Posted in: Comics, Cosplay | Tagged: cosplay, cosplay spotlight, deadshot, gambit, Hey Jay, HRL, Kakashi, Kiba, The Food Chain

Cosplay Double Feature: Hey Jay Cosplay and Brandon Banks of The Food Chain

Continuing on with our Cosplay Spotlights for this month, inspired by the fantastic #28DaysofBlackCosplay, we have two more fantastic artists! Check out Hey Jay Cosplay and Brandon Banks of The Food Chain below!

Hey Jay Cosplay

BC: How long have you been cosplaying? What interested you in cosplaying?

I finally mustered up my courage to do my first cosplay in 2014. I was always interested in doing it, but when my friend said she would do it with me that pushed me to a definite yes. Having a friend's support was very helpful; it made me feel comfortable!

BC: What's your favorite cosplay?

My favorite cosplay has to be a tie between Kakashi from Naruto and Gambit from X-Men. I love putting my spin on characters in general, but I really felt like a part of myself was in those cosplays too!

BC: What do you find challenging about the cosplay community? What would you like to see change?

I would like to reinforce that cosplay is for everyone. How people choose to express themselves or who they choose to cosplay, as in no poor taste, should not be looked down upon.

BC: What's your most memorable moment?

When I was Bakugo and my friend was Deku from My Hero Academia. These two kids ran up to us SO EXCITED and it just warmed my heart.

You can find Hey Jay on FB and Instagram!

Brandon Banks of The Food Chain

BC: How long have you been cosplaying? What interested you in cosplaying?

I have been cosplaying for close to eight years now. I became interested because I was a young, anime-watching nerd with not that many people around me with similar interest. One day on G4 TV I saw videos of people cosplaying anime and video game characters, and it blew my mind that it was a thing. My cousins, who also loved anime, told me about local cons like Otakon in Baltimore and took me to it. I was mesmerized and felt like all my dreams were coming to reality — seeing so many people just like me and the amazing cosplays I couldn't even imagine were possible to be made. From that day forth I found local cons and started going myself and eventually making my own costumes with a crew of friends who nerd out with me.

BC: What's your favorite cosplay?

Kiba Inuzuka from the Naruto series (which also happens to also be my first cosplay). Out of all my cosplays I feel the most comfortable and in character as Kiba!

BC: What do you find challenging about the cosplay community? What would you like to see change? 

The constant judging from harsh cosplay judgment and body shaming. Even more now [I'd like to see] racial diversity. I'm even making a spoof rap about these same topics. But I love my cosplay community and hate the dark cloud of hatred and ignorance trying to cover it.

BC: What's your most memorable moment?

My most memorable moment in cosplay was winning the DC Comics Suicide Squad, Squad Up contest. It was something I never even imagined winning against so many other, and in my eyes better, cosplayers. But I somehow won the Deadshot category and got to win a trip to SDCC and rep DC as their Deadshot! It was a dream come true, and I owe it all to the magnificent people who voted for me!

You can find Brandon on Instagram and The Food Chain on FB!

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!