The Hot Men of Cosplay: Part II!

A new day, a new batch of hot geek guys for you to ogle. I know, it’s hard work picking out their hottest pictures, but that’s just the level of professional dedication I have.

A couple people have asked how I picked the people on this list – well, I didn’t really. I’m too lazy to play favorites. What I did do was let people nominate who they thought should be on the list, and then did the article about the people who racked up the most nominations.

Also, in case anyone is worried about the psychological trauma of being interviewed for this blog (anyone? Bueller?) I assure you there was as little creeping as possible.

Well, maybe there was a little creeping.

Onwards to objectification!

First on the visual buffet today is Snake cosplayer Daniel - I met him at GenCon and he smuggled me around in a cardboard box when I didn't want to stop for pictures. 

Does that box make my legs look scrawny? 

Do you get hit on a lot?

All the time when I'm in costume, never when I'm out of costume.

Snake is the far right, just so we're clear.

How do you feel about being hardcore objectified for this article?

I figured if I objected that would only make things worse.

You got that right! What is your definition of a geek?

To paraphrase the Oracle, being a geek is like being in love. No one can tell you you're in love, you just know it. Similarly, no one can tell you you're a geek, you simply are when you know you are.

Being in pictures like this is also a pretty good indicator.

Your idea of a great date:

The one that ends with me not making an idiot out of myself, and has the possibility of a second.

What do you do to relax?

Listen to music, play video games (Just got Child of Eden, and doing another Mass Effect play-through), and go bike riding.

How do you stay in shape?

Due to my lack of six-pack, I sometimes have trouble saying I'm "in shape," but it's really just eating right and exercising. Going on runs, bike rides and lifting weights is just something I've gotten into the habit of doing. Also I can't stand soda and potato chips.

Pictured: chicks repelled by lack of six pack.

Favorite superhero:

Spider-Man, mainly because I grew up watching the cartoon on Fox.

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?

Punch in the face whatever was causing her distress and carry her off into the sunset.

Kirk or Picard?

Picard. Mainly because I didn't watch any of the Kirk episodes, and Picard has this solid determination that screams leadership. I would follow him any day.

Best Bond:

Pierce Brosnan. Come on, how many bonds have also sung in Mama Mia?

I'm not sure that's actually points in his favor...

What's your zombie survival strategy?

Grab a team and head north. Zombies have a harder time surviving in the cold. And if that's not an option, than we'll head to the hardware store and KICK ASS!

"My alternate plan  is to wait it out beneath this cardboard box."

Well, I can definitely think of worse people to have in my zombie survival speed dial than Snake!

Next up is a trio of friends who cosplay everything from Spartans to the cast of Harry Potter – it’s Tonka, Fightstar, and Airborne!

I’m making Tonka go first because – will you believe this – he was shy the first time he cosplayed as a Spartan. Therefore  - set phasers to HARDCORE OBJECTIFY.

When you look like a walking Calvin Klein Does Sparta ad, you don't get to be shy. 

How do you feel about being hardcore objectified for this article?

Kinda funny, I don't think I've ever been objectified before!

Don't worry we'll fix that... I mean, ahem! Most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a significant other:

I proposed to my wife on stage at Cheerleading Camp in front of 2,000 people. We were college cheerleaders together. (All together now... DAWWWWW)

He wasn't joking about the cheerleading camp!

Do you cosplay in the bedroom?

Who doesn’t? Even people who don't cosplay in public do it in bed!

Have you always been a geek?

Absolutely....In second grade I went to the Kennedy Space Center in FL, and instead of going to Disney World the next day, I asked to GO BACK TO THE SPACE CENTER.

What is your definition of a geek?

Someone who does something they love that isn't popular, despite what others think. I also think it's synonymous with being an individual.

Your idea of a great date:

Anything active, I went rock climbing for my last anniversary.

What do you do to relax?

Put in a movie and work on prop relicas, or take out some noobs in COD:BO or GOW2.

How do you stay in shape?

By realizing fitness is a lifestyle, not a phase. Weights and cardio every day.

Most awkward convention moment:

 First time walking out in my 300 Spartan costume. It's one thing to wear it at home, it's a whole nother story trying to hide behind your shield for a whole convention!

Yes, how terribly embarrassing to look that that.

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?

With my hair blowing in the wind and a snappy one-liner before we whisk away. Also, I think there would be some smoldering...yes, definitely some smoldering.

Is my smolder working? 

Kirk or Picard?

Neither....Solo

Best Doctor Who:

Ten (Tennant), but I may be a little biased on that one since I costume as him.

Best Batman:

Christian Bale -- Although I can't stand that stupid cancer voice he talks in when he's the dark knight.

Vampires or Werewolves:

Vampires......yes I like Twilight.....no I'm not gay

I would be about a million times more tolerant of the Twilight movies if  Edward Cullen had that body.

Weapon of choice in a fight?

Myself -- 2 time Korean martial arts world champion

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

I'd like to be a shapeshifter, it would definitely free up a lot of time not having to workout anymore!

What song would you pick as a theme song for your life?

I joke that it would be the Ab Ripper X theme music

Airborne is next, because look what a sexy segue this picture of him and Tonka (and their towel girls) is:

Do you get hit on a lot?

It does happen a lot, but I love to meet new people and make new friends so it's fun. Sometimes I get some strange stalkers, though, and that gets weird. 

How do you feel about being hardcore objectified for this article?

I've come to terms with the fact that I'm a piece of meat LOL

A piece of meat AND an excellent Viktor Krum. Don't sell yourself short.

Most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a significant other:

I killed many Persians at the Battle of Thermopylae 

Do you cosplay in the bedroom?

It's all about the cape 

Have you always been a geek?

I have been a huge geek as far back as I can remember... I'd play RPGs, create costumes, and read sci-fi/fantasy novels any chance I could growing up, and things have not changed much!

What is your definition of a geek?

Someone who has a passion for nerdy things and isn't afraid to pursue what makes them happy.

Female celebrity crush:

Isla Fisher or Amy Adams. Redheads are my secret weakness. Don't tell anyone!

Your secret is safe with us!

Your idea of a great date: 

We'd head to the beach and watch as Xerxes' ships gets dashed upon the rocks of Greece herself. Afterwards, we'd make a wall out of dead Persian soldiers, and then topple said wall on the supposed "Immortals" that serve the God-King. We could also share a few of the apples I brought along!

I'll bring her some apples. Bitches love apples.

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

Minimal time, really. Most delays are due to my cat, Tiger, as he doesn't like it when I leave for work (and stop rubbing his belly!)

You're leaving meeeeeeee?

What do you do to relax?

I love to read, everything from graphic novels to sci-fi, and everything in between. 

How do you stay in shape?

Lots and lots of hard work alongside my brothers and sisters in the Spartan forum. I've never met a better group of people, we keep each other accountable and go through serious workouts each week. It's a constant battle.

I'm battling the urge to drool on my keyboard

Most awkward convention moment:

Stalkers. Who knew there were so many? 

(I knew!)


Favorite superhero:

Wolverine, by far. Something about him resonates with me.

Is it the claws, the screaming, or Jean Grey? We may never know.

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?

Sharing this secret would spoil 3 of my zombie plans. 

 Vampires or Werewolves:

Real ones! Vampires don't glitter and Werewolves don't date babies. They eat them. Mmm, so tender!

What's your zombie survival strategy?

 I have 37 different zombie plans.... 36 of which include using my pal Griff as a meat shield.

Weapon of choice in a fight?

Vera, my Callahan Fullbore Autoloc

Show my gun some love, dammit!

What song would you pick as a theme song for your life?

I don't know about theme song, but Fight Club is the theme movie for my life. Life isn't about how much money you make or how expensive of a car you drive. Life is so much more. Don't waste it!

And to round out this terrific and tantalizing trio of tasty…damn, I ran out of T-words. Anyway, here’s Fightstar, who looks way more like the Old Spice guy than any mortal man should.

That's just not fair.

Do you get hit on a lot?
At the conventions yes, a bit. At home back away from all the wonders of the awesome people no. That is why I am a single guy. No one understands how the art of costuming and all things geek is my mistress.

How do you feel about being hardcore objectified for this article?
Pretty DAMN good! Simply it's like this. Look at all the conventions that happen. All these lovely ladies looking good and getting their bodies and/or costumes right. Well, what's out there for them? Where is their 'eye candy'? It's not the sole reason, but it helps be get up at 5 am in the morning to run 4 miles to stay in shape. Helps me deny that doughnut or cake because there is nothing sweeter than the smile of a woman with nerdom in her heart.

What kind of drink do you get when you go out?
Tigers blood with a splash of unicorn's horn

Did we mention he does the fire spinning thing? Major hotness points. *PUN!*

Have you always been a geek?
Oh yes! I was born a geek for sure. While most people know me as this 8-pack stud I was not always this way. I have been playing on computers since I the tandy 1000. Only reason I learned DOS was to play video games like defender. Watching 'Doctor Who' with my dad, which I blame him for most of this. We bult PCs together and watch sci-fi shows like Star Trek.

What is your definition of a geek?
Someone who knows there is no power that is not knowledge. Also someone who would say this a give credit to 'Mortal Kombat' for learning it.

Female celebrity crush:
Sofia Vergara, Michelle  Rodriguez and milla jovovich. They are women who know their power and use it for awesome on a daily basis.

Your idea of a great date:
A woman who truly loves me for me and knows her awesomeness. Once we are together then adventure unravels on its own. Of course going to the local art gallery, seeing some performance art and at the end of the day relax on the porch with a cold one together.

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
I'm always ready!

Spartans cannot be caught off guard!

What do you do to relax?
when I'm not costuming and working out like a mad man I like watching cartoon network, video games, movies and listing to some smooth electronic music on pandora or somafm.com

How do you stay in shape?
Metal, blood and thunder!

There is no costume the fandom cannot sexify.

Most awkward convention moment:
Dallas, Tx, All-con. Dressed as SSgt Apone with some of my other friends. I start bustin' a move with my lady friends then move busted right down my pants. Yep right in front of my Spartan Texas friends and almost in front of the 6 Japanese guests we had at the party. So embarssing that there are photos and I will never run for President. The pants have a battle scar since that day and I have set a new standard in pants. Pants are pants unless they are Fightstar proof.

Favorite superhero:
There are many superheroes. The ones in my relm are my mother and father. My mother came from a foreign country to America and became more than what she was just like Superman. My father was a Green Beret so he worked for G.I. Joe. Nuff said

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?
You could do it with courage, strength and humility. However, I have learned that many times the damsel needs to be the one to rescue herself because you will just be getting in the way.

Best Doctor Who:
The Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker. He was my first Doctor.

And you never forget your first Doctor!
Vampires or Werewolves:
Cyborgs. Especially the ones that ride unicorns.

What's your zombie survival strategy?
Aside from Cardio I need to have 3 things. Guns, crafting skills, the intangable qualities that make a leader. The first and last are easy enough, but the crafting skills is important. To many times in zombie films and tv everyone has guns, but never stops to make armor, craft other items or even break into a library for books on electronics. 

It takes more than a zombie apocalypse to intimidate Nick Fury.

What song would you pick as a theme song for your life?

There are many. Life cannot be contained by one song, but if I have to pick one. The Anvil of Crom.

The Anvil of Crom, you say? You know who looks like he was sculpted by the hand of Crom? Barbarian Dave!

He looks like an action figure. Seriously, how is that possible?

Do you get hit on a lot?   

Almost never.  No big surprise there.  Have you seen me?!

You're pretty hard to miss! What are you, like eight feet tall?

Maybe nine feet.

How do you feel about being hardcore objectified for this article?

Flattered.  But mostly surprised.  Especially at my age.

His Age of Conan, that is. Haha!

Most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a significant other: 

I'm not very romantic, but I used to buy my ex wife lots of presents.  Before last Dragoncon I surprised her with an $1800.00 necklace just because I wanted to do something nice for her.

Do you cosplay in the bedroom?  

Never.  And I'm not a fan of the term "cosplay".  I prefer "costumer".

Have you always been a geek? 

I don't think so.  I sorta drifted in and out of the category.  I think I'm here to stay now though.

What is your definition of a geek?  

To me a geek is someone who is as passionate about science/technology and or fantasy storytelling and all that goes with it as many people are about sports, religion or politics etc.

Female celebrity crush:

Don't have one.  I prefer women I've actually seen or met to entertain thoughts of that nature.

 Your idea of a great date:  

A beautiful woman with a fun personality.  Meeting other friends for dinner with interesting conversation and lots of laughter.  A drive home discussing the aforementioned dinner.  Hopping in the pool for a late night swim and whatever happens from there.

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?  

One hour to shower, eat, gather days food and change of clothes and get Stimpy the pug harnessed in the passenger seat for the drive to work.

All together now: DAWWWWWWWWWW

What do you do to relax? 

I take naps.  Even a 10 minute nap is good for me.

 How do you stay in shape?  

Four 1 hour weightlifting sessions a week.  A little bit of cardio if I'm getting ready to be Conan at a con.

Most awkward convention moment:  

Oh man.  There have been a few.  One I'm willing to tell happened at SDCC and there are several pictures of it online.  I was in the main hall of Comic Con dressed in full Conan gear waiting for my turn at the ATM.  It was a long line so I had plenty of time to notice that people with cameras were lingering around waiting my turn as Conan to use the cash machine.  And I don't blame them because it's a humorous photo.  But I was getting nervous and to make things worse I have two debit cards with different PIN codes.  Of course I got them mixed up and had to re-do the whole procedure, looking like an even bigger dumbass. hah!  I felt like a complete tool. lol.  One of the pics was used in a blog about technology and I was thrilled when I stumbled across it.

"Ahhh, my favorite brooding throne!"

Favorite superhero:  

Conan by a long shot.  Followed by Punisher and Thor.

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?  

With all of the grace, competence, and athletic agility of Inspector Clouseau.

Best Bond: 

Superglue and fingers.  Virtually inseparable.  Any costumer knows this. ;-)

Best Batman: 

Adam West

Vampires or Werewolves:  

Zombies.  No wait….Cyborgs.  Cyborg Zombies!

Weapon of choice in a fight?  

Disagreement - empty hands for grabbing and pounding.  Life or death - 12 gauge riot gun.  Against zombie Vikings - spiked mace.

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

Ideally to be like Thor.  But super strength if I had to narrow it down.

I don't know if it counts if you already have that power, Dave!

Dave is a tough act to follow, but I think his friend and fellow costumer Monkey of Steel is up to the task...

Challenge accepted.

Do you get hit on a lot?

From time to time. depends on if i'm having a pretty day or not.

How do you feel about being hardcore objectified for this article?

Feels like my last relationship. hah!

Most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a significant other:

I proposed at Dragon Con in front of our friends with a custom made Harley Quinn styled ring.

Everyone...on three.... DAWWWWWW.

The couple that cosplays together, stays together?

Do you cosplay in the bedroom?

Totally, i'm a snorlax. after a big meal, i pass out and snore like crazy.

Aw yeah, gonna need an Ultra Ball for you, buddy.

Have you always been a geek?

I've always prided myself on being a bit of a geek. i was a Superman fan when i was little, along with the cartoons of the time, and of course... star trek.

What is your definition of a geek?

When an argument in a marriage consist of the secret origins of a character, their powers, or their suit.

Female celebrity crush:

Christina Ricci. Grown up Wednesday Adams... yes. please. and thank you..

No arguments from me. Me-ow. 

Your idea of a great date:

Comic book store, Sushi, and cuddling on the couch in a cold house while watching a zombie flick.

What do you do to relax?

ooo... i love falling asleep watching cartoons

How do you stay in shape?

---- shape? this is all CGI.

God bless CGI, then!

Most awkward convention moment:

Old woman asking if "that" was "all me"...i guess when you reach a certain age, you just stop caring and start getting curious! haha!

Favorite superhero:

I have an affinity towards Superman, though i mostly resemble batman in my training and education.

An uncanny resemblance indeed.

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?

awesomely. probably very showy. i'm a bit of a stage hog.

Kirk or Picard?

Picard. he did everything that kirk did and his voice was a bajillion times better.

Best Doctor Who:

ya know... i really enjoyed Peter Davison.

Best Bond:

there's one besides Sean Connery?

Vampires or Werewolves:

I'm leaning more toward werewolves... vamps used to have the edge... then they started sparkling.

What's your zombie survival strategy?

Omega Man strategy. I'm less than a half mile from gun stores, a walmart, a home depot and an autozone. first sign of issues. guess who's making a home generator powered out of a bike and sets of car batteries? a hole in the floor of above me allows me to take out my neighbors and and usurp their stuff, also putting me higher up. after barricading the lower level with the wood i have for prop making, i destroy the stairs leading down from the top level, making a stronger, more secure area.

Weapon of choice in a fight?

my fists.... Jabby and Punchy.

"Also my claws and fluffy ears!"

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

If i were? what do you mean if i were??? what have you heard??? DON'T BELIEVE THAT WOMAN AT THE DAILY PLANET!!!

And to close out our Tour de Hawt Nerd, we have Kalel NC Sean!

Do you get hit on a lot?

Not that I know of. I'm horrible at signals. If someone wants to, they need to be straight forward. 

How do you feel about being hardcore objectified for this article?
Perfectly fine with it. I was the outcast and ugly duckling all through school so I'm ready for some objectification. 

Most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a significant other:
Sang to her at our wedding. (No longer married btw)

Sad awwww....

Have you always been a geek?
Absolutely, always have been, always will be.

What is your definition of a geek?
Well for me it's those of us who were/are into the RPG's, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Comics, etc, but that is becoming mainstream so it's hard to say what Geek will mean in the future.

In the future, geeks will be green!

Your idea of a great date:

Not so much about what we do as long as we're having a great time in each other's company. Though I am partial to high adrenaline rides/adventures.

What do you do to relax?
TV shows. Too many to list. I could so be a full time couch potato.

I'm guessing one of those shows is "True Blood"

How do you stay in shape?

Spilt body routine with weights and interval cardio training. Also calorie reduction during the week. Would love to learn some Parkour.

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?
Need more info. Give me a situation that I'd have to figure something out.  Though wouldn't mind having to use my Krav Maga skills.

Kirk or Picard?
Picard. I grew up on TNG.

Best Bond:
Sean Connery. I'm named after him.

Vampires or Werewolves:
Vampires hands down! And not that crappy sparkly kind.

What's your zombie survival strategy?
Preparation, preparation, preparation. That and outwitting the person next to me. 

"These Wolverine claws will be perfect for decapitating zombies!"

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?
Complete Psychokinesis (all the mind powers) that or Teleportation like they had in Jumper, in that I can bring people/stuff along with me.

Well it’s been fun, people! A big thank you to all our victims participants for their patience, good humor, cooperation... and their dedication to being eye candy fitness. I look forward to doing Part III one day.

That, and forcing my own boy to join the ranks of cosplay hotties. Oh, a girl can dream...

The Hot Men of Cosplay: Part I!

We see lists of sexy female cosplayers all the time, but not so many of the male cosplayers… What’s up with that? Our geek brothers need love too! And, let’s be honest, seeing hot guys cosplay brings joy to the hearts of lady convention attendees. We’re just more discreet about leering  (sometimes)

Now because I love leering at shirtless dudes promoting fairness and equal opportunity objectification, I tracked down 11 cosplayers and subjected them to a mini interview (with pictures!)

So without further ado, I give you….                                                       The Hot Men of Cosplay: Part I!

First up is Alex Rae, who’s well known for his Christopher Reeve-esque good looks and spot on Superman costume.

Seriously, he manages to look like all the best parts of Christopher Reeves AND  Brandon Routh

How do you feel about being hardcore objectified for this article?

About as comfortable as taking a raw steak past a hungry lion…

Rawr! I promise I won’t bite. Have you always been a geek?

Nope, kinda got thrown into this level of Geekdom. it has been a lot of fun and very enjoyable so I keep doing it, have been for the past year.

Do you cosplay in the bedroom?

No, still waiting for lois

Must…not…make…”Superman that ho” joke…

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?

VIA Quest- just like Shrek did to Fiona. Fire, dangerous perils, Dragons.

Favorite superhero?

Tie between TMNT and Scooby-Doo, if either of those classify as "a superhero"

What do you do to relax?

Ride the motorcycle, get some good gym time in

How do you stay in shape?

Diet is everything- paired with going to the gym and actually breaking a sweat. over the past year I have worked out with a variety of different individuals who have different techniques and methods that work for them in search of what works for my body. Parading around in tights is a privilege.

More like our privilege! 

Most awkward convention moment:

I got petted by a 13 year old red headed fat round boy once. I have never been so scared or felt so out of place while wearing the costume.

What song would you pick as a theme song for your life?

one of the songs from pixars, Cars about open roads, thats my life currently: living by the moment and having fun in everything I do.

Well I'm definitely having fun. More shirt ripping, I say!

Next we have Beat Down Boogie’s very own comedic hotties, Snake and Ghost! Also known as Matt Sumner and Brian Lee. You've seen them in "Snake and Ghost do Dragon*con 2010" and the popular YouTube series "Modern Warfare 2 meets Metal Gear Solid"

Because I love a man in a mask, let's start with Brian/Ghost!

Do you get hit on a lot?

-Quite often by Sumner, but it’s ok. The fights are scripted and the punches only look real. Oh wait, you meant in a romantic sense? The answer is still yes. Micah is quite…oh. By women? *sigh* no. *whimper*

How do you feel about being hardcore objectified for this article?

-I’m currently topless. Does that answer your question?

Do you cosplay in the bedroom?

-There was this one time I tried to. I had the Ghost mask on and knocked on the window. I'm not sure why she didn't open it. She just screamed and ran…

Have you always been a geek?

-010110010110010101110011

How do you stay in such amazing shape?

Martial arts, weights, running, climbing, parkour...I'm a big fan of action verbs.

Suddenly I am also a huge fan of action verbs...

Brian Lee's Action Reel 2011 from Matthew Sumner on Vimeo.
(more action verbs at work)

Most awkward convention moment:

-Ah, my first Dragon*Con. I remember trying to kick a friend in the butt. I missed. I ended up flat on my back, laughing hysterically, in the middle of floor of the Hyatt. Alcohol may or may not have been involved.

I'm gonna go ahead and guess yes. 

Favorite superhero:

-Batman. He's the pinnacle of what a normal human can do...well, a normal human with a deathwish and a multibillion dollar budget.

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?

-I got out of the rescue business. The Princess was always in another castle.

"Put my princess in another castle, will you?"

Best Doctor Who:

-Tom Baker.

Weapon of choice in a fight?

-Matt Sumner.

Which very neatly brings us to…

Matt:

 Do you get hit on a lot?

hmm, well, I am a martial artist… ohh wait! You mean from the ladies… well, we do have some of those in class too. ;)

Most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a significant other:

Valentines Day = Bubble bath + rose petals just for her.

What is your definition of a geek?

hmm, if you know what a vorpal longsword of wounding +5 is and that it does 1D8 +5 (19/20 x2) + your str mod = damage is….. yeah I think you'd qualify.

Your idea of a great date:

A great date would have to be one that just works out. One that you're not watching the clock. And one you don't want to end. It won't matter where or what you did. The great date would be just being with the person you're with.

How do you stay in shape?

Running, weight training, and martial arts.

How his shirts contain all that bicep and pec muscle will remain a mystery.

Matthew Sumner's Action Reel 2011 from Matthew Sumner on Vimeo.
(putting all those muscles to excellent use)

Most awkward convention moment:

I really don't have one …… yet….. I usually create those moments for others.

Favorite superhero:

Batman. Or Matman, as I like to call him. ;)

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?

Stealthily. Neither she or her captors would know what happened. She would wake up and wonder if her capture was a dream. I'm not sure I'd stick around to talk to the press either. OK, yeah, that does answer the superhero question again.

Kirk or Picard?

Picard.

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

Time Stop.

Vampires or Werewolves:

Hunters of both. Armed with "cross" bows, silver weapons, and other nasty gear for slaying their kind.

Oooh, good answer.

Ready to beat down some supernatural punks.

You can see what Matt and Brian are up to at Beat Down Boogie’s Facebook page and Youtube Channel

Up next is a fan favorite at Dragon*con, known for his gorgeous long hair and propensity for wearing leather kilts, it’s TheKiltGuy!  

Do you get hit on a lot? 
If I am in public, yup. So 95% of the time, not at all (I live in a very remote area).

It's so remote he can stand outside and do that without bringing the hordes of screaming fangirls.

Most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a significant other:
Romance-novel-esque: Cooked an elaborate meal, took her to a musical play (her favorite show), gave her a lengthy massage, and retired with a promise to see her the next evening.
Yeah, yeah, stereotypical. But hey, don't knock the classics. They work for a reason.

Have you always been a geek?
*considers* Yup. As far back as I can remember.

What is your definition of a geek?
Someone interested in non-mainstream pursuits, yet still has social skills. 
Geeks are often highly intelligent, and generally eccentric and/or quirky.
Nerds can have intelligence and similar pursuits, but tend to lack social skills.

Female celebrity crush: 
Bianca Beauchamp. Ok, not a normal geek-worthy celebrity, but come on! Have you seen her?
(He's got a point)

Your idea of a great date:
Good food, something silly to make us laugh, and then extravagance in the bedroom.

How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
Normal day: About 30 minutes (wake up, brush teeth, take puppy on a walk)
Con day: usually closer to 90 minutes. Costuming, makeup, and such takes time. Especially self-corsetry.

What do you do to relax?
Lift weights, run, beat people with heavy objects
So what do you to do work out...oh, nevermind. 


Most awkward convention moment:

Being kilt checked by a very cute girl and having her be crushed that I did not recognize her (actress/convention guest).   
                                                                                                                 And then having to pretend that I knew who she was for the remainder of the con.

To be fair, I'd kilt check that too.

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?
Kill my way to the main bad guy, get him drunk, and win the girl in a poker game.

Barring that, bitch-slap him into submission, get HER drunk, and then carry her off.


Best Bond: 
*blinks* There is a choice? Shurly you musht be joking. There are no Bonds other than the one true Connery.


Vampires or Werewolves:
Error. Too many variables. Search parameters must be narrowed.
ie - Give me a mythology/style/framework to go off of. There are WAY too many interpretations to answer off the top of my head.
But no Twilight.

Weapon of choice in a fight?

Sir Snortimer (aka - "Snort"). My bull yak. 

I really need to get around to training him to be a riding and attack yak. It would make the whole "barbarian warlord" thing ever so much easier (and awesome).

All hail our barbarian overlord! Applications to be in the harem will be taken now.

What's your zombie survival strategy?
I live in the middle of nowhere and am rather self-sufficient. 
Pretty much my strategy is: 
A) Hang around the farm & kill the few zombies that might show up (or let my pet yaks do it for me)
 Wait a couple of months for the zombies life cycle to complete
C) Take over the remaining population & rule the world


So if zombies attack, I'm crashing with this guy.

And last, but certainly not least, my Star Wars soul mate, Fanservice Anakin.

How he earned the name "Fanservice Anakin"

"Fanservice Fisto" unfortunately does not have the same ring to it

Do you get hit on a lot?  

Sometimes.  Most of the time by old women or younger girls ;)  I'm the president of the teenage girl fan club...

Have you always been a geek?  

Yes, I have pictures of me with glasses and braces at conventions when I was 13.  

Proof that how awkward you are as a teen has no bearing on how hot you'll grow up to be

What is your definition of a geek?  

Somebody who is passionate about something nerdy. Most people are geeks in some way. 

Your idea of a great date:

Dinner and a movie.  As long as there is chemistry between the two of us, we could be doing anything and I'll have a good time

.
How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

Like...20 minutes.  I don't even comb my hair, I just put my hat on.

What do you do to relax?  

Go in the hot tub, watch movies, hang out with friends.

How do you stay in shape?  

I work out everyday, eat healthy, make sure I watch the biggest loser (for motivational purposes, of course)

Most awkward convention moment:  

Hmmm probably being hunted down from across the convention center and dragged out into the foyer for a picture ;)  It wasn't really that awkward, but it was definitely something memorable.  Who was that again?

Yeah, who was that creeper??

Could my dorky, "oh sweet I'm standing next to hottie anakin" grin be any wider?

If you had to rescue the damsel in distress, how would you do it?

Under Harry Potter's invisibility cloak.

Why was movie Ron not this hot? WHY?

Vampires or Werewolves:

I like Vampires better except in Twilight...yes, I am team Jacob.

Weapon of choice in a fight?

Lightsabers count, right?  If not lightsabers then I'd have to say some sort of dagger type thing.  

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

Telekinesis.  That way I can be lazy and just get things with my mind. 

Like this!

What song would you pick as a theme song for your life?  

uh...the Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)
Well, I guess that was a no brainer. 

All right! Part II will be posted tomorrow, and you can look forward to a trio of spartans, another Snake cosplayer, and my favorite barbarian ever, Gwarpig Dave! 

Origins 2011

Last year, Tanner and I attended Origins for the first time. I was going as part of the D20 girls, and Tanner was going because he wanted to binge himself on games. We had a pretty fabulous time, so we were definitely looking forward to this year’s trip. It’s really nice being able to remain close with someone you’ve dated, especially when that means you can continue to beat their ass down in games. Yay friendship!

(Tanner would like it known that he won 50% of the games, so perhaps *someone* is taking a few creative licenses with her claims of ass kicking)

Origins isn’t going to get a day-by-day breakdown, because honestly, I was working most of the time, and that cannot be interesting to read about. So here’s an overall blurb about it!

The drive up was nice – we stopped in Tamarack for dinner, which was fantastic. West Virginia is really pretty but Ohio roads suck balls. If anyone ever asks you to road trip through Ohio, run away as fast as you can.

Working for GAMA was pretty neat, my first day I helped with the guest breakfast, which was fun. Basically, you pay for breakfast, and you get to eat and hang out with some of the con guests, which is prime time to pick their brains with all those questions you didn’t get to lay on them at their last panel. It was a nice way to interact with the guests, much more intimate and low key than you normally get. And I got to see my friends Tim and Anna and Ed and Destini! The rest of the day, I was in the game library, so I got to play a bunch of award nominated games. Oh, the grueling labor…  “Zombie Dice” was cute:

Roll three dice at a time, eat brains, do not get killed by shotgun!

and “Last Call” was a big hit. 

Compete with your friends to see who can make their drinks the fastest and most efficiently!

I also worked in the theme bar Saturday night, where we played my new favorite game “Three Dragon Ante” (sort of the love child of Dungeons and Dragons and poker)

The rules don't condense well, so let's just go with "play poker with dragons!"

Gambling games bring out the worst in me, as you can tell by my (wooden monocle) dastardly villain moustache!

 and I got to talk to a lot of cool cats and was introduced to a fun and silly little card game called “Godzilla Stomp!” 

Throw down a semi-random card! Get points! 

It wasn’t all fun and games though! I manned the volunteer booth for a day, and as you might expect, there weren’t a ton of people wanting to sign up to volunteer while they were rushing from one game to the next.  The Secret Service showed up and jammed everyone’s wireless (including cell phones) as they ushered Vice President Biden to a speech at the convention center, so I was promoted from “gopher” to “messenger pigeon”. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to sprint through a convention center in a corset, let me tell you, it’s not quite Baywatch-in-slow-motion-sexy.

The highlight for me was running a game demo in the miniatures room for Faultline Studios, called DADOS. It’s Spanish for “dice”, and it’s a fairly simple strategy/luck game where you roll dice and place them to try and “win” a tile by having the most points on it at the start of your next turn. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins – but some of the tiles help you and some of them don’t, so it’s a gamble as to which tiles you try to win. It’s the kind of game that’s easy to learn and tricky to play well – there’s a few permutations in strategy, and a lot of it depends on your opponent as well.  And, I may or may not have gotten owned by a 9 year old.

Tanner’s views on Origins were somewhat different, since he was attending as a regular person having fun. In typical concise Tanner fashion, his review is thus: less people and less free stuff than last year (from when Rio Grande Games was sponsoring the board game room, I guess?). Still a really good supply of games to play, still a really good dealer room. Not as much interesting scheduled stuff. Good panels. Really cool miniatures set up. Got to game with people from last year, which was cool. Less going on at night and everything shut down earlier. Had a lot of fun and the attendees were really nice. Recommended games: Fiasco, Confusion.

Thanks, Tanner!

Also interesting is watching Origins work on accommodating a younger crowd – this year, the theme was “steampunk”, and there were so many more costumes than last year! It probably helps that steampunk is one of the few genres of costuming that’s comfortable to sit and game in for several hours…

Anyway, we had a good time, and we’ll be back next year! To everyone I saw at Origins, I wish we could have had more time to hang out! You must forgive my workaholic  tendencies. V_V

Till the next con! <3 

ConCarolinas 2011

About four years ago, I attended ConCarolinas for the first time. It was my first real convention experience – I met the Mandalorian Mercs and the 501^st, placed “Most Original” in the costume contest (my first costume contest, I was so nervous I couldn’t stop bouncing on the balls of my feet) and met many of the people I consider good friends today.

This year, I attended ConCarolinas as a guest, and I reflected on how far I’ve come in the convention scene. After about 30 seconds of introspection, I decided that was enough, and got on with the con. Because who has time to stand around gazing thoughtfully off into the distance when ConCarolinas awaits?

Thursday Night/Friday Morning (Con Prep)

4am photoshopping and costume wrangling and printing and oh god why did I leave all this to the last minute I regret my decision making. I crash for a couple hours, wake up, try to pack things, and lack the presence of mind to pack things like shorts and toothpaste. Nevertheless, eventually I hit the road with a vendor friend, and without a map or gps but with a great deal of overconfidence we take off for Charlotte.

Friday Afternoon

We drive past the convention hotel

Friday Afternoon, a few minutes later

Vendor friend does not have any booth help. I am charged with the dubious pleasure of helping him set up and organize.

Fridays at conventions are usually a bit slow, although ours is a combination of frantic unpacking and sitting around waiting for traffic in the dealers’ room to pick up. I actually have a little half table out in the hallway this year, so I set up my table and camp out, hoping to sell some prints. Roughly half the convention comes up with the exceedingly witty “Hey Chainmail Chick, where’s your chainmail?” Yeah, I’d like to see you people set up a 10x10 booth in a metal bikini.

I have no Friday panels, so I thoroughly intend to run around and cause havoc after hours. SpaceJesus, Padawan Clayton, and a few friends come out to eat. The nice little Mexican restaurant is half filled with normal people eating dinner with their family on a Friday night, and half filled with steampunk couples and leather-clad dragons.

After dinner, we crashed the panel SpaceJesus was moderating, “How to Write a Sex Scene”. If they have the same panel next year with the same guests, I will totally attend again, because it might as well have been called “The Panel of Thinly Veiled Sexual Innuendos And Also Some Useful Writing Advice.”  Angela and I sat against the wall and snickered every time they said “hard”. (there were way better double entendres but you really just had to be there!) 

Unfortunately, this is about where my steam ran out, and I went back to the room and crashed. My posse did way better than me and stayed out talking and having pillow fights and gaming (although to be fair, they didn’t have a 10am Saturday panel)

Saturday

OH BALLS 10AM PANEL. I wake up sick and manage to only be slightly late to my panel and successfully did not puke on any of the panelists. “Budget Costuming” had Brian Holloway, Mandalore the Uniter, Kirsten of the Bibbering Humdingers, cutie actor Michael R. Williams, and myself, basically explaining how to do costuming on the cheaps. While my initial suggestions would include “wear practically nothing” and “make it out of duct tape”, it was actually a very informative panel with a lot of good tips.

Useful Tips for Those Who Slept In Like I Wish I Could Have

1. Invest in good tools, it’s better to have the right tool you need that will last you for a while than the wrong tool or a cheap tool than needs replacing. (Air brushes, hammers, dremels…)
2. With good costuming, you either have to sink in a lot of time or a lot of money. Be patient. Wait for good deals on things you need. Scour ebay, etsy, craigslist, etc.
3. A good paint job will get you far. With the right materials, you can make plastic look like weathered metal and turn a water gun into a steampunk ray gun or a
4.     Join costuming groups, make friends, and ask around! With so many veteran costumers, there’s always someone who’s willing to help you out or give advice on products and techniques. And even newbie costumers might discover a good resource or trick that everyone else hasn’t heard of.

Lots of sitting around at my table – my younger but taller sister Alyssa was supposed to be there, but family matters kidnapped her from me. I learned a couple things while sitting at my table, namely that I hate sitting at tables. I wanted to be out and about and enjoying the con! I harassed some of the Mandos into coming over to my table so I could leer at them and got some priceless footage out of it :D

Also, SpaceJesus continued our feud by putting a bounty on my head – basically you pay the Mercs a fee, give them a description, and they hunt down your friends and stick them in a cage. But it’s all for charity! Which means that they can’t leave the cage without seeming like an uncharitable douchebag. Ha HA!

The Mandos arrested me first. Now, last year, I was wearing Organic Armor, which is designed for actors and dancers and is super lightweight and flexible. I made a daring and roguish escape and eluded capture for a good fifteen minutes or so. This year, I was wearing gold scale mail all over, and was about as stealthy as a tapdancer wearing jingle bells. Emma and Cord cornered me and brought me in. Curses!

Daphne fed me French fries through the cage bars and smuggled me a sword, which I used to harass my guards. Eventually I attained freedom again, and promptly put a counter bounty on SpaceJesus. It took the Mercs a while to find him, and he hoped to evade them because he was in a panel, but he underestimated the galaxy’s fiercest bounty hunters! One of the Mercs came in and sat next to him for the entire panel just so he could arrest SpaceJesus when the panel got out. Ah, sweet vengeance.

Next up was the “Sci Fi Whose Line Is It Anyway?” panel. Now, a quick bit of info, I love that show more than anything, so when I saw the panel on the list, I begged and pleaded to get on it. And glad I did, because it was one of the most fun panels I’ve ever done! We had three authors, including Harry Turtledove, and one of the guys from the Geek Comedy Tour, who more or less carried the show with his awesome improv skills. We played “Interrogation”, where we found out that author Edward McKeown stole William Shatner’s hair, I got to choose from three bachelors  in “Let’s make a date” and passed over Kirk and Batman in favor of Mario. (unfortunately, when he came to pick me up, I was in another castle). There was an infomercial selling holodecks with complimentary commemorative Princess Diana plates, and ended with a  round of superheroes, where the Hatless Avenger was called upon to prevent a mass of tiny poodles from slamming into the earth and bringing about an adorable apocalypse. He was aided by Captain Thinks His Feet Are Hands And His Hands Are Feet, Miss I Whip My Hair Back and Forth, The Man Who Writes His Way Out of Things, and Only Wears a Bikini Girl. (Guess which one I was)

Next was a quick stop by the fabled con suite, which was run by Caterer X and his talented team of minions this year. I grabbed a bowl of tasty jambalaya (just the thing for the perpetually cold blooded like myself!) and a roast beef sandwich au jus. The only downside to our feast was that the con had forbidden any food to leave the room because…well, I wasn’t super clear on why, because all I saw food-wise from the hotel was the bar, but there was some sort of competing issue. Which meant that everyone who stopped by the con suite had to jam into one tiny room and eat as quickly as they could so there was more room for the next people to come in.  

Later on, I judged the costume contest, aided by Podcasting Rich, my friends Angela and Kelly, and Conor McCullagh. It was a fun contest, with some cute skits – I cannot emphasize how much better costume contests are when you have a witty skit. Otherwise it’s just a bunch of people strolling across the stage with a few awkward pauses. On the flip side, the painful skits are painful…

After the costume contest, I had a panel on fetish costuming. Honestly, I could think of at least half a dozen people better qualified to speak on that panel, because fetish costuming (to me) is very glam and accessorized and on a good day I can sort of manage to put regular amounts of eyeliner on and maybe match my socks. However, it ended up becoming a hodgepodge of stories about cons and personal experiences, and I was the only person on the panel who’s ever had to match their pasties to their see through bikini, so I felt much better about being there!

The fetish costuming panel ran from 10pm-12am, which meant I missed Geek Comedy Tour’s 10pm show (NERTS, I WANTED TO SEE THAT), but we ended the panel a little early on account of the fact that it was drinking o’clock and everyone wanted to hit up the room parties.

Room parties continued to be great! I think we spent most of our time in ConTemporal’s party, but we had a blast at the Deep South Con/Lunar Party (who always has these AMAZING chocolate covered peanut butter balls) and Illogicon’s delicious brownie party. Sadly, Professor Schrodington was not in attendance at Illigicon’s party, but we hung out with several of the artists (in my experience, artists are great partiers) and discovered that one of the Mando Mercs has uber self-styling anime hair.  

Sunday

 I think the 11am panel was even harder to get up for than the 10am panel! Just means the parties were fun ;)

The  11am panel was called “Should I Quit My Day Job”, and it was basically about making that leap from hobbyist/part timer to making your passion your full time career. Since the panel had six writers, it was geared a bit more towards people trying to finish that first or second novel and make it big so they can stop working the 9-5 they mildly despise.

Let me sum up the panel for you: Should you quit your day job? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

In a nutshell, unless you have hit it big, and can pay your insurance, mortgage, car payments, bills, etc  with your earnings, you’re better off keeping the 9-5 for the benefits and trucking along with the novel as a side job. Many published authors (in fact, almost all of the ones on the panel) have to keep a regular job (or have a spouse who does) because the average yearly earnings for an author who is doing well are somewhere around a low starting salary for an entry level 9-5 job.

Dreams crushed yet? Good, goooood. (Mine were squished a bit, but I’m not completely banking on being a writer.)

12pm panel was a quick sketch contest, which was actually moderated by someone else, so I drew my panther with my typical stick figure elegance and scooted out of there.

This con report is getting a bit long, so suffice to say that it went by too fast and I’m already looking forward to next year! Pics can be seen here. 

Things I Heard Were Good But Did Not Get To Experience Personally:

1. The gaming. The good folks of MACE hosted much of the gaming, with help from S.C.A.R.A.B, and everyone must have done a good job because one of my friends was out every night till 4am playing games.
2. The guests. John Billingsley and Bonita Friedericy were apparently incredibly funny and supremely down to earth and friendly. Always good to have fun media guests!
3. Geek Comedy Tour! Nuff said.
4. Ghost Trek, Charlotte’s home brewed horror/supernatural/comedy series based around a paranormal reality show.

Things That Might Need a Bit of Work:

1.       The art room/back hallway is the least trafficked (and coldest!) area of the con, which is frustrating for guests and artists trying to sell their stuff. Other than that, I got nothing!

Edit: OH OH! Randy Richards made this awesome video of the con: