I absolutely love cosplay. It’s one of my favorite forms of expression that fans do. I cosplay myself and am always in awe of the craft and skill people put into their outfits – all for the love of fandom. Cosplaying has exploded over the past ten years. What started as a very niche thing within the convention circuit has blossomed into creating mega stars like Yaya Han, the curator of the Cosplay section within Joann Fabrics across the nation.
I’ve decided to draw attention to 10 different cosplayers who caught my eye in 2023. This is not the ultimate Top 10 Cosplayers globally, but merely the ones who dressed in my favorite fandoms whose craft and commitment impressed me. I also aimed to highlight only cosplays that were created or debuted in 2023, avoiding a Cosplayer who might be great at what they do but feature an outfit they’ve worn for a period of time before 2023. Female cosplayers are probably the most well-known on social media, but my list actually features a lot of men who are impressing me with their commitment to craft.
Without further delay, here are my Top 10 Cosplayers of 2023:
10) Rye_N_Cosplay as Shao Kahn
I was able to see this cosplay in person at Q Con in Los Angeles last summer. Ryan and his partner David run Dr. Costumes and do incredible custom work for cosplays. You’ll see them at West Coast conventions with a booth of fun props to take photos with.
9) Coolspot88 as Emperor Palpatine
Nothing is creepier than seeing this corpse walk around a convention. Coolspot’s commitment to prosthetics down to the yellow’d fingernails were supreme. The cloak was A-Grade and his commitment to character during the convention was “spot” on. I saw this in-person at Twin Cities Con in Minneapolis, MN.
8) Amdiaz_Art as Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler is one of my absolute favorite characters ever, and Amdiaz embodies him perfectly at conventions. His short and tin body frame is perfect for Nightcrawler, and he is constantly updating his outfits to show off different versions of the character. This photo was taken by Charles Nolan at The Uncanny Experience in Minneapolis, MN.
7) Amber Arden as Snow White
Amber Arden is the internet’s Snow White. She has been cosplaying the character for as long as I can remember. Her passion for this Disney Princess is expressed perfectly in this oil on canvas-like image photographed by Stacy Jacob. I was able to meet Amber at the Star Wars Celebration in 2022, where she was dressed as a Snow White Mandalorian (of course).
6) Hummin_H2 as Omega Red
If you follow cosplayers, you probably follow Hummin_H2. His large-scale cosplay builds are breathtaking. Mostly known for his Juggernaut cosplay, he created this incredible Omega Red for 2023, which wowed me when I saw it at WonderCon in Anaheim, CA. Because I know him for his bigger cosplays, I didn’t know it was Hummin until after the convention! He continues to surprise me with each new build.
5) WendellCosplays as Olrox
One of the shows in 2023 I binged the fastest was Castlevania: Nocturne. So when I saw this image appear on my feed courtesy of photographer David Ngo, I was immediately struck by the likeness that Wendell portrays in Olrox. I did not see this cosplay in person, but just scrolling past it on Instagram grabbed my attention, so he landed in my Top 5.
4) GracietheCosplayLass as Poison Ivy
When it comes to craftsmanship, no one does it better than Gracie. Her commitment to detail design and aesthetics always wows me. I’m not even a fan of DC, but this cosplay was a plant lover’s delight to behold. I saw this in person at WonderCon in Anaheim, CA.
3) TheGirlWithAGreatSmile as Lady Deathstrike
There’s something to be said when someone pulls an obscure character and brings it to life like none other. Jordan (aka girlwithagreatsmile) is notorious for her incredible cosplay creations. From Gundam fighters to fashion-ready looks for her Hellfire Gala Walk, she never disappoints, and this creation of Lady Deathstrike is a testament to her work. I saw this cosplay in person at The Uncanny Experience in Minneapolis, MN. Another great photo by David Ngo.
2) WhoaChrisWhoa as Spider Punk
It’s needless to say Into and Across the Spider-verse captured everyone’s attention with its distinct animation style and the amazing storytelling of Miles Morales. The recent film brought us our first theatrical, Hobbie Brown, as Spider-Punk, and man, was he cool. Even the script had to point out how cool he was, and we all agreed. So when I saw Chris here portray him perfectly, I had to rank him super high in my Top 10. I have not seen this cosplay in person, but I’ve seen plenty of people post and share the near-perfect rendition of Spider-Punk. Photo by Benjamin Farren.
1) Carrbrosprops as Sabretooth
When I tell you my jaw dropped when I saw this cosplay on my feed…CarrBros created a masterpiece with this Sabretooth. From the photos to the viral videos, this cosplay was outstanding. The custom stitched bodysuit and attention to detail accompanied by such an impressive headpiece – I was blown away. This costume first appeared at DragonCon I believe, but I unfortunately was not there to absorb its amazingness myself.
HONORABLE MENTION: Meshellwaffleo, TheJohnCarle, and MissChrissyLyn as The X-Terminators
If you’re like me and you love the X-Men, then I hope you devoured Leah William’s short run of the X-Terminators. Dazzler, Boom Boom, and Jubilee take on a pit of vampires? It was pure grindhouse madness in the best way possible. So when I saw these three cosplayers at SDCC portray them perfectly, I had to give them an honorable mention. The amount of joy I felt at seeing these three embodied was 100% pure. Bravo, you three!
Who are some of your favorite cosplayers from 2023? Make sure to tag @AIPTComics with anyone you feel should have made the list.
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