Scenes from the Tokyo Game Show

Full pictorial article: http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2009/09/gallery-tgs-cosplay/

Cosplay Model - Marie-Claude Bourbonnais

Call Name: Marry Bardot

Status: Cosplay Model/Pin-up

Real Name: Marie-Claude Bourbonnais

Profession: Glamour/Adult Model, Pin-up

Does: Mortal Kombat, Gen 13, Fetish, BDSM

Paul Dini's Fetish

Paul Dini is probably most famous for being one of the original producers and writers for Batman The Animated Series, and for having helped launched the DC Animated Universe, itself having the nickname of "Diniverse". Today he is still active in the comic world for being the current writer for Gotham City Sirens and Batman: Streets of Gotham. He just penned the script for the game Batman: Arkham Asylum (although the original concept was done over a decade ago by Grant Morrison in the now classic Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth). His writing style can best be described as solid, compelling, and knows when to take light and serious steps in his writing, anchored by strong characterizations in his dramatis personae. IMHO, the only other writer of similar ability is James Robinson.

What he is not as known for is his eternal appreciation for sexy, garter belt-armed magician women. Being himself a bit of an amateur illusionist, no doubt being in the circles of performing magicians led to a relatively healthy fascination with said type of fine women. Starting with an infatuation with DC Comics' homo magi character Zatanna Zatara, he no-doubt coincidentally eventually married a magician by the name of Misty Lee, who then took on some of the trappings of Zatanna (or vice versa, well Zatanna was chronologically around longer). He then wrote his own creator-owned comic series called Madame Mirage on Top Cow Comics, about a vengeance-fueled illusionist superheroine which coincidentally and admittedly was based on his wife.

I include pictures, in order, of: 1) DC's Zatanna, 2) Zatanna as portrayed by the actress/model Serinda Swan in Smallville, 3) Misty Lee, Paul Dini's wife, and 4) Paul Dini's Madame Mirage. See the resemblance?

World Class Cosplayer: Yaya Han

Call Name: Yaya Han

Status: Cosplay superstar

Real Name: Yaya Han

Profession: Costume Designer, Model

Does: Resident Evil, Macross Plus, Clover, Blue Girl, X-Men, Dead or Alive, Final Fantasy, Ranma 1/2, Death Note, Darkstalkers, Urusei Yatsura, Chobits, Parasite Eve, Dirty Pair, Blue Submarine 6 and more

Our photo shoot - the results

Ain't they sweet?

World Class Cosplayer: Omi Gibson

Call Name: Omi Gibson

Status: Cosplay superstar

Real Name: Unknown

Profession: OL in Japan

Most seen as: Metal Gear characters

Also does: Black Lagoon, Justice League, Silent Hill, Transporter, Kill Bill, G.I. Joe, Darkstalkers, Mirrors Edge, Candy Fruit, Mezzo Forte, Death Note, Rumble Roses, Snatcher, Resident Evil, Underworld, Blood+, Matrix, Ghost in the Shell, Tekken, and it goes on and on

Our own cosplay photoshoot

Behind the scenes of our upcoming project.
Location: VanArts Studios, Vancouver

Yet more shots from Comiket

Final batch, and thx to Phil C from Odaiba...

More shots from Comiket

Again, thanks to Phil C

Just snapped at Comiket

thanks to Phil C.

Vancouver Zombie Walk

Apparently it started in Sacramento. In Vancouver, a goth-friendly population mixed with a lot of make-up artists supporting the local entertainment industry led to an annual event where brains get eaten.

Japan Wins @ World Cosplay Championships

In the "news that surprises no one" category, Japan takes first place the World Cosplay Summit. First there are several things one must consider - namely that Japan is the birthplace of cosplay, the event itself was held in Nagoya, and lastly, this is the first time that Japan actually WON. Yes, that's right, they have never won that event since the event has been held in 2003. Cartoonist Go Nagai was the judge.

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/photospecials/graph/cosplay/

Gantz, available in English in Tankobon format

Tight black leather + J-Idols = debauched senseless nihilist violence

Gantz is a wonderfully brutal adults-only type of manga (also made into OVA) that revels in its gore and antisocial behavior. Basic story: people who have just died, children and some pets included, are inducted into a sickening game whereas they must defeat demons in public space. No one can see them fight as they are armed with weapons they barely understand for purposes that make no sense. If they kill the demon, they score points towards their release. If they get killed, then they are permanently erased. And with each stage, the odds get worse. I love it.