Cosplay is an integral part to any comic convention. But what is it? For the purposes of this article, cosplaying is dressing up in a costume. It’s as simple as that. This can encompass all sorts of mediums from gaming to anime to movies to TV and, you guessed it, comic books.

Be a Superhero for a Day

Celebrity Treatment

Costume Contests

But why do you have to do it before you die? Glad you asked.Ever since you were a kid, the second a blanket finds itself draped from your shoulders, it’s practically reflex to outstretch your arms in front of you with fists clenched while making that woosh noise with your mouth. Being in costume activates the imagination center of your brain so that you can’t help but channel your favorite hero or villain, whether they be Superman, Loki, or The Shadow. It’s hard to have the Bat-cowl on and not don a serious expression, or wear that signature purple coat without feeling the need to act a little crazy. Dressing up as a comic book character at a convention allows you to break loose and have fun, pure and simple.There’s a great deal of wish fulfillment that comes with cosplaying. As you flip through a comic book looking at Bruce Wayne’s Batsuit or Tony Stark’s Iron Man armor, there’s always the thought of how cool it would be to wear it yourself. With cosplay, you can. You get to be a superhero (or supervillain) for a day. Every comic fan owes it to themselves to, at least once, indulge in the fantasy of being a costumed crusader.When cosplaying at a convention for the first time, it’s easy to see why so many people do it. About every 10 steps you take, you will be stopped and asked for a picture. Before you were an ordinary citizen who didn’t get a second glance when walking through a crowd, but now you are a nerd magnet. Everyone from kids who get a kick out of your Spider-Man suit to adults who have always wanted to stand side-by-side with Green Lantern will be approaching you for a quick snap.And then there’s group pictures. If you’re dressed as Oracle and there’s a Black Canary and Huntress also in attendance at the con, you can bet that not only will you cross paths, but you will be asked to stand together for a team shot. When one person stops to take a picture, others can’t help but take notice, which causes a chain reaction in the crowd until there are dozens of flashes blinding your eyes. And then when Lady Shiva, Hawkgirl, and Poison Ivy join in on this Birds of Prey reunion, well, you can bet you’re not going anywhere for a while.But as fun as it is to feel a little special for the day, it’s truly about making people happy. Fans are there because they love comics, so getting to see Thor and Loki in the flesh is beyond awesome. You are helping make their dreams of meeting their favorite character become a reality. High-fives and fist-bumps are as common as smiles and cheers when there’s a cosplayer around.Now don’t get me wrong, costume contests aren’t on this list because winning a prize for your efforts is a reason to cosplay. Costume contests are the Super Bowl of cosplaying. It’s your time to shine in front a large, enthusiastic crowd. A lot of people have anxiety about being in front of crowds, but getting up there decked out in your Deadpool gear can be an exhilarating experience. Besides, if you trip and fall while walking the catwalk, it’s no biggie because you’re wearing a mask. And if you’re Psylocke that day, then just turn it into an impromptu ninja somersault.Entering a costume contest is not about winning (although if you do win, congrats!). It’s about working towards something. It’s not unheard of for cosplayers to take up new exercise regimens and workout diets to get ready for “costume season” when cons start happening more frequently. They want to look their best for the big day, so in a roundabout way, cosplay can act as motivation to get healthy. Working to get into respectable shape while also getting to have six metal claws and call people “Bub” for a day? What’s not to love?