Heroes & Villains by Andrew Boyle (book review).
Another batch of cosplayers, this time from the New York ComicCons where photographer Andrew Boyle didn’t need much persuading to get to them to pose and even got some comments from some of them as to why they are into cosplay. It’s getting easier to understand why this niche is growing in fandom circles and demonstrate its more about taking part than winning any contests.
As always, the style and imagination in their design is either eye-opening for style or sense of humour when they cross-match different types. Neither gender or race gets in the way, it’s all down to interpretation. In many respects, some of them are even better than the film versions in their appearances. I was also giggling over some of the combination of mixed characters as well.
Books such as these are bound to be bought by the cosplayers themselves and serve as a record as to how they were dressed in any particular year and be able to study the costumes and no doubt spot any that haven’t been done before or could do with a different take.
Picking out favourites would be tough. Characters from games and anime do escape me but the comicbook and film ones are those I recognise the most. All photos come with the part names just in case you don’t recognise anyone and, most important, the people portraying them.
This is a delightful book to sit back and just quietly browse through for a couple autumn afternoons. Hats off or should I say cowls on for all those involved.
GF Willmetts
October 2017
(pub: Smith Street Books, Australia. 264 page illustrated small hardback. Price: £14.99 (UK), $29.99 (AUS), $19.95 (US). ISBN: 978-1-9254-184-5)
check out website: www.smithstreetbooks.com/
