All-Hallows Eve

Well guys, there was going to be a full-blown Halloween video today. It was going to be a Let's Play of Sherlock Holmes vs. Jack the Ripper. Unfortunately, SHvsJtR is fullscreen only, which my capture software can't record.
Then there was another game that just wasn't good for riffing (or playing for that matter) then I found a good game but my entire desktop unexpectedly shut down when I bumped it with my knee, so I figured that something out there just didn't want a Halloween video to happen.

So instead, here's my Slender Man costume. Happy Halloween

Halloween Heroines or Cosplays for Women

Hey everybody. Halloween is just around the corner, and I know some of you have been putting off picking a costume until the last minute. Well, if you've been reading regularly, you'll know that last year, I did an article on Halloween costumes for guys, so it only seems fair that I do another list this year for the ladies.

Now, you want to be a female superhero? Fantastic! You also don't want to dress like a stripper? Also fantastic! I understand completely that sexism is a massive issue in comics and geek culture alike, and that it may seem intimidating to put yourself before a potentially judgmental audience. It may seem impossible, not to mention undesirable, to dress as one of the many comic book females who dress more like lingerie models than crime-fighters, but I assure you that there are are some relatively simple, modest outfits you can put together.

Like with my costumes for guys, I'm assuming that you're on a reasonable budget, and that you can't afford full-body tights or extravagant accessories.

Mary Marvel

Mary Marvel is the sister to Billy Batson, or Captain Marvel. Like Billy, Mary calls down her powers through magic lightning from the wizard Shazam. Also like Billy, Mary was originally property of Faucett Comics, meaning her design comes from the more innocent 1950s, and it has changed little today.

Either a red dress, or a red skirt and t-shirt will work fine. Just add a lightning bolt and a cape, and you should be good to go.

Terra

Keep in mind, this is Terra from the Teen Titans cartoon, not the comics. This costume has two options: Pre-Titan and Titan. Pre-Titan is probably the easiest. Jean shorts, a long, white-sleeved t-shirt and a gray cut-off tank top, with some brown gloves.

Titan Terra is similar, only with yellow shorts, and a long-sleeved black shirt. Keep in mind that with any costume that bares the midriff, you are certainly able to simply wear the shirt and cover up, no harm done.

Bumblebee

This is another version from the Teen Titans cartoon, since cartoons have stricter guidelines on how scantily clad their females can be. Once again, Bumblebee bares the midriff, but as always, you're at liberty to just not do that should you choose.

Black pants, yellow and black striped shirt, and some fairy wings you can pick up at just about any costume shop on the planet, and you should be good to go.

Jubilee

If you want something that screams...God, I don't even know what decade...then the hardest part of playing Jubilee will be finding that big yellow coat. If you can do that however, you're pretty much set. A pink t-shirt, jeans and blue or yellow gloves, and you're ready to be...well, someone's favorite member of the X-Men I'm sure.

Hopefully that helps you last-minute costume shoppers or potential cosplayers out. Again, I'm totally aware that sexism is rampant in this industry, but at the end of the day, just be who you want to be.

So you want to be a superhero? (Halloween for Guys)

Let me get this out there right now: I love Halloween. It is arguably my favorite holiday, simply because I thoroughly enjoy coming up with creative costumes. Take this one for example:

Or maybe I just wanted an excuse to build this...

In any case, many people may be considering being a superhero for Halloween. Unless you can afford a muscle-suit or the armor pieces to pull off a good batman, however, you may be lost on how to be a superhero without breaking your budget. Well, here are a few heroes that you should be able to throw together at the last minute:

1. Cloak

What you need:

1. A cloak.

2. That is all.

Okay, so maybe you'll want to wear black underneath the cloak, but seriously, this is the simplest of the simple. Get Cloak, wear Cloak, DONE.

2. Phantom Stranger

What you need:

1. A suit

2. A fedora

3 A gold circle for the medallion

4. A cloak. (cloaks are important)

Potentially an eye-mask, but it isn't required. All right-thinking people already have a fedora.

3. You, if you were chosen to be a green lantern.

Okay, this sounds lame, but bear with me:

1. Black pants.

2. A green lantern T-Shirt, available EVERYWHERE.

3. A green lantern ring, or just a green ring. Again, shouldn't be hard to find either online or at a store.

Again, a mask is optional. I just put Baz up there to show that the costume doesn't really need to be all that complicated. Have fun with it.

4. Tony Stark

Not Iron Man, just Tony.

1. Jeans

2. Any shirt that an LED light can show through, or just a tank top.

3. Arc Reactor toy or costume piece. 

4. Fake facial hair or grown facial hair is optional.

Just stick the chest piece under your shirt, and bam, you're basically done.

5. Any superhero t-shirt with normal clothes over it.

Okay, this one takes a bit of imagination and acting. Here's what you need:

1. A t-shirt with a superhero logo on it.

2. A button up shirt.

Now, all you do for the night is wait for people to ask what you are. Before you answer, pretend to hear something in the distance, then dramatically pull open your shirt to reveal the logo, and run off. Or just pull open your shirt dramatically. Either way.

I hope this helps. I will be trying to come up with a women's list shortly.