Where do you reside? Baltimore, MD.

How long have you been cosplaying? 11 years

What other characters have you cosplayed? Captain America, Daredevil, Stormtrooper, Hawkeye, Cobra Commander, Aquabat, The Joker and more.

Cosplay page: Phizzle Cosplay

1. Who or what inspired you to cosplay?

I was inspired to cosplay simply because I wanted to join the fun. I had always attended cons and thought maybe I could try my hand at some costumes, did, and stuck with it. It’s a blast! I love it. Now I don’t like to consider myself a veteran in the community, as it makes me feel old by saying so, but I’ve got my son Hayden into in now and he’s absolutely loving it! He adores going to events and dressing up as his favorite characters who are mainly Iron Fist and Star-Lord. My inspiration is now a bit more focused on his future, despite how much I’m looking forward to it, I’m still going strong and he’s coming up behind me fast. It’s incredible knowing that one day maybe he can take me to these things to reminisce memories, but there are go ahead thinking too far ahead.

Each time we do a convention it’s a new experience; the people, the games, the fun, all of it. There is always something new. Each time I attend something I am at awe into how much attention I get not only for myself, but my son’s following in my footsteps. The people who adore our characters just puts an even bigger smile on my face. I think the biggest highlight was at Baltimore Comic Con in 2012 when Hayden won first place in the children’s category for best costume as MCU style Hawkeye. Seeing him go up on stage with this smile that just wouldn’t down and quoting a few lines from The Avengers was amazing. He had the entire ballroom erupting in cheers, and that alone made up for every single minute I’ve done these. It felt good knowing it paid off by making not only him happy, but me as well.

2. What do you do when you aren’t cosplaying? (hobbies, community service, or work)

I do commissions for costumes. A lot of people out there love how I portray my Captain America. And the work I put into them for screen accuracy helps me get attention. It’s fun and also beneficial to help out others wanting to do these, and I have no problem helping with that. Many people get jealous and greedy when it comes to costuming a certain character. They always want there to be just one. But not me, I encourage whoever to do whatever they want. That’s the fun behind it! Besides that I also do children’s birthday parties (in costume) and I have an actual job that requires me to build kitchens…SShhhhh!

3. What costumes have provided the biggest challenge and rewards so far and why?

Captain America, by far because there is so much recognition from it. I put a lot of love, time and money into those costumes. The appreciation I get from Captain America fans is definitely my payoff when I wear them. The biggest challenge is mainly getting the accuracy of the MCU style costumes which constantly are going through stages of upgrades.

4. What is the best advice you would give someone new to cosplaying?

Give it a shot, try your best and go with it. If it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped or expected. Try again, but don’t give it up!

5. What is one thing the cosplaying community can do better when it comes to dealing with each other?

Help each other, be supportive and dismiss the drama. Everyone in the cosplay community has skeletons, just like real life. No need to bring b.s. into your hobby life that will affect others. We come here for fun and to get away from the things that make us normal. As for the younger crowd, like my son for example, he looks up to these cosplayers! He may only be 8, but it’s the age to where a lot of these events that these kids go to, they see all these great costumes and in their mind these are “the real” characters they idolize. Sunday mornings on Disney XD you have the Marvel block in the morning. When the kids watch this and then go to an event that day, the next week, month, year, etc, they see these idols are characters they look up to. It gives them hope to not only stay out of trouble, but to do right in society. In my case for example, how great it is when your child gets picked up from school and brags to his friends that his dad is Captain America! His friends run up and say hi because they are just excited, so just for fun I’ll schedule a pick-up one day out of the year to get him from school in costume and stay a few minutes to take pictures with his classmates and teachers, they absolutely love it and the feedback is really great. These kids are the next generation of events, and to all the parents who get their kids into these things, you’re doing it right.