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I wanted to compile a year-end album of some of the best cosplay from 2013, so for days I have combed through hundreds of photos taken at the year’s biggest cons on dozens of websites and blogs.

Obviously, my choices are purely subjective and there were a lot that I didn’t include simply for lack of space. And I know there’s a lot of amazing cosplay that I’ve missed. Even some of my own personal favorite cosplayers aren’t here and it’s not because their cosplay this year wasn’t good. It’s just because there’s just so much out there nowadays that there’s no way I can stay on top of it all.

For this particular album I’ve only included cosplay displayed and photographed at various cons. This is because studio cosplay photography can be lit, altered and manipulated in various ways and as such are their own separate category. Some of the best cosplay can be seen in studio photography but it’s not fair to compare it with convention cosplay.

I’ve made my best efforts to track down the names or pseudonyms of these cosplayers and their photographers. But the Internet, blogging and social media being what they are these days, I haven’t been able to provide credits for everyone. (So if you happen to know the names of those who remain uncredited here, please let me know in the Comments section below and I’ll add their names in).

CLASSICS DONE RIGHT

Often, my favorite cosplays are the simplest ones and a classic character well done never gets old. It’s not about how elaborate the cosplay is but how well it brings the character to life in various ways.

(Click on a thumbnail to see the full-sized image and credits.)

Sources:

LA Times Hero Complex / Tested / Gilly Kins Facebook page / Eurobeat Kasumi Photography Facebook page / vangHER photography / Harley’s Joker Facebook page / The Catwoman Cosplayer Facebook page / Mariedoll Facebook page / DC Planet / Briana Darling Facebook page

IMPRESSIVE STUFF

Cosplay that made my jaw drop.

Sources:

iamyourheroes.com / Critiques for Geeks / Fashionably Geek / Cosplay Collector / Popular Mechanics / Meg Turney Facebook page / The Mary Sue / Behind the Panels / Estrada Photography Facebook page /ammnra Deviantart page /Mooshuu Flicker page

GREAT MASH-UPS

Nothing quite like an inventive mash-up.

Sources:

Hakuchan-Vannadear page on Cosplay.com / Geeks Are Sexy / Tested / Xemnu / Demon Seed Tumblr page / Basically Creative Me / V Threepio Flickr page / Nerd Caliber /Fashionably Geek / FirstGlance Photography Facebook page

CUTE/FUNNY

The first Iron Man “cosplay” here made me laugh out loud for like ten seconds straight.

Sources:

Dumpaday / Business Insider / CyberGata Tumblr page / Popular Mechanics / Tested / Neatorama / RyC Flickr page / io9 / Geeks Are Sexy / Neatorama / The Meta Picture / Cosplay EXP / Gawker

Wait, wuh? Walter White by Bryan Cranston?!

That’s right. In the single most awesome cosplay moment this year, the actor walked around San Diego Comic Con dressed as Walter White complete with a rubber Walter White mask, meeting fans and taking pictures without them ever realizing they were taking pictures with Bryan Cranston.

Why the mask? Because he didn’t want people to realize it was actually him until he was ready to reveal himself, and also because his natural appearance by that point didn’t look so much like the beloved meth kingpin anymore. Landon Meier, creator of the mask, told Business Insider that he walked around with Cranston and people would marvel and say things like, “You even sound like Bryan Cranston!”

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