Cosplay Spotlight Lucid Cosplay

For this edition of Cosplay Spotlight, I chose to showcase my dear friend Lucid Cosplay. Lucid is one of the most beautiful and talented costumers in the community. In addition to being my friend, I have always admired Lucids craftsmanship. She took some time out to talk to the Confessions of a Cosplay Girl Blog about creating costumes, her love for the character Poison Ivy and what she has in store for the future.




Victoria: How long have you been costuming?

Lucid: Ive been sewing my own costumes since 2002 but was putting together costumes from found items back in 1998. My first costume was Mileena from the original mortal Kombat game. I was part of a martial arts demonstration team and we all dressed as the characters for our fight skits. I bought a purple dance leotard and cut up purple tights for the "boots," gloves, and face mask. I was pretty much hooked after that.

Victoria: Where did you learn how to sew?

Lucid: My grandmother taught me how to hand sew when I was little so I could make dresses for my stuffed animals. I was in the 8th grade when my mom bought me an inexpensive sewing machine and she showed me the basics. I learned a lot from a course I took in college. The rest has been a lot of trial and error.

Victoria: What advice would you give to people who want to learn how to hand stitch and use a sewing machine but dont know how? Where can they learn?

Lucid: Definitely take a class. Working on your own and trying to teach yourself is a good start, but Ive learned most of the really important stuff from watching someone else. Its a great way to learn how to take care of your machine and keep it running smoothly, getting the basics down, learning the little tips and tricks that make projects easier, and its always nice to have someone who knows what theyre doing answer questions and point you in the right direction.

Victoria: Youve done many versions of Poison Ivy. How many have you done and which one is your favorite?

Lucid: Oh man... I think Ive done 6 variations of Ivy: two Classic, two 1950s style, a spring time Ivy, and a Disney Princess Ivy. While I have always loved the classic Ivy, Id have to say the 50s Ivy has been my favorite. Its sassy without showing too much and I adore period fashion. But I will say I still cant get over wearing the giant princess dress. I dont care what anyone says, big dresses are fun!

Victoria: What are your thoughts on Ivys costume in the New 52?

Lucid: I really like the New 52 Ivy. Its a completely different look for her and thats what makes it interesting. Ivy is one of the few characters that doesnt have to be canon to get the love. I have seen so many versions of her out there. I get excited going to D*C (Dragon Con) because of the giant Bat Family shoot. Seeing all the variants of Ivy and how everyone does her differently is the best! It shows shes more personality than costume. I am currently planning another 4-5 incarnations of Ivy, including the New 52 look.

Victoria: What is the most complicated outfit you have ever created?

Lucid: Id have to say the costume Im working on right now probably takes the cake on that one. Yuuko Ichihara from xxxHolic is a character known for her lavish lifestyle, so this incorporates a lot of different elements - from a traditional Japanese kimono to hand beading, creating custom appliqués... Im even trying my hand at props making, which is a first for me. Ive learned a lot from previous costumes that I can use for this character. I was thrilled to figure out a way to make the obi into the shape of a butterfly! I love being able to learn new techniques to use on future projects.

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

Lucid: Too many. But I think thats par for the course with costuming. Im currently planning on re-working "Femy" (gender bent Gambit), Black Canary, other seasons of Ivy, and a few more I havent quite hashed out the details for as of yet.

Victoria: In addition to being an accomplished costumer, you have also appeared in a comic book. Can you tell me about that?

Lucid:  Ive been fortunate enough to meet some of the most wonderful people at conventions. I met Chris and Alan Hebert, creators of Hb Comics, at Wizard World Philly a few years back and Im so fortunate to say weve become good friends. I was flattered and humbled (and really excited, I wont lie) when I was asked if they could use my likeness in their comic called Lazerman for one of the member so the villainous Diamond Gang, named Pearl. They debuted the issue with Pearl this year at Philly and surprised me with the character as a standee on their table! I surprised them by creating the costume for Pearl for the con. I may sound like Im geeking out, but its so cool seeing your face in a comic book!

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

Lucid: Im a horrible self-promoter. I can be reached via my Facebook personal page or my Fan Page and email: Lucid Cosplay (lucid.cosplau@gmail.com).

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My blog cited in JAMA Surgery paper Progress for bloggers

About a year and a half ago, I blogged that a medical student on Twitter used a blog post of mine as evidence. In January, the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia published an article I wrote under my pseudonym called “Why I blog and tweet.”

Last month, medical blogging took another step toward legitimacy. A JAMA Surgery Viewpoint formally cited my post critiquing the Finnish randomized trial of antibiotics versus surgery for the treatment of acute appendicitis.

Here is the first page with the portion of the piece discussing what I had written in the blog post.

Click on figure to enlarge.

Here is how citation appears in the JAMA Surgery article.

If you havent read my entire post about the randomized trial, click here.

Last year I said this: “Journals may have to adapt and become more like blogs. In the future, medical information may be disseminated by blogs and comments rather than journal articles and letters to the editor.”

We have already seen prominent publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine starting online forums and the BMJ hosting blogs (at least 36 so far) and rapid responses to published papers.

The sea change in the way medical research is disseminated may be happening sooner than I thought.

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Cosplay Spotlight Margie and Ned Cox

On my recent visit to Georgia I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Margie and Ned Cox, the powerhouse cosplay couple.

I have longed admired Margie and her husband Ned for their incredible talent in costuming. Their costumes are flawless and their photos are nothing short of stunning. Theres also an element of romance to them; I have always found it romantic when couples cosplay together.  This husband and wife team are quite the dynamic duel in the world of cosplay and are highly respected and admired. They have inspired many, including myself and I was thrilled to have the chance to meet them on my recent trip to Georgia.

Victoria: How did the two of you meet?

Ned: We met in college--nothing too interesting. She had taken Army ROTC as an elective while I was in the midst of my four-year pre-commissioning training to become an officer. She didnt care for me at first, as she likes to recall, but I can be pretty bad with first impressions, admittedly.

Victoria: How long have you been married?

Margie: We’ll be married six years in May.

Victoria: When did you begin cosplaying together?

Ned: Toward the end of college, my love of comics hit a boiling point where I felt the need to LIVE in the fantasy world. Totally healthy of course. Im kind of a big kid at heart and running around as Batman as an adult in 2012 isnt much different than what I was doing in 1992 as a child after watching episodes of The Animated Series, I just tend to be better dressed for the occasion. When I told Margie that this was what I wanted to do, she was a bit apprehensive. She liked comics and superheroes, but this took it to another level. When I told her that I was interested in looking into doing this beyond conventions as a way to give back to the community and help charitable childrens causes, she became more interested.

Victoria: Whats your favorite couple to cosplay?

Margie: Oh, I don’t know what Ned’s going to say, but I honestly really like being Carol and Hal (Star Sapphire and Green Lantern). I think the reason is that we only have two couples costumes (Star Sapphire and Green Lantern, Batman and Catwoman) and Ned’s personality is a lot more of a Hal Jordan personality than Bruce Wayne (Batman) personality. Anyone who knows Ned will probably say that “That guy doesn’t break character for anything.” Ned is naturally a goof-ball and I love him for it. However, as a comic fan (and someone who doesn’t like to alienate new potential friends and bystanders), I appreciate that he keeps that part of his personality locked down in certain situations or wearing certain costumes.

Ned: Agreed. Its great that, after so many years of pretending to "just be friends" as some of our JLA characters, Margie and I finally got to be Green Lantern and Star Sapphire and really be a couple just
like Hal and Carol.

Victoria: You recently debuted your New 52 Wonder Woman at this years MegaCon. How long did it take to construct the costume?

Margie: I have a day job and mostly I work on costumes at night and on weekends, but it took me a few months. That was with the sanity breaks I took, where I would stare at a boot for a week and think “I wish I had briefs to go with those boots…” Four weeks later: “I guess I need armor to go with this corset….”. Five weeks later: “I’m going to get Velcro to hold up this armor since it’s not going to stay on with magic.” My overwhelming guilt at staring at hundreds of dollars of untouched costuming materials is how most of my costumes get finished. I’ve actually been staring at a creepy plaster hand that I’ve had in my basement for a few weeks knowing I need to get started sculpting my Huntress armor.

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

Margie: I’m working of the New Huntress costume and a Sith costume. I would also like to do the new Starfire costume, but I’m honestly waiting (and hoping) that DC caves and gives her a bit more coverage. I really like the new costume, except for that part.

Ned: Im going to work on classic Giant-Man (Hank Pym) from the Avengers. After costuming as Cyclops, I feel a sort of connection to the misunderstood and damaged characters in comics. Besides that, hes a classic Marvel character that gets no respect. And the Giant-Man costume looks REALLY cool. Margie and I are also hoping to join the Sith soon--our first costumes outside of superheroes as well as "good guys." It should be fun!

Victoria: You both do a lot of charity work for your community. Could you tell my readers more about that?

Margie: Heroes Alliance is a charity that I’ve been involved with in some way since I first got into costuming. Basically it’s collaboration of costumers, photographers, and general comic fans who
would like to use their art to reach out to their communities, to charities, and also to support local comic shops. I’m the coordinator for the Atlanta group and I have a soft spot for children’s charities, so the majority of events that we do here are for special needs children. Some of the groups I’ve worked with over the last year are FOCUS, Down Syndrome Society of Atlanta, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Extra Special People, and CASA.

Ned: Margie and I joined at the same time, shortly after the Heroes Alliances founding in Tampa. Ive had the honor of being elected council chairman for the second year in a row and Im extremely proud of our teams across the nation (and world, with our UK partners). Weve built a great community of volunteers who have a very unique role among charity groups in bringing a real-life superhero experience to children with illnesses and disabilities. I love conventions and seeing my spandex-clad friends, but Ive found so much more fulfillment in the Heroes Alliance than I ever imagined.

Victoria: Margie, you are a very accomplished writer. What are you currently working on?

Margie: Thanks! I have a Bachelors from USF in English with a specialty in Creative Writing—my family thought I was insane for coming off the Pre-Med/Microbiology track, so I’m elated that I’ve been able to do a few dark, gritty, artistic pieces which have proven to them that I was more insane than they ever imagined.

A few years ago, I finished my novel, Southern Gothic Confidential, a dark regional comedy/tragedy that entwines the cultural evolution of a small town with the personal renaissances of some of it’s inhabitants. The backdrop of characters is very colorful. In the foreground of the Historic District is Ms. Jane Bradshaw, a very prim and proper Southern lady. She is President of the Red Hat Society and Secretary of the Garden Club. When her neighbor is decapitated in an auto accident, she finds herself living next to his estranged mother, Crazy Deb, and Crazy Deb’s very strange husband, Wild Ernest, who have been certified uncrazy due to the overload of patients in Chattahoochee Mental Institution. This state of affairs sets off a chain of events which will forever change the Historic District and the characters. Luckily, SGC got into the hands of someone in the industry via my husband’s boss who was nice enough to send it to a professional proofreader. After the proofread, they sent it to a publisher for me. It was super nice of them. We’ll see where it goes.

Currently, I found a pretty sweet gig writing a comic with Eugene Selassie called Rock, Paper, Scissors. It’s a 12-Issue story that deals with the super-powered crime underbelly of Chicago. It is morally gritty and I’d like to think that the characters are rather likable although they are in a very ethically challenged climate. It was great being able to work on a team of very talented, fresh artists and writers. It was like walking into a room that was bursting at the crown molding creative energy. We were like artistic vampires feeding off of each other’s talents and ideas. Issue One exceeded my expectations art and story wise. I’m a huge fan of Tarentino and Puzo. We all brought our love of crime noir, modern classical mafia literature, and comics to the table. I don’t know how much more I can say since we’re talking to a few publishers now, but we’re building a damn good story.

Victoria: Many people like myself, see you both as an
inspiration in the world of cosplay. How does it feel to be role
models?

Margie: I’m so honored and humbled that you feel that way. When I started out, I just had a few friends who costumed (I could count them on both hands) and we were just supportive of each other. We’d find a few photos of ourselves online from time to time, but other than that, I don’t think anyone was terribly well known. I don’t feel very far removed from that experience except I can’t count the people I know on my hands anymore. It’s really easy to treat people well when I’ve been so well treated. I feel pretty much the same, but I’m very grateful for any good vibes that I’ve been able to send to people. It feels great to know that maybe I’ve made a difference.

Ned: Im humbled, perplexed, and honored that you say that. Its something I didnt expect but Im always very happy to hear whenever Ive had any sort of positive impact in peoples lives in any way.

Ive found myself in leadership roles from time to time--in the Army, through the Heroes Alliance, and now at the company I work for. Those are all very different environments with different leadership

requirements but Ive found some common truths among them: be honest, be consistent, and take care of the people you care about. Its always served me right.

As for being an inspiration, Ive always been just an, "Im just happy to be here" kinda guy. If I bring positivity and joy to a situation or group then all the better. Ive met some of the most wonderful people doing this (another unexpected blessing) and they inspire me. Its easy to be positive when youre around great people.

Victoria: What is your personal favorite costume?

Margie: Wonder Woman.

Ned: Im going to say Green Lantern. Ive accepted that Ill probably die as Hal Jordan--a Green Lantern Corps emblem on my tombstone. Thats fine. Im very happy to be known for that and I absolutely love the character, the Corps, and all of my fellow Lanterns. Its a wonderful thing.


My thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Cox and be sure to check out Margies Facebook Fan Page to keep up with this Cosplay Goddess!

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Ask Victoria Part 5

So for the fifth round of "Ask Victoria" I had my fans ask whatever they wanted on my Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/VictoriaCosplay). The original plan was whoever asked the best question would get to interview me for my Blog but there was such a huge response and so many great questions, I decided to pick the ten best for this article.
My apologies that I could not get everyones questions in. There were far too many and some of them were questions I have all ready answered in other interviews across the web. Thanks again to my fans. Read on and enjoy!

Emily Ruth asks: What has the process been like going from a low-key cosplayer to the Queen of Cosplay? Your great greatest challenge and hardships that you had to overcome as each new con approached? How as those challenges shaped you as a person and where can you see yourself growing from there?

Victoria: I never thought I would receive any kind of title in the cosplay world especially being named the Queen of Cosplay. Its a bit mind boggling. I was just a shy little nerd girl who wanted to give cosplay a try and really enjoyed it so I continued with no specific goal in mind other than to have fun and pay tribute to my favorite characters. In the beginning I actually dealt with a lot of racism with my first cosplay (Aerith from Final Fantasy VII) and I would consider that the biggest hardship. I also have individuals whom I refer to as my "sheep" who literally would shop at the same local stores I would or apply to the same shows or websites, contact people I have worked with, imitate my modeling photos, even cosplay the same characters that I do. Sometimes they are former friends, sometimes they are plain ole stalkers.  But these women arent considered hardships in the least, they are just people I laugh at when our paths cross. I think any obstacle in life helps you become who you are and I have faced everything from being in a wheel chair, to murder in my family, divorce, abusive relationships and even alcoholism. I always found the light however thanks to my family, friends and God. I do not exaggerate when I say I have very thick skin. I have even taken up the practice of meditation and feel I am constantly evolving.

Russell asks: How has cosplaying changed your life? Pros and Cons of cosplaying for you?

Victoria: Gosh, its changed in so many ways. First and foremost, its crazy that I dont have to worry about a ticket anymore. Im getting invited to these shows or am granted access because of my work and the name Ive made for myself and thats incredible. My first trip to the San Diego Comic Con was in 2010 and I had people come up to me who knew who I was. It wasnt just fans either; I met a Fox San Diego camera man and he said he followed my work online. I couldnt believe I was all the way across the country and people knew who I was and it really showed that all my networking has really paid off. I would say the annoying thing about being an internet celebrity is the idioticy I have to deal with; people who just act stupid. But thats easily taken care of with the click of the "block" button. Sometimes I will spit their stupidity right back at them, other times I dont bother and just block them.

David asks: What is your opinion of the latest Superman costume from Superman: The Man of Steel?

Victoria:  I actually really like it! Its different from any Superman costume weve seen onscreen. I think it was time to step away from the traditional outfit (just a bit) and give us something new. Its not too different though so its still safe. I also think its sexy. Ive been in love with Superman since I was a little girl and am very much looking forward to this film.

WeAre NerdCaliber asks: What was the last thing you read that made a huge impact in your life or thinking? Why?

Victoria: I dont know if this counts but I have a Dream Interpretation book that I use to decipher dreams and visions I have while I meditate. I record everything down in a journal and its amazing once you decode the hidden meanings behind dreams and visions.

 Brian asks: I sort of know the answers to any question that could be asked but I feel like one question in particular would have an interesting answer and I wonder if its changed over time: How do you go about "retiring" a cosplay? I know youve had quite a few that have been shelved for good (Aerith for example), but I would like to hear in your own words what goes through your head when you decided that a cosplay has run its course ...

Victoria: If I feel like I have done all I can creatively for a character whether it be costume upgrades or photography wise, I will retire it. With Aerith I was very satisfied with the pictures that were taken (http://cosplaygirl.webs.com/aerithfinalfantasyvii.htm) and had no desire to cosplay her variant dresses. I also dont attend many video game shows so I had no where to really wear the outfit to.

Dave asks: Do you regret cutting your hair?

Victoria: Not at all! It has to be cut after I put my hair through hell one week. I went from dark to highlights to back to dark. It got fried so I cut only two inches off. As you can see in the Alice picture above, its not too short. It looks shorter though when I wear it curly.

Humphrey asks: With all the hype of the new 52 how do you feel about the new costume designs. Do you see yourself cosplaying any of them in the near future. If so which would be the first. Ohh yeah will you marry me.

Victoria: Im digging the designs so far although I am still getting use to Supermans collar. I may try Wonder Womans new outfit but I have no love for Supergirls new uniform. I think  its horrendous. As for marrying you, if Im still single in five years lets do it!

Michael asks: You have been featured lately on several big cosplay websites, and even most recently on EW.com. Do you hope to become a model outside of the cosplay world, and if so, what would you model?

Victoria: Ive been doing three things like a mad woman; teaching, cosplaying and modeling. I feel I am ready to be more active in the modeling world so cosplay may be pushed to the side for a little bit now that I am in negotiations with a modeling agency. Ive actually held off on signing with an agency because teaching and cosplaying came first but even with doing that, Ive proved I can make it into national publications. As for what would I model, that would depend on what assignments I would get but I am open for pretty much anything.

Mind Trickdmedia asks: Best Pick up line when youre dressed as Slave Leia?

 

Victoria: I love it when females ask me to marry them at conventions or when they say "I love you Princess Leia!". Conventions are suppose to be fun and with all the online Slave Leia bashing going on, its always nice to meet a confident, strong, female fan who appreciates Leia.

Phil asks: Thoughts on being the subject of so much fan art? I could probably have an entire art related conversation.

Victoria: Its awesome! I appreciate everyones efforts and for incorporating me into their art! Ive seen some incredible work and try to post as much as I can on my website: http://cosplaygirl.webs.com/fanart.htm

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A Parody Cosplay Interview!

Happy April Fools Day! In celebration of this hilarious and sometimes physically violent holiday, my friend Marvin (of Hero Hotties) and I bring you a parody cosplay interview full of stupid questions and humorous answers. Enjoy our sarcastic and foolish exchange, peasants!

Marvin: How long you been a cos-playa?

Victoria: Cos-playa? Do you not know what Google is? Spell check? Any of this ringing a bell? Learn how to spell, buddy.

Marvin: What kind of unmentionables do you have under that suit? 

Victoria: Unmentionables? Am I suppose to be wearing underwear with this thing?

Marvin: Do the boots match the capes?

Victoria:  My fist matches your face.

Marvin:  Do you have a side kick in your life? 

Victoria: Yes, I do but my caped lover and I choose to keep that private, thank you very much.  When we are ready to reveal our relationship we will announce it like civil people do. On Twitter.

Marvin: When’s the last time you two “worked out” together? 

Victoria: Im sure you can recall. It was that last massive earth quake we had. By the way, Im pregnant.

Marvin:  How many people have seen your secret lair?

Victoria:  I showed it to your mom. She seemed to like it.

Marvin:  What’s your secret identity? 

Victoria: Oh I dont have just one identity. I have several.  Angelina Jolie does not exist. Thats me. Mila Kunis? Thats me. Ive been wanting to trap Ashton Kutcher into marriage for years and now I finally got that bastard! Jessica Alba? Thats me. That chair in the corner? Thats me too. Im everywhere!

Marvin:  If you took off your X-Men uniform, would you describe your look as Beast, 2013 Storm, or Professor X? 

Victoria: Id say Emma Frost but my rack isnt as big as hers. Shes got implants by the way.

Marvin: If I wanted to call you, what signal would I have to shine in the sky? 

Victoria: Youd need a pretty big freakin diamond to get my attention, pal. Better start saving now. Im not showing up for anything smaller than the size of your house.

Marvin: Are you taking applications for side kicks? 

Victoria: Hell no! My insurance wont cover a second side kick. But feel free to send me your resume and Ill put it in the "future deceased" pile.

Marvin:  Age/Sex/Location? 

Victoria: Why the hell do you want to know how old I am and where I live? Why even ask me what gender I am? How many guys do you know named Victoria? You suck, buddy. Throw away your computer!

Marvin:  If I was a fanboy, at what convention could I stalk, err find you next? 

Victoria: The Joker throws a really great annual convention at his house. Ill give you the address. Hell probably tie you up and do horrible things to you but just roll with it. Thats just the hazing phase. 

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Code Black Part II It gets worse

Last week, I reviewed the premier of the new medical television series "Code Black" and pointed out several flawed or impossible scenarios. I didnt think Id watch another episode.

But I was alerted to a rather shocking error on last weeks installment. I had to see it for myself.

On this typically chaotic day in the emergency department, a young woman was brought in after a car crash which occurred while she was in her way to the ED because of abdominal pain. A CT scan of her abdomen and pelvis was negative, but her serum lactate level was elevated. They then decided to examine her abdomen and noted tenderness. A bedside ultrasound done in the ED revealed a left ovarian torsion (twisting of the blood supply to the ovary which if not rapidly corrected, could cause irreversible damage). The patient had already had her right ovary removed. Further heightening the drama was that her husband died of lymphoma but had banked his sperm, and the patient wanted to have his baby.

She needed immediate surgery, but all of the hospitals operating rooms were busy. As the window of opportunity to correct the problem was closing, an operating room opened up. But alas, there was not a single gynecologist or surgeon available to do the case. According to the back story about Dr. Neil Hudson, hes a fully trained surgeon who decided to work in emergency medicine. One of the new ED residents begged Dr. Hudson to do the case, and he resisted for a while until it was almost too late.

Despite admitting to having no operating room privileges and surely no malpractice insurance coverage for surgery, Dr. Hudson finally acquiesced. Just before beginning the case, he explained to the OR staff what he was going to do.

Then the egregious error occurred. While scrubbed in the OR and wearing a sterile gloves and gown, he calmly reached up to pull his unsterile mask over his nose and mouth. Thats a no-no.

PS: I could find no reference mentioning an elevated lactate associated with ovarian torsion. The organ is likely too small for ischemia to have any effect on the that lab value.

Some other highlights. For a patient with multiple facial lacerations, Dr. Hudson ligated the maxillary artery—quite a feat in an emergency room without an OR light or any retraction. As you can see from the figure below, the maxillary artery is deep to the jawbone. Not shown are branches of the facial nerve which lie above the artery.

Dr. Leanne Rorich, the all-knowing equivalent of Dr. House, stopped a nosebleed by inserting Foley catheters in each nostril, a well-known trick. However she inflated the balloons with the closest liquid she had on hand—coffee, and the patients blood pressure normalized within seconds.

If the convoluted story of the woman with the ovarian torsion wasnt enough, the patient with the nosebleed happened to be a 14-year-old blind boy on Coumadin who fell while rock climbing with his father.

Stay tuned for the next episode featuring a bus that tumbles off a narrow mountain road while carrying non-compliant hemophiliacs.

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