Category Archives: conventions

Once More With Feeling… Cosplay=/=Consent

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Warning: There will be strong language in this post.  Read no further if some f-bombs are not to your taste.

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly people on the Internet can take a positive project and stomp all over it.

Two days ago, Sushi Killer over at 16-Bit Sirens started a new photo project.  Inspired by the #INeedFeminismBecause project, it is titled “CONsent: The Importance of Treating Cosplayers with Respect.”  The premise is simple: costumers take pictures holding a sign that says ‘Cosplay=/= Consent’ and their own additional message if they are so inclined.  I, like many other people, thought it was a great campaign that spread a very positive message.

Guess how long it took some people to ruin it and make it all about them.  Let’s start with an example.  Think it was limited to just that shared Facebook thread?  Look at some of the comments on the article that cosplayer Ana Aesthetic wrote.

Disgusted yet?  Me too. Continue reading →

AFK

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Brian and Nanci apologize for the lack of content the past few days. They were involved in an unfortunate trash compactor mishap. They’re fine now (how are you?), and will resume normal posting tomorrow.

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Katsucon Cosplay Round Up

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This past weekend was Katsucon, an anime convention held just outside of Washington DC in National Harbor, MD.  In addition to being a great anime convention in general, Katsucon also has the distinction of making its home in the Gaylord, one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing which makes for some wonderful photos.  It’s also a nice sized convention that feels neither small nor overcrowded.  (Yes, walking is totally possible here!)  From the panels to the maid cafe to the artist alley and dealer room to simply people watching, there was something for everyone last weekend.  If you live in the area or simply want to check out a fun convention at the most gorgeous hotel of all time, I absolutely recommend checking it out next February.

One of the wonderful things about conventions is the variety of costumes that convention goers (and the innocent people who wander into the hotel) get to see.  Despite being an anime convention, Katsucon boasts a wide variety of costumes from every anime and manga imaginable to western television shows and comics.  Obviously, anime and manga costumes ruled here but there are some fandoms that will always have a presence such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Disney, Homestuck, and both Marvel and DC comics.  This year, I also noticed a solidly large gathering of costumes from last fall’s Rise of the Guardians film and Adventure Time along with a ton of Kid Loki and Korra cosplayers.  And, of course, Sailor Moon continued to have a solid presence, something that is likely to only increase with the anime’s return this year.

(Just as a note, please let me know if you recognize yourself or others in any of these pictures.  Unfortunately, my plan of trying to get cosplayer names mostly backfired due to being in costume myself for much of the convention and touchscreen phones do not work with gloves.  Please feel free to comment though and I’ll be more than happy to edit credit into this post!)

Because we are primarily a Star Wars blog, I’m going to start with some of the great Star Wars costumes I spotted this weekend.  (I did my best to sprint down the corridor after most of the ones I saw but undoubtedly missed a few.)  Check out these Star Wars costumers (and many more!) after the jump! Continue reading →

Billy Dee Williams Attending Dragon*Con 2013

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Going to be attending Dragon*Con this year? If you’re a Star Wars fan, you may be happy to hear that Billy Dee Williams will be in attendance again.

Bring along your copy of Scoundrels to pose with him for photo opportunities.

Tosche Station’s Gratuitous 2012 in Review Linkdump

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In January, Nanci and I started a podcast. In April, we spun that podcast off into a blog. All sorts of crazy things have happened since. Welcome to our gratuitous 2012 in Review Linkdump. As a note, thanks for bearing with us over the holidays as we took time to visit our friends and family. We’ll be back Wednesday with regular coverage and posts. Be sure to also check out Club Jade’s 2012 retrospective.

For our year-in-review, to the jump!

Continue reading →

Cosplay Week: Hallis Saper

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We’re wrapping up Cosplay Week with another appropriate costume for Tosche Station.  Hopefully you’ve enjoyed seeing these fantastic costumes as much as we did and, as always, if you recognize any of these costumes, let us know so we can credit them!

One thing we don’t see enough of at conventions is Expanded Universe costumes outside side of a handful of big name characters.  While we always love seeing some great SWEU costumes, we especially love seeing characters who don’t get as much love.  Enter this fabulous Hallis cosplayer from Celebration VI.  We’ve never seen someone attempt this costume before and we’re pretty sure she nailed it.

Edit: You can find her website here!

Cosplay Week: Tropic Thunder

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Cosplay Week continues with Bria’s personal favorite costume from Dragon*Con and that’s saying something given how many awesome costumes were at the con.  Once again, I don’t know who the cosplayer was so if anyone recognizes him, please let us know so we can credit accordingly!

Everyone remembers Tropic Thunder, right?  It was a comedy from 2008 that riffed on action films and is responsible for a lot of gifs of Robert Downey Jr. in blackface on tumblr.  One of the funniest parts of the film were the fake film trailers at the start.  RDJ’s character starred in a fictious film called “Satan’s Alley”, Jack Black’s character was in a Nutty Professor, and Ben Stiller’s character is the ailing action star.  His trailer is for the latest in his franchise, Scorcher VI.  (Check it out on YouTube if you don’t remember.)  I positively love the film and when I saw this costume, I went running after the guy to snag a picture.  Props to this awesome costumer for rocking a minor yet hilarious costume like this one!

Cosplay Week: Captain Marvel

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We’re continuing with Cosplay Week here at Tosche Station and featuring some of the fabulous costumes we spotted at Celebration VI and Dragon*Con! Again, we don’t know who the cosplayers were for most of these so if you recognize the costumer, please let us know so we can give proper credit!

If you’re a regular reader of Tosche Station, it’s no secret that we’re big fans of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel around here and we were definitely hoping to see some cosplayers with her new costume.  Dragon*Con costumers didn’t fail us and amongst the sea of Lokis and Hawkeyes, we found her!  Not only did her costume look great but she had some serious Carol attitude!  (Please notice the bonus defeated Deadpool we got for recognizing and loving her costume.)

Cosplay Week: Darth Talon and Cade Skywalker

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We have more Star Wars costumes for today’s edition of Cosplay Week from Celebration VI!  Unlike yesterday, we actually don’t know who these costumers are and this particular picture was snagged from Jan Duursema’s Facebook so if you know who they are, shout out!

Edit: You can find Darth Talon’s Facebook page here and Cade’s here. Great costumes, guys!

Take a look at these two perfect Darth Talon and Cade Skywalker costumers who look like they could’ve stepped right off the pages from the Legacy comics.  The body pain on Talon is perfectly done and I’m incredibly impressed by the tattoos and the chest armor on Cade.

Gender Swapped Wraith Squadron

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You’ve heard us talk about it before and you’ve even seen a teaser picture but now, direct from Dragon*Con, we bring you the Gender Swapped Wraith Squadron featuring, yes that’s right, some of the Tosche Station staff!  We had an absolute blast getting the group together especially since we got to chat with the one and only Aaron Allston after a panel as the Wraiths.

Allston's Wraiths

The Wraiths with their creator!  Check out the rest of the photoshoot after the jump!

Continue reading →