These outfits are super.
Nearly a quarter million fans of movies, television, anime and video games descended on Midtown’s Javits Center this weekend for celebrity panels, merchandise markets and a cavalcade of eye-turning costumes – some of which took hundreds of hours to put together.
Among the hordes of Jedi, caped-crusaders and armor-glad transformers – and celebrities from Sigourney Weaver to George R. R. Martin – visiting Manhattan since Thursday was a parade of Disney princesses: including an Ariel in a ball gown made from a repurposed couch found at a church rummage sale.
“As soon as I saw it, I said ‘this would be perfect for Ariel,’” said 25-year-old cosplayer Amanda Caswell, who spent a month sewing the glimmering pink-and-white creation. “I was inspired by the couch fabric – it’s super comfortable and easy to walk in.
“I just love twirling around in a ballgown,” the New Jersey native added. “Ariel’s story is really beautiful: exploring new horizons – and I think that’s what we all need to do.”
Caitlin Martin, 35, spent her summer hand-applying rhinestones to heels and a matching towel bearing the New York Comic Con logo for a Sabrina Carpenter-inspired riff on her Cinderella costume.
“The towel took me three weeks, the shoes took me ten hours each,” the Astoria, Queens resident said — adding the getup cost her hundreds of dollars. “I made the babydoll [dress] and the corset, too: for the wig, it’s two wigs I sewed together.
“I watched a lot of TV,” she admitted, noting she just finished the sleeves for the baby blue baby doll dress Sunday morning.
Will Damante Jr., who slings comic books as The Undisputed Comics King, noted that that the name Comic Con has become almost a misnomer in recent years.
Now, more cosplayers are dressing up for Disney, “Squid Game” and other pop culture references..
“Even though it’s called Comic Con, it doesn’t necessarily cater to comics,” he lamented.
The longtime comics collector said that, while Comic Con is one his busiest days every year, economic concerns might’ve caused many fans to hold back on big spending in 2025.
Elsewhere, New Milford, New Jersey residents Amanda and Fred Alvaro sported simpler looks – inflatable Godzilla and rival villain Mothra – on their eighth wedding anniversary weekend.
“The cosplay is so fantastic,” said Amanda, who has been attending with her husband since 2013. “It’s really great to see how creative and imaginative some people can be … just to see some of the ideas that people come up with.”
Four-legged cosplayer Benjie — a white German shepherd registered as a service dog to his owner Bre Azanedo — even donned a Krypto the Superdog cape for the event.
“I got him for a good cause, but it’s not what he wants to do with his life,” Azanedo, of New Jersey, said of attention-loving 1-year-old Benjie, who was rescued during a recent trip to San Diego Comic Con.
Downtown Manhattan gym owner Sean Cronin, who was one of Benjie’s admirers Sunday morning, arrived to the convention in a Justice League-themed group costume featuring himself as Superman, his wife Elena Sokina as the Green Lantern and pals as Hawkgirl and Supergirl.
“We had the “Superman” movie in the summer, so we figured this cosplay would be interesting: if you go too esoteric, no one really recognizes you,” said 37-year-old Cronin of NYLO Fitness, who described his costuming as “store-bought” with “accoutrements.
In recent years, the husband-and-wife team has dressed up in group ensembles repping “Mad Max: Fury Road” and the anime “My Hero Academia.”
“You want to go as something that’s of the moment,” he added, “so you can appeal to everyone.”
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