“So what’s my name? Watch out! I’m Black Freddie, and I’m blaaaack. Ha ha ha ha ha. Even as we get older, there’s an inner child … that lies within us. They are us, you know. We’re still them because the inner child lives in us,” mentioned Antwone Coward, who was dressed as Freddy Krueger at New York Comedian Con in 2024.
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Isaac Campbell for NPR
For 19 years, New York Comedian Con (NYCC) has been the East Coast’s most celebrated gala of geekdom. In 2024, the conference welcomed greater than 200,000 attendees. In 2025, that quantity swelled by 50,000, making it the, or one of many, most extremely attended conventions within the U.S.
From novice nerds to masters, each October, the Javits Middle teems with fans attending writer, actor and manufacturing firm panels, autograph signings and fandom meetups. They play console and tabletop video games, enter contests and spend their valuable gold and silver cash on NYCC exclusives and trinkets. However, arguably, essentially the most thrilling factor concerning the occasion is seeing the hundreds of people that deliver their favourite ebook, comedian, film, tv present or online game character to life via cosplay.
“There’s some crossover because Caribbean culture really makes you celebrate yourself and be very comfortable in your skin and always down to party and have a good time. I feel like that aligns well with cosplaying in general,” mentioned Maurice Grant. Kishel Browne (from left), Dimitri Grant, Brianna Streater, Taijah Edgecombe and Maurice Grant pose right here for a photograph at New York Comedian Con 2024 dressed as characters from the anime sequence Demon Slayer.
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Attendees collect at New York Comedian Con, held on the Javits Middle in Manhattan, on Oct. 18, 2024.
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Cosplayers are a group unto themselves, and at NYCC, the probability of passing by a completely functioning DIY transformer costume is as nice as passing somebody on the road who had a bodega bacon, egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast. Characters from basic horror films, the DC Universe and Marvel are all the time standard selections, as are these from the Star Wars and Sport of Thrones franchises. The anime group is well-represented too; followers in Chainsaw Man, Dan Da Dan, Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia costumes will be seen sauntering down the halls, snapping selfies collectively.
“A way to express yourself here is by going to another world by different design. You can be a fantasy, be anything you want… It feels amazing. It’s the best thing in the world to express yourself, to feel free, to have a great time. You know what? If you have a dream in life, chase it,” mentioned Daniel Thompson dressed as Static Shock.
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Meilani Ambrose as Momo from Dan Da Dan (from left), Leila Baez as Angel Mud from Hazbin Lodge and Isabella Harold as a Brazilian interpretation of the vocaloid, Hatsune Miku.
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Cosplayers dance outdoors New York Comedian Con on the Javits Middle in Manhattan on Oct. 18, 2024.
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Discovering your tribe throughout the denizens of cosplayers, when that tribe is a minority group usually not anticipated to interact within the exercise, is particularly heartwarming. Whereas it is true that some of these occasions are usually thought-about secure areas that welcome geeks and nerds of all heritages, many Black and Caribbean cosplayers say the group at NYCC is nothing in need of thrilling.
The mutual pleasure is contagious, as a result of most of the time, they inform NPR, they grew up remoted from their group at giant due to their geeky and nerdy pursuits — in addition to from cosplayers of different backgrounds. The individuals featured right here hail from, or have roots in Barbados, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Haiti, the U.S. Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Dominica, Saint Lucia and the Dominican Republic. Many converse of cosplay’s energy to construct or strengthen household bonds and friendships or the way it gives an outlet for escape. Seeing others, of all ages, who appear to be them at NYCC, takes an already electrifying expertise to new heights. For 4 days, Black and Caribbean cosplayers can discover one another. Their pleasure is a robust affirmation of how superb it feels to be seen by your scene.
Attendees dressed as a Energy Ranger, a stormtrooper and Rogue from the “X-Men” franchise included Puerto Rican flags into their costumes at New York Comedian Con 2024.
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“Growing up, I was, like, the Black nerd kid. Knowing the fact that I found people who are like me who have, like, the same interests is actually pretty fun. And I’m gonna be honest: I have never even thought about cosplaying before,” mentioned Kyle Mallett, posed right here (from left) for a photograph with Kris Mallett, Aiden Graves, Hailey Barnett and Jessica Johnson dressed as characters from Avatar: The Final Airbender.
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Zayrha Rodriguez
Isaac “Soup” Campbell is a photographer based mostly in New York Metropolis. You possibly can see extra of Isaac’s work on Instagram at @moresoupplease.
