Why do people dress up at ComicCon?
Have you ever seen people dressed as Naruto, elves or superheroes on the subway? If it wasn't October 31, there's a good chance these folks were on their way to Montreal ComicCon, a popular culture celebration gathering held at least once a year at the Palais des Congrès.
Where does this tradition of dressing up to go to ComicCon come from? To find the answer, Metro went to investigate at the Mini-ComicCon which was held on Saturday.
First, before going to see what is happening and meet the people at ComicCon, a taste of the excitement for the event is revealed by the huge line that begins at the exit of the Place-d station. 'Armes and which ends on the fifth floor of the Palais des Congrès.
It is therefore after more than an hour of waiting that we can finally access the Eden of pop culture and we can't say it wasn't worth it. There are exhibitors selling Dungeons & Dragons accessories, Funko Pops, comic books and (fake) lightsabers. There are also artists who offer illustrations, jewelry or even handmade costume pieces.
Video: Guillaume Ledoux/Métro
Obviously, there are also hundreds of people bringing their favorite character to life through their meticulously crafted costume and it's beautiful to see. Where else can you see a Stormtrooper talking to a Transformer?
Photo: Guillaume Ledoux/Metro
A celebration without judgement
The representatives of the Blainville Ghostbusters powerhouse are “dads” and a “mom” who play a fictional team of ghost hunters. For them, part of the joy of playing a character is in the openness that the activity offers. “Everyone can be a Ghostbuster, no disability can be denied, no orientation and there is no racism. Anyone who dresses up as a Ghostbuster is a Ghostbuster and welcome,” one said. In addition to the costumes, these fans who celebrate the universe of the films they love by dressing up also have a collection of items that were used in the original filming of the film. Their enthusiasm is palpable and transmitted. “It opens the door to a new generation of fans,” he concludes, adding that his group is there with “their sons” who follow the passion of their parents.
Photo: Guillaume Ledoux/Metro
Going beyond your limits
For one of the sisters of the Sweet Sisters artist trio who notably do illustrations, the pleasure of “transforming into a character” comes from the fact that by being this character, we can go beyond our limits, especially our social limits. “I'm a shy person in real life, and doing cosplay (costume play) allows me to do things that I wouldn't normally be able to do, it's like if I was someone else and it allows me to come out of my shell.
Photo: Guillaume Ledoux/Metro
An immersive universe
The furries, which are part of a sub-community in their own right, also find their place in ComicCons. Three of them, whose costumes are worth between $1,000 and $4,000, were just there. “We are in his character, in another universe”, testifies one of them. “Sometimes you'll notice cosplays of something you recognize, you'll say hey I love your costume, I love the universe. When you're in costume, people are attracted and want to interact,” he adds to emphasize the immersive side of cosplaying.
Photo: Guillaume Ledoux/Metro
Unifying craftsmanship
It is not uncommon to see cosplayers hanging out in groups. It's an undeniably fun activity to share with friends, especially when they play as characters from the same universe. This unifying aspect as well as the artisanal side of costume making is precisely what one of the groups of friends dressed up as characters in the game Genshin Impact likes. “It’s fun to do it with your friends. We all match and that's what's fun”, reveals one of the friends. “Me, it’s all prop-making. Do cosplay, spend an eternity on something and do it quietly”, adds another who specifies that his costume took three months to design.
Photo: Guillaume Ledoux/Metro
