Introduction:

Utah has gained a reputation in recent years as a haven for geeks of all fandoms and degrees of interest. The rising popularity of Salt Lake Comic Con and the golden age of Geek on the internet has fueled the creativity and talents of many locals into pursuing cosplay. For this reason, it is no surprise that so many people are moving to the vibrant and diverse state of Utah to set up a home. It also helps that there are some fantastic real estate opportunities in Utah too. Just check out these New Homes for Sale in Ogden Valley for example. Anyway, as a member of this vibrant cosplay community, I would like to give my readers a glimpse into what we do and introduce them to some of my fellow cosplayers. Some of us are part of major costuming organizations like the 501st Legion, others are part of smaller local charity groups. Some of us invest considerable time and money into making elaborate, screen-accurate costumes. Others can’t bring as many physical resources, but we make up for it with lots of heart and dedication. Some of us live outside of the Salt Lake-Ogden-Provo area, but thankfully the internet makes it easy to keep in touch on a daily basis and we can share ideas and post photos of our work.

The fourteen profiles I’ve collected–seven to be shared in this post, seven in a later post around Halloween–are a sampling of the different kinds of cosplayers that live and work right here in Utah. Some of them are my personal acquaintances, and a few are even my good friends. Utah’s cosplay community–the geek community in general–is special because it brings together people from different lifestyles, beliefs, and backgrounds to build each other up through a common interest. This week, our spotlights include Stephen McGarity, Benji Seekins, Missa Zane, Jason Flynn, Eric Allen Hall, Brittany Wilson, and Hannah Oberle.

Profile: Stephen McGarity

I’ve known Stephen for as long as I’ve been in Kids Heroes. He’s a great guy and loves coming out to volunteer. He does other characters, but his go-to is Batman. When the Kids Heroes Foundation has an event, chances are Utah’s Batman will be there.

Profile: Jason Flynn

How Did You Get Into Cosplay?

Stephen: I got into it to visit kids in hospitals and special needs kids

Benji: I was in a Marvel group on Facebook and asked everyone who they think I should cosplay from the Marvel Universe and most of the comments were the Winter Soldier because I had some resemblance to Sebastian Stan.

Missa Zane

Jason: After attending the first Salt Lake Comic Con in 2013, I was really excited to try doing cosplays myself so my brother talked me into doing Fix-it Felix with him as Wreck-it Ralph and it was so fun I’ve kept cosplaying, attending various cons and making new cosplays each time

Brittany: I have always loved dressing up but my love of cosplay came after I realized that I could use it to help with charity. After battling Stage 3A Melanoma and going through 12 months of chemotherapy and two major surgeries; I found myself in need of a some extra added financial support. A fundraiser was set up for me and after all of the support I received from the community I determined that I was going to beat cancer and strive to pay it forward. Now I go to charity events to help raise funds for other people in need and I love every second of it!

Brittany Wilson

Eric: I grew up doing community theater with my mom, so I learned about costuming and makeup from an early age. I have always loved Halloween, and I made a robot costume out of empty bleach bottles, drier hose, and cardboard boxes when I was in the fourth grade. After college, I started to do big group Halloween costumes with my friends, and I kept going as I started to attend Star Trek and other scifi and fantasy conventions starting in the 90’s.

Hannah: My dad and I have loved making me costumes every Halloween, but really got into cosplay at the second Salt Lake Comic Con in 2014. My younger sister is also my partner in cosplaying, so it’s fun to do partner cosplays. We’ve done Mina and Zelda, Thor and Loki, we’re working on Black Widow and Winter Soldier; it’s fun to cosplay together.

Profile: Benji Seekins

Benji joined Kids Heroes at the start of the summer, so I’ve had the opportunity to get to know him. Benji is always the first to jump in when other people are goofing off and having fun, and he doesn’t shy away from poking fun at his character. (And yes, Jake, he is a BYU fan). When Kids Heroes went to entertain at a homeless shelter in Salt Lake, he found a Captain America action figure in the toy bin and immediately claimed it. Hence the picture:

Benji Seekins

Profile: Missa Zane

What Gives You the Most Satisfaction in Cosplay?

Benji: Knowing that your hard work pays off and meeting people with the same interest

Jason: I love seeing the smiles and reactions or people who love the same fandom/character I am cosplaying. When people take photos of my cosplays, I feel really proud that they liked it that much

Hannah O’Berle

Brittany: Seeing the smiles on the faces of those in need of an extra hand, hearing a laugh, or even the feeling that in that very moment they are completely free and happy. The fact that in some cases we are able to help financially is the cherry on top!

Hannah: When people want pictures with me and ask if I made it. Telling them I did is really satisfying! I also love when people seek me out of huge crowds to meet me or tell me they recognize me from another cosplay.

Missa: Seeing a costume come together then seeing how excited people are!

Profile: Hannah Oberle

Profile: Brittany Wilson

Brittany Wilson is Utah’s Captain Jack. Over the summer, the Orem Owlz baseball team had theme nights and invited cosplayers to come mingle with the fans. When they did their Pirates of the Carribean night, Brittany didn’t hesitate to drive down all the way from Ogden to Orem to come to the game, and she was over-the-moon about my Elizabeth Swann costume. At Salt Lake Comic Con, Brittany brought a Jar of Dirt, complete with the heart of Davy Jones, to display at the Legacy booth and share with friends.

Profile: Eric Allan Hall

I met Eric Hall my first time at Comic Con, back in 2014. As it turns out, Eric is a local cosplay legend, who sports literally dozens of costumes and makes some for his kids, too! But he is also a great friend to everyone in the cosplay community, always willing to give advice and help other people make their costumes. We’ve run into each other a handful of times in person. Once was when Heroic and Kids’ Heroes teamed up for a charity event in Salt Lake. There was live music playing in the background, and Superman asked Scarlet Witch to dance with him for a few minutes–unexpected, but fun.

Mark Loerstcher/Eric Allan Hall

Advice for Other Cosplayers:

Stephen: Never give up on your dream of cosplay, big or small, short or tall. Keep the dream alive no matter what comes your way

Jason: Do it. Don’t worry if you’re good enough. Don’t compare yourself to anyone. Don’t worry about if people will like your cosplay or if it’s good enough to enter a competition. Just cosplay and enjoy the fun

Utah’s Batman and Beyond Cosplay

Brittany: The best advice I have to give is this; be kind to those you meet in this community. You never know what the person behind that makeup, mask, or cosplay is battling. That armor they wear and sword they carry might be battling much more that that of fiction.

Eric: Philosophical advice: It’s good to accept feedback from others, but stay true to your vision of the character as you construct your cosplay and as you bring your character to life. Practical advice: Shop thrift stores frequently for clothing, shoes, belts, hats, and toys and props you can use or alter for your cosplays.

Chiseled Light Photography/Jason Flynn

Hannah: Don’t be afraid to try an advanced character! There’s always creative ways to make pieces with the simplest of materials! My Zelda armor is made out of foam, caulking, modeling magic clay, and gold paint. Also don’t let gender, size, age, race, or anything like that stop you from cosplaying your favorite character.

Missa: Just dive in ^_^ push your limits. We are our worst critics and that will hold you back from a world of fun!

Read More:

The Jedi in Jeans: Liz’s thoughts on Cosplay, Salt Lake Comic Con 2016

Last Week’s Post: Livewire at Salt Lake Comic Con 2016

Lizy Cole

Lizy Cole is originally from San Antonio, Texas but also has strong ties to Arizona. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor's degree in English. She enjoys reading, writing, and being a fangirl. Her current big fandoms are Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.