The Best Cosplay Of Tampa Bay Comic Con 2017

I hope you're ready for some stellar cosplay, gang, because I've got a heaping helping from last weekend's Tampa Bay Comic Con, and I can't even finish this intro because LOOKIE:

"DOGGONE IT, CAS."

This pup won Friday. (Super)Naturally.

TBCC is always a pretty great con: not too crowded, decent panels, and a new-ish convention center with plenty of nearby parking. This year there was another con going the same weekend - and yet another happening next weekend - so the crowds (and cosplay) were definitely less. There also weren't many big celebrity guests to draw folks in, though we did have some excitement Saturday when an "overzealous" Kate Beckinsale fan prompted a police report and drastically increased security measures. By end of day there were police with big guns (automatic rifles, I think?) posted at the floor entrances, and the show hours were extended an hour to compensate for the kerfuffle.

You'd think that might freak people out, but honestly, I think most folks assumed the cops were cosplayers, ha. Of all the places where tactical gear and big guns blend in...

 

Incredible, fully-lit Fallout armor. There was even a functioning fan in back!

Tampa Bay attracts a huge amount of families, and it was nice to see lots and lots (and LOTS) of kids out on the show floor.

Most kids wore store-bought Halloween costumes, but there were plenty of homemade wonders, too:

Not to mention SO MUCH CUTENESS.

Not every little girl wants a poofy skirt, of course. Some want a life-sized dragon dipped in the blood of her enemies:

WHAAAAAT.

See, that's another good thing about less-crowded cons: you can wheel around your own dragon!

Help me out, you in-the-know younglings - I'm not complaining here, but I am curious why fast food icons are suddenly all the rage:

I've seen so many Wendys, Colonels, and Ronalds at conventions this year! Again, not complaining because it's adorable and fun (especially these ones!), but am I missing some new show/game/meme to explain the foodie fad?

An oh-so-lovely Ariel, Kristoff, and Belle:

Yes, Kristoff, you're lovely, too. 

Have I ever mentioned Belle is John's favorite princess? And that he's always asking me to wear more yellow? :D (And I would, but that's a hard color to find!)

I love this Harley's sparkly dress and flower-covered bat:

And the shoes, YES. Plus check out her arm tattoo! So pretty!

BioShock and Corpse Bride representin':

And a double-take worthy Penguin:

Here's something clever *and* comfy: the flying carpet from Aladdin!

The tassels in his hair are a nice touch.

One of the best things about joining a new fandom is how you suddenly recognize more cosplay. So in that vein, behold!

Overwatch heroes! Mercy's lab coat is too cute, and D.Va's cardboard mech is cracking me up.

This Genji, on the other hand, is no laughing matter:

 

Because WOW. So good.

A gorgeous Kida from Atlantis with some Guardians of the Galaxy:

She's Mary Poppins, y'all.

And dancing Groot!

A post shared by Jen Yates (@epbot) on Jul 31, 2017 at 6:45pm PDT

D'aww.

More great kids' costumes:

The girls are Attack on Titan and Gamora from Guardians, and the boys are Pit and Dark Pit from Kid Icarus. [Thanks commenters!]

Fellow Dizgeeks, check it out, Hatbox Ghost!

 
He told me the whole thing fluoresces like crazy under black light, so I can only imagine how the hatbox (and what's inside) must glow. Super cool. 


Hmm, I have too many favorites to fit in one post, so let me wrap up here for now. Stay tuned for the second half, though! And 'til then, I'll leave you with my favorite shot of the whole weekend - though I'll admit I may be a LITTLE biased:

After all, it's not every day sexy Lounge LEGO Batman feeds me lobster.

:D

Coming up next, Iron Merman, the entire cast of Aladdin steampunked, and pin-up versions of Gandalf and Saruman, because HECK YEAH THAT HAPPENED. Stay tuned!