amazing Spider-Man); Jimmy Cheung (Infinity); Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman); Frank Cho (X-Men: Battle of the Atom); Amy Chu (Girls Night Out); Richard Clark (House of Gold & Bones); Steve Conley (Bloop); Mike Curtis (Dick Tracy); Jeremy Dale (Skyward); Alan Davis (Wolverine); Rachel Deering (In the Dark); Todd Dezago (Tellos); Tommy Lee Edwards (Star Wars); Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys); Ray Fawkes (Constantine); Tom Feister (G.I. Joe); David Finch (Forever Evil); Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (All-Star Western); Gerhard (Cerebus the Aardvark); Dave Gibbons (Watchmen); Keith Giffen (The New 52: Futures End); Bryan JL Glass (Mice Templar); Michael Golden (The Ravagers); Allan Gross (Road Song); Cully Hamner (Animal Man); Dean Haspiel (The Fox); Fred Hembeck (Garfield); Marc Hempel (Sandman: The Kindly Ones); Adam Hughes (Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan); Justin Jordan (Luther Strode, Green Lantern: New Guardians); Dan Jurgens (The New 52: Futures End); Chris Kemple (Red Vengeance); Denis Kitchen (Al Capp: A Life to the Contrary); Barry Kitson (Empire); Aaron Kuder (Action Comics); Norman Lee (Iron Man Special); David Mack (Shadowman); Kevin Maguire (Guardians of the Galaxy); Pop Mhan (All New X-Factor); Alex Maleev (Moon Knight); Billy Martin (Vitriol, The Hunter); Ron Marz (Witchblade); Mike McKone (Ultimate FF); Bob McLeod (X-Men: Gold); Tradd Moore (Deadpool Annual); Mark Morales (New Avengers); Dan Parent (Archie, Veronica, Kevin Keller); David Peterson (Mouse Guard); Joe Prado (Justice League); Brian Pulido (Lady Death); Ron Randall (Trekker in Dark Horse Presents); Tom Raney (Incredible Hulk); Ivan Reis (Aquaman and The Others); Budd Root (Cavewoman); Don Rosa (Donald Duck); Craig Rousseau (Perhapanauts); Joe Rubinstein (The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe); Andy Runton (Owly); Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man); Louise Simonson (Power Pack); Walter Simonson (Thor); Andy Smith (Superman #23.1: Bizarro); Allison Sohn (sketch card artist); Charles Soule (Thunderbolts); Jim Starlin (Thanos: The Infinity Revelation); Joe Staton (Dick Tracy); Paul D. Storrie (Sheena, Queen of the Jungle); Ben Templesmith (The Memory Collectors); Robert Tinnell (The Wicked West); Peter Tomasi (Batman and Two-Face); John Totleben (Swamp Thing); Herb Trimpe (GI Joe: A Real American Hero); Billy Tucci (Shi); Rick Veitch (Saga of the Swamp Thing); Mike Vosburg (Lori Lovecraft); Mark Waid (Daredevil); Lee Weeks (Daredevil); Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster); Bill Willingham (Fables); Renee Witterstaetter (Joe Jusko: Maelstrom); Rich Woodall (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles); Kelly Yates (Amber Atoms); Thom Zahler (My Little Pony); and Mike Zeck (Secret Wars).

 Tickets General Admission and VIP Package tickets for Weekend, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are now on sale! Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets now! In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

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Fundraiser for Katsucons late Director of Japanese Cultural

On February 28th, it was reported that Christine Larson, Katsucons Director of Japanese Culture was hospitalized with a a chronic case of the H1N1 virus (aka Swine Flu) and pneumonia. Christines condition was so bad that she was put in a medically induced coma. Mrs. Larson, whom is a mother, is married to Katsucon co-chairman Grig Larson. A Go Fund Me page was created by Cat Hillberry to help pay for Christines medical bills. Sadly, on March 2nd, just 16 days after the 2014 Katsucon show, Christine passed away at 3:45pm.

The family is still in need of donations to cover medical bills. The Go Fund Me Pages goal is $25,000 and has currently raised $10,818. Every little bit helps for this family who is mourning the sudden loss of a wife and mother. I have never attended a Katsucon convention nor do I know the Larson family however in times like these, that is irreverent. You dont have to know someone to lend a helping hand when they are in need.

Please send all donations to the Go Fund Me Page at: http://www.gofundme.com/779x2s

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Why I Decided to Get Involved in Shows

"Egotism is the drive to maintain and enhance favorable views of oneself, and generally features an inflated opinion of ones personal features and importance."

I think its safe to say that we have all known someone who was an egotist. Sadly, in the world of costuming more and more egotists are popping up. Some people believe that they are better than others, certain costumers are competing with each other and many are caught up in racking up the most "likes" on Facebook as if their very lives depended on it. Ive personally known people who got involved with conventions for one reason and one reason only; to see their names on the Guest List and brag about it to high hell. It has nothing to do with helping the show as a member of the staff or meeting with people interested in our craft. Its to be a "Cosplay Celebrity" or a "Professional Cosplayer." Because of the behavior Ive personally seen live and in person, I had sworn off getting involved with shows in an effort not to be like the Cosplay Egotists but all of that changed at the 2013 Pittsburgh Comic Con.

Im going to be blunt; there is no such thing as a "cosplay celebrity" or a "professional cosplayer". Every time I see or hear that term, I laugh myself silly. I truly believe that that is the most idiotic term I have ever heard. Cosplay is a hobby, not a profession. If you make and sell your own costumes and props, then you are a costume maker/seamstress/designer or a prop maker. Would you put "Professional Cosplayer" on a job application? If you did, Im sure you would be laughed out of the office or they would look at you like you had three heads. And what makes a person a "professional or expert cosplayer"? If you have experience then you can just as easily say "veteran cosplayer". Throwing in "professional" or "expert" is just a BS way of making someone appear glamorous and important. Now comes the title of "cosplay celebrity". True, there are certain costumers who are more well known than others but that doesnt necessarily mean that they are the best or celebrities.



A cosplayer is a cosplayer. Plain and simple. The fancy titles are smoke and mirrors.

I never wanted to become a costumer who sought the spotlight. I got into costuming to express my fandom, not to seek fame. Ive seen people change in their search for cosplay stardom and I was afraid I would be following down the path of egotism if I got involved with shows. But then I was asked last minute to be one of the judges at the Costume Contest at the 2013 Pittsburgh Comic-Con along side Freddie Nova. Although I was bewildered, I accepted. It was truly a learning lesson for me and completely changed my perspective. A lot of that has to do with the gracious Freddie Nova. Freddie is beautiful and very talented. Her liquid latex Venom photos went viral and she has an enormous fan base. Everyone from comic creators to comic fans and cosplayers knows who she is and yet she is very humble. She treats everyone with respect and was incredibly encouraging to every person who took the stage. I saw for the first time someone use their position to spread positivity and it was beautiful. I learned from her shining example and was sure to smile at all of the contestants, encourage them and even spoke to a few of them afterwards and online. Many were first timers in costuming who had many questions. It felt wonderful to help others and I want to continue that.



Im currently scheduled for 2 more local shows. Im not doing it to see my name in lights and I actually make it clear that I do not want to be credited as a professional cosplay celebrity". Im simply a cosplayer who wants to reach out and support the community. So think of me as a Goodwill Ambassador of Cosplay, if you will. But never a professional cosplayer. *laughs*

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Man of Steel and Trinity Set

Photo by Future Photography by M3 with edit by
SII Posters

Planning a photo shoot with a large team of artists takes time and patience. It took several months to plan a Man of Steel themed photo shoot which included costumers Jason of JET Cosplay, Kevin D Cosplay and photographers Miguel of Future Photography by M3, Marvin of Hero Hotties, Brian of Green House Photography and Piera of Photos and Designs by Piera. The shoot took place in my home thus proving that having a creepy large basement can in fact be good for something. Many people drove a long distance to make the shoot a possibility and when they all arrived, I was dressed up as Queen Elsa from Disneys Frozen (having just returned from entertaining children at a birthday party).  It was exciting that this was finally coming together. I loved the Man of Steel movie and we had an amazing cast of costumers and photographers. We also decided to take things a step further; since Kevin cosplays Batman and I cosplay Wonder Woman, this was a great opportunity to get some Trinity shots.

Two costume changes were required for me for the Man of Steel set; Lois Lane and Faora. After washing off my Elsa makeup and slipping off the blue sparkly gown, I changed into Lois Lane (which requires less makeup than Faora). Superman and Lois shots were taken as well as Superman, Lois and General Zod. 

Have I ever mentioned how much it irritates me that they kept Amy Adams red hair for the role of Lois? I wouldnt have to wear a wig for this if Zack Snyder remained accurate to Lois appearance. Amy Adams doesnt look like Lois Lane in Man of Steel; she just looks like Amy Adams. It took me forever to find a wig this shade of red. Lucky for me I found it at a wig shop local to a relatives house. It was the only orange based red wig in the store priced at $25. It was literally collecting dust on display. It is quite beautiful however and it will be used for Anna from Frozen for parties. 

Next up is Faora which is a costume I have only worn once for a brief shoot earlier this year. Unfortunately with all of the chaos of the day, I forgot to put my belt on and didnt realize it until I saw the photos. Costume fail. The short wig is made of human hair. I tend to feel quite self conscious in it but it photographs well.

After a pizza break, it was time for Zod and Faora to change into Batman and Wonder Woman for some epic Trinity shots and one romantic shot with Superman.

Great times were had behind the camera and a lot of laughs. For some, it was the first time meeting and working with one another and it was an absolute blast. New friendships were made, fond memories and some stunning art. My thanks to all of the artists involved with the shoot whom I am honored to call friends. 

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Baltimore Comic Con 2014 Coverage

The Baltimore Comic-Con celebrated its 14th year in the state of Maryland with its first ever three day show.  Guests in attendance included Cliff Chiang, Mark Waid, Gail Simone, Adam Hughes, George Perez and many more. Exclusive variants were available for purchase such as George Perezs Sirens #1, Big Trouble In Little China #1 and Robocop #1. Many panels took place during the course of the three day event including the topics of Cosplay and Comics. The Kids Love Comics Program included several sketch sessions and even a how to make your own cape and superhero mask. Media Guest of Honor was Star Wars actor, Peter Mayhew. The Harvey Awards which honors artists, writers, creators and publishers in the industry was held on September 6th.

A complete guest list can currently still be viewed on the Official Baltimore Comic-Con website. Taking place on September 5th-7th, the show was located in the Pratt and Howard Street Lobby which was a different area from past shows. The Costume Contest took place on Sunday and featured a grand prize of $2,000.

My photographer of Green House Photography and I arrived in Baltimore Saturday. I was originally going to attend the show as Elsa from Frozen. I was decked out in an Elsa wig, gown and makeup for the car ride to Maryland. However by the time we arrived, I decided to take everything off. Many factors contributed to my decision. First and foremost I was still exhausted from my trip to Dragoncon just one week ago. The travel to the state of Georgia, photo shoots, multiple costume changes and socializing had taken a toll and I had not yet recovered. I had also not slept well the previous evening. I wanted to attend Saturdays Baltimore show as a civilian and not have to pose for photo requests or be bothered. Apparently my plan did not work out too well. Almost immediately after hitting the convention floor in a black lace halter dress, someone called out: "Are you Victoria Cosplay?" It wasnt the first time I was stopped out of costume.

We visited friend and artist Billy Tucci. We also stopped by Adam Hughes table to get a book signed. We did some shopping. I was overjoyed to find a DC Direct Zatanna figure marked at only $40. It was quite amusing carrying the box throughout the con. People kept stopping to tell me that I looked like the doll. We took pictures of some impressive costumers. I also got to catch up with some personal friends. I had planned on attending Saturdays Prop Your Cosplay panel but was overcome with a wave of exhaustion and retired to my hotel room where I slept for several hours. Brian of Green House Photography returned to the show to take photos. In the evening we had dinner with friends.

On Sunday I had scheduled a photo shoot based on the television series Once Upon A Time and Once Upon A Time In Wonderland.  I was dressed as Regina The Evil Queen. This was my second year organizing a shoot based the show. Before the shoot, my friends Cosplay Jesus (who was dressed as Jafar) and Kevin D Cosplay (Robin Hood) walked the convention floor and posed for photos for con goers and the photographer at the Comic Wow! booth. There was a total of six of my costuming friends and the addition of a new friend who was also dressed as Regina. Our Wonderland characters featured The Jabborwocky, Jafar and The Red Queen (Lucid Cosplay). Once characters were Robin Hood, Little John and Regina. The shoot lasted 2 hours.

After we departed, we stood in Gail Simones line so I could get my Batgirl trade signed. I got to thank her in person and expressed how well she understood Barbaras frame of mind after regaining the use of her legs. I told her a bit about my car accident and how I was once in a wheel chair.  After meeting Gail, we went to visit my friend George Perez which is always a delight. I purchased the exclusive issue of Sirens #1 which he graciously signed. After mingling a bit more with friends and a little more shopping, we decided to head back to our hotel and prepare for the car ride home.

The staff at the Baltimore Comic-Con, affectionately referred to as "minions", were very pleasant and helpful. A great deal of stress must be involved volunteering at shows and dealing with the massive crowds but you wouldnt know it from the staff. They were absolutely delightful. A large seating area was arranged on the show room floor to eat and rest up. The guest list is my favorite part of the Baltimore-Comic Con. Its one of the few shows left that celebrates all of the talented creators, writers and artists in the industry. This is why it remains a shining light amongst the over crowded and pricey  pop culture cons that have taken over the scene.

Thank you Baltimore Comic-Con for putting comics and their fans first!

All photos by Green House Photography. For a full gallery of the event, CLICK HERE. Images from our Once Upon A Time photo shoot can be seen HERE. 

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Baltimore Comic Con 2013 Coverage

The Baltimore Comic-Con took place Saturday and Sunday, September 7th-8th at the Baltimore Convention Center in  Maryland. The show had an impressive guest list featuring dozens of writers, artists and other talented professionals in the comic industry. This was my first time attending the show in roughly 6 years and I was very much looking forward to it. Im happy to report that the show was easily one of the best events I have attended this year. Professionals in attendance included George Perez, Billy Tucci, Mark Waid, and David Finch. A complete list can still be viewed on the Baltimore Comic-Con website: http://baltimorecomiccon.com/guests/   A large variety of vendors were also present and special events took place such as the Harvey Awards ceremony and Sundays Costume Contest. There were also many exclusives and panels headlined by top names.

My photographer and I arrived in the city on Saturday. After checking into our hotel, I changed into my dark haired variant of Supergirl and we headed to the show. There were massive crowds there enjoying the festivities. We caught up with many of our cosplay friends. We also visited our friend, artist Billy Tucci and I purchased a stunning Catwoman print from him modeled after Jennifer Van Damsel. After making our first tour of the entire convention floor, we made our way back to the hotel so I could change into Huntress. We went back to the show to resume touring the convention center. Upon speaking with some people in the lobby, former DC Comics President, writer and artist Paul Levitz introduced himself to me.

"As the creator of Huntress, I highly approve."

There is no greater honor than when a creator gives you their blessing on your portrayal of their character.


Many cosplayers and I spent some time in the lobby posing for what seemed like an unlimited request of photos. When the show was over, we spent the evening dining out with friends. On Sunday I was doing my very first group photo shoot that I organized. The theme was the television series Once Upon A Time. The cast included Kevin Diplacido as Captain Hook, Jacky Brodhead as Regina the Evil Queen, Shemika Demouchet Berry as Maleficent, Iggy Cosplay as The Mad Hatter, Lindsay Lou as Red Riding Hood and myself as Belle. All photos were shot by my photographer at Green House Photography. I was a bit nervous organizing my first convention shoot but it turned out even better than I imagined. My friends were completely gorgeous in their roles. Our first location for the shoot was on a ship by the harbor. The second was the patio at the convention center. We were all very popular as we walked the con as a group and were often mobbed for photos.


The remainder of Sunday included stopping by to see my friend, comic legend George Perez and catching up with anyone we missed Saturday. We left about an hour before the show closed to prepare for our drive back home.

The Baltimore-Comic Con has become one of my favorite shows and we will most definitely be attending next year and future years to come. The thing I love most about the event is that it has remained true to its roots. Its about the comics. Whereas others shows are more focused on pop culture, Baltimore keeps it real. The employees were friendly, helpful and the show was organized beautifully. I have heard nothing but positive feedback from those that attended. There was also a bit of excitement in the air, as rumor spread next years show will be expanded for 3 days. We are all keeping our fingers crossed hoping 2014 will mean 3 days of comic geek heaven in Maryland.

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For a full gallery of the show, visit my official Facebook Page

For a complete gallery of the Once Upon A Time shoot, visit Green House Photography

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How much money can you make cosplaying

"How much money can I make cosplaying?"

Within the last few years, this question has been asked by a large group of people. Many seek to get into the hobby as a job; something they can be employed at. Many feel it is an avenue to not only internet fame but fortune as well.  So how much money does the average cosplayer make? What can you expect in terms of increasing your financial status? I have complied a list for those who are seeking an answer to their question.



If you want to know how much an average cosplayer makes, you have to ask them what their day job is. Yes, I said day job.

FACT: COSPLAY COSTS MONEY. If you are making your own costumes and props or if you are hiring someone to commission it for you, its going to cost money. You have to pay for it. Wigs costs money. Makeup and body paint costs money. Shoes, boots, the list goes on.

FACT: TRAVELING AND ATTENDING CONVENTIONS COSTS MONEY. Food, gas, hotel, round trip plane ticket, luggage, round trip train ticket, you get the idea. If you want to attend conventions in your area or across the country, get ready to save up. Its not cheap.

FACT: YOU CAN MAKE MONEY COMMISSIONING COSTUMES AND PROPS. I know many talented individuals who have a side business and make incredible pieces of art for paying costumers. Many of them do have day jobs. Others are so successful that it has become their primary job. These gifted men and women are costume and prop makers.

FACT: YOU CAN SELL PRINTS AND CALENDARS AND MAKE MONEY but dont expect to quit your job. Its side money at best.

FACT: YOU DONT GET HEALTH INSURANCE OR A 401K BY COSPLAYING.

FACT: SOME SHOWS WILL COMPENSATE YOU FOR BEING A GUEST BUT OTHERS WONT. I know a number of people who have attended a comic-con as a cosplay guest or judge but they paid out of pocket to be there. Not every show is going to pick up all of your expenses (hotel, plane ticket and food) however some of them will. It really depends on the convention organizers.

FACT: MAJORITY OF COSPLAYERS HAVE DAY JOBS.


FACT: SOME COSPLAYERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TURN THEMSELVES INTO A BRAND. This means that they not only sell prints, but items such as warbla and all ready made props and accessories you can purchase. They thought outside the box therefore their sales are higher compared to someone who only sells prints. They are more of a Cosplay warehouse. Can you quit your job and rely on online sales? Only if you turn yourself and your online store into a brand. Many women bill themselves as "full time cosplayer" however it is difficult to say if they are paying the rent/mortgage or if their significant other/spouse is. If they have a partner who brings in a forty hour per week paycheck, that explains why they can cosplay "full time" but realistically you cannot dress up and expect money to pour in.

Everything I have listed here is based on experience, observation and Intel.  

Hopefully this gives everyone a realistic perspective on how much money you can make cosplaying. 

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Comic Legends gather for the 2013 Baltimore Comic Con!

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George Perez, Adam Hughes and Cliff Chiang.

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I have been attending comic conventions for 10 years, starting with local cons in the Philadelphia area. In the last 4 years, I have been lucky enough to expand my travels and attend shows all around the country. What makes a great show? The guest list and the hard working people who are organizing the event. The Baltimore Comic-Con falls into the category of one of the best. It is a favorite among con goers and I am thrilled for this years show which features an impressive guest list of legends and favorites from the comic book industry.

The Baltimore Comic-Con stays true to their roots and origin. Its about the comics. With a large selection of writers and artists, their 5th Annual Costume Contest and the Harvey Awards Ceremony, theres plenty to do for geeks of all ages. A large selection of retailors and exhibitors will also be on hand selling everything from toys to statues and comics. The guest list includes talent such as David Finch, Amanda Conner, Mark Waid, Frank Cho and Joe Staton just to name a few. A complete list, which is still being updated, can be seen on their website: http://baltimorecomiccon.com/guests/

The event will be taking place Saturday and Sunday, September 7th -8th. A weekend pass is only $40.00 ($42.39 with a service fee). Compare that to the Wizard World Philadelphia Comic-Con, which is charging the outrageous price of $50.00 for a one day pass online, $60.00 at the door (a show that is focused on booking actors both relevent and irrelevent  rather than comic talent). Tickets for the Baltimore Comic-Con can be purchased here: http://baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/

This will be my second time attending the show and I am very much looking forward to it. Ill see you in Baltimore! ?http://baltimorecomiccon.com/

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Cosplay Spotlight Abby Dark Star

The lovely and talented Abby Dark-Star is well known by comic fans and cosplayers alike. The multi talented beauty took some time out to chat with the Confessions of a Cosplay Girl Blog about making body armor, putting together her epic Arkham Asylum Poison Ivy, married life with fellow geek Zendragon and much more!





Victoria: How long have you been in the hobby of costuming?


Abby: I have been costuming since about 2006/07? I dont quite remember but it seems like forever!


Victoria: You have a very impressive portfolio of stunning costumes. How many characters have you brought to life?


Abby: I have brought probably over 20 characters to life? I honestly havent kept track, I see a character and go "shiny" and then Im off.


Victoria: One of my favorite costumes you have done is the Arkham Asylum version of Poison Ivy. Can you tell me about the process of creating it?


Abby: Arkham Asylum Poison Ivy was a tricky costume because it was very detailed. It involved body paint and prosthetics. I knew that it wasnt feasible to spend hours applying prosthetics so I came up with the idea of using a body stocking. I had Mike S. of DragonFyre Designs sculpt the vines which where then cast. I modified the body stocking and then applied the vines. The shirt was modified and I put the blue edging on it. The logo was applied to the back of the shirt. The wig was entirely done by me, as it was a base wig and then wefts sewn in to create the dramatic widows peak that Ivy has. I then had a body artist paint my face, chest, hands and arms, and also apply the prosthetics. It was a long process, but well worth it!


Victoria: How did you learn to make more complex items such as body armor?


Abby: Im still learning to make body armor! Thankfully I have great resources in the RPF and talented friends. Worbla is the most often used medium right now, and there are epic tutorials from Kamui cosplay online that can really help people get started!


Victoria: Youre a newly wed! Congrats on your marriage! What was your wedding like?


Abby: Thanks! Our wedding was a convention. No, seriously! It started off as a way to celebrate my bday and then Zen and I decided, what the hey, why not get married? So we did! We had a long weekend with tons of friend in Vegas, we did limos, parties, had a VIP section at Steel Panther, it was amazing. Our wedding itself was in a gorgeous almond orchard! Of course there was geeky stuff everywhere as we asked our guests to bring a prop and even dress up. It was amazingly special.


Victoria: Is it fun sharing a life with someone who is as passionate about the hobby as you are?


Abby: I love being Zens partner in this crazy costuming life we have. We really balance each other well! Were both crazy about accuracy and detail, so we encourage, inspire and create together. He is my partner in everything!


Victoria: What costumes do you have planned for the future?


Abby: Right now Im planning on revamping some old costumes, as well debut a new costume for a video game Im in, "Crystal Fury" from Comic ConQuest!


Victoria: An artist recently made a beautiful statue of you as fem Indiana Jones. Whats it like being a statue?

Abby: Its hard to be a statue...you cant breathe or eat! Haha! No it is a wonderful compliment to be chosen to be immortalized like that, and I really love the fact that what would usually be my take is all going to charity!


Victoria: How has costuming impacted your life in a positive way?


Abby: Costuming has enabled me to make amazing friends, have fantastic experiences and even recently allowed me to change career paths. Without costuming I wouldnt have been able to meet my husband, my best friend, or anyone else that is now part of my world!


Victoria: Where can people contact you and view a portfolio of your work?


Abby: Facebook is the easiest way to see my daily geekery, so facebook.com/abbydarkstar

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