The X-Men will always have our hearts, so when we were tapped for the Giant 90s X-Men Photoshoot at DragonCon this year, it wasn’t hard to say yes — especially since we were asked to be Jubilee and Dani Moonstar. (Just ask us sometime about how we feel about the next gens of X-Men.)
As always, the shoot was definitely a commitment and involved several long hours under the hot sun but we had a blast! There’s nothing quite like getting to be a part of something like this. Every single one of these cosplayers totally brought their A-Game to the shoot and it shows. We’re glad to have been part of it!
Dani Moonstar / Mirage: Bria (suit made by Leman Yuen)
Jubilation Lee / Jubilee: Lin
Individual photography credits are on each picture, but thank you to Pat Loika, Mark Shafer, and BeatDownBoogie for these!
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Another year, another jam with the space babes of my heart. It’s almost tradition now to hang out in our Guardians of the Galaxy gear while throwing back drinks and just kickin’ it super chill. Bonus hanging out at the James Gunn signing? I guess that’s pretty awesome, too.
As always, a huge thanks to Judy Stephens of Marvel.com for taking the time to grab some shots with us. <3
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Quasar / Phyla-Vell: Lin (me)
Moondragon: Natalie
Gamora: Soni Aralynn
Nova: Matt
Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Bug, Groot, Mantis,
Adam Warlock, Ronan: Kleber & Friends
Photographer: Judy Stephens
Convincing yourself to take the plunge and make a costume you’ve thought about for ages can be challenge in itself. I’ve adored Dani Moonstar for years. There’s something about her that I just really admire and respect especially once she loses her mutant powers but keeps on fighting. (Ask me sometime for my essay on why I adore the normal person amongst a superpowered team.)
When I was tapped to be Dani for the Giant X-men Group at Dragon Con, it was an easy decision to say yes and to immediately swear off cutting my hair until September so it’d be appropriately long enough. Sometime in July, I started taking a good hard look at my costume line up and found it… lacking. It needed another comic something and so I turned to my folder of future cosplay wants. Once again, the crazy armored Valkyrie version of Dani called to me but I knew that just wasn’t feasible. Right beside it though were variations on her Valkyrie look from her early headwing days and fan art which made me start looking at what I had…. and decide to go for it.
A couple of things were a first for me with this costume like figuring out the shoulder armor rig and especially the head piece which some how materialized in the last few days after my original plan for the wings fell through. (I’m glad it did though because I adore how this looks.) The best part about this costume is that it’s been drawn with so many variations that I had a ton of artistic freedom and even have a warm weather and cold weather version for it! (More on the cold version in a few weeks…)
Valkyrie Dani Moonstar: Bria
Photography by Carlos Adama Photography
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how wonderful it was to work with Carlos to take these pictures. He is amazing to work with and was incredibly patient with me even when I was having issues with the belt and couldn’t manage to keep my eyes open for shots because of ridiculously bright it was. Basically, if you ever get a chance to work with him, DO IT>
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We’re all about the space jam and we’ll take it there even if it’s awful hot and deathly humid and we’re wearing enough layers to last the cold emptiness of space. A big shoutout to my cosmic family.
Medusa: Lin (me)
Crystal: Nara Rouge
Black Bolt: Kevin
Photographer: Lionel Lum
Okay so yeah you’ve seen this costume before but I was so thrilled by the results of my shoot with Carlos Adama at Dragon Con that I had to post these. I’ve been wanting to shoot with Carlos for ages but unfortunately, there’s always been an ocean between our usual convention stomping grounds until now. BUT NOT ANYMORE.
Shooting with Carlos is absolutely amazing. I’ve never worked with a photographer who was such a master of light sources before. He was a perfect match for the urban night shoot that I wanted for Emperor’s Hand pictures. I can’t get over how all these pictures look like they could have been on Coruscant or another planet in the galaxy far far away and not in downtown Atlanta. Seriously: if you ever get a chance to shoot with him, DO IT.
Mara Jade: Bria
Photography by Carlos Adama
Dragon Con 2014
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Not enough Mara Jade love for you? We’ve got plenty in the archives!