Comic Con might not be starting any time soon, but you are probably wondering already what costume you are going to wear for the next convention. There are so many options to choose from, that it can be overwhelming!
However, these 30 Comic Con costumes are the best of them all. So, if you are unsure of what to wear at this legendary convention, here are some options that are not always easy to achieve, but should at the very least inspire you for who you want to be:
Here’s Wonder Woman, the Original Female Superhero from DC Comics
Wonder Woman may be one of the oldest super heroes in the comic book world, but she has had so much media based on her, that there are endless options for a Wonder Woman Costume!
You might want to go as the DC Extended Universe rendition of Wonder Woman that Gal Gadot earned fame for, or perhaps you might want to go as the legendary TV version from the 70s that made Lynda Carter a star.
How about Harley Quinn, the Iconic Villainess from the DC Universe?
One of the most popular “newer” villains in the DC universe, Harley Quinn made her mark as the on again, off again lover of the Joker starting with the original 1990s Batman cartoon series.
Harley Quinn’s black, white, and red jester outfit is an old, recognizable favorite, but her newer rendition made popular by Margot Robbie is an easy costume to achieve — and popular, too!
Any of the Sailor Guardians From Sailor Moon Can Work!
As one of the most popular animes of all time, Sailor Moon is instantly recognizable by 90s kids and anime fans alike. And since there are over ten sailor guardians and three shows, you have a lot to choose from!
Whether you base your costume off of the live action show or one of the animes, the variety of costumes allow you to dress up as a character who matches your personality. You can be the bubbly, positive Sailor Moon, the shy, intelligent Sailor Mercury, or even the adorable, but mysterious Sailor Chibi Chibi Moon!
Princess Leia from Star Wars is a Classic Choice
As one of the most iconic female sci fi characters in history, there is no doubt that Princess Leia is a popular costume choice. A leader, general, and feminist icon, there are many Princess Leia costumes to choose from.
You can go old school and wear her iconic white dress and “cinnamon bun” hairstyle, or you can go a bit more risque and wear her slave outfit from The Empire Strikes Back. Or, if you wish to, you can even wear her general outfit from the sequel trilogy!
Anna and Elsa from Frozen are New but Good Choices
Okay, so Anna and Elsa may be overdone in this day and age, but the success of Frozen II makes these two characters much more developed and iconic. Not to mention how much of a feminist icon Elsa is!
You can choose to be the introverted, intuitive Elsa or the extroverted, bubbly Anna based on your personality, and you can wear one of their famous outfits from any of the movies (ie. Anna’s ball gown and Elsa’s ice dress, both from the first movie).
Westley/The Dread Pirate Roberts from The Princess Bride is an 80s Costume Classic
The Princess Bride is one of the classic cult films of the 80s, and among the most quotable movies of all time. However, no character from the movie is more recognizable than the Dread Pirate Roberts, also known as Westley.
This costume is also easy to accomplish, only requiring a black baggy shirt, black pants, black boots, and a black bandana and domino mask. People will instantly recognize the character because of how popular he really is!
Spock from Star Trek is a Safe Costume Choice
Spock is one of the more well known characters from Star Trek, and for good reason. Intelligent, reliant on logic, and originally portrayed by legendary actor Leonard Nimoy, Spock is an instantly recognizable character regardless of context.
Luckily, Spock costumes are easy to come by online, but if you prefer to do it yourself, all you need is a long sleeved blue shirt, black pants, a black male wig, and pointy ears.
Of course, those are the basics. If you want to go as far as to use makeup to get the “vulcan” look, go for it!
Hellboy Is a Fun Costume To Do
Hellboy may be among a more niche set of comic book characters, but the Guillermo Del Torro directed movies of him are considered cult classics for good reason. He is a macho, antifascist half demon who fights evil in the forms of the paranormal and nazis.
A do it yourself Hellboy costume may seem difficult or even impossible, but with enough red body paint, and a beige trenchcoat, it can be achieved! But of course, you can always buy a Hellboy mask and suit online if you prefer.
Mario and Luigi from Super Mario Bros are Popular Characters
As the most recognizable Nintendo characters of all time, it is a no brainer that Mario and Luigi can be considered top tier costumes. It helps that they have easy to make costumes!
So, because of this, why not get creative with the costumes? You can use more muted colors to seem like a dark and gritty Super Mario reboot, or use leather jackets to seem more punk. The possibilities are endless!
Link and Zelda from The Legend of Zelda are Cool Characters
Link and Zelda from the Legend of Zelda are also among the most popular characters from Nintendo, and for good reason. The video game series is beloved by fans young and old, and there are a plethora of costumes for them to choose from!
You can use muted costumes to give off a Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess aesthetic, or use bright, cartoony colors for a Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Once again, the possibilities are endless!
Literally Any Character from the Simpsons Can Work
Everybody and their grandmother knows what The Simpsons are, and for good reason. They are among the longest running animations of all time and have cemented themselves as a pop culture icon.
And there is an infinite amount of characters you can choose from! Whether you dress as Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Ned Flanders, Mrs. Krabappel, Milhouse, Lenny, Carl, or Mr. Burns, you will be wearing something easy to assemble and recognizable!
Any of the Power Rangers Incarnations Can Work, Too
The Power Rangers is another franchise with a practically endless list of characters, and finding costumes of each and every incarnation isn’t that hard if you know where to look. There are Samurai Power Rangers, Dinosaur Power Rangers, and even Fantasy Power Rangers!
The best part of a Power Rangers costume is that you do not necessarily have to do research on the character beforehand. Each Power Ranger is color coded and mostly known for their acrobatic action scenes.
Any super hero from the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be a Universally-Adored Costume
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the most popular extended universe of this day and age, and many of its characters are instantly recognizable. From Doctor Strange to black Panther, from Black Widow to Spider Man, the possibilities are limitless.
You do not have to dress like how the characters dress in the movies, though! If you are more of a comic book fan, then dress like how they would dress in the original stories instead! In fact, some people might even appreciate it if you dressed in such a manner!
Vault Boy and Vault Girl from the Fallout Games are a Simple, but Fun Choice
Vault Boy and his female equivalent, Vault Girl, are the iconic mascots of the cult classic Fallout video game series. They appear in every edition as little icons for your stats and perks, so many are aware of their existence!
Jumpsuits for either Vault Boy or Vault Girl are easy to find online, and all you need is a blonde wig to truly complete the look! And a pip boy replica if you want to go above and beyond.
Sora, Riku, and Kairi from Kingdom Hearts are Classic Cosplay Characters
The Kingdom Hearts series is another cult classic video game series, using characters and worlds from the Final Fantasy series and Disney animated canon to make a truly unique experience for people of all ages. it is no wonder how Sora, Riku, and Kairi have become popular characters to dress up as!
This is another set of costumes that gives you a lot of options. You can wear their base outfits from any of the main games, but Sora gives you the most variety. From his drive forms to his world based costume changes, there are endless possibilities!
Jake the Dog and Finn the Human from Adventure Time are Fun to Experiment With
Adventure Time is often considered one of the best cartoons of the 2010s, so there is an endless amount of Finn and Jake costumes to choose from. Whether you prefer the moralistic and enthusiastic Finn or the laid back Jake, you can get creative with either character!
You can make a super casual costume using only the basics, or go all out and wear something special from one of the episodes. You can even dress as their female counterparts, Fionna and Cake, if you wish to do so.
The Teen Titans are Among the Best Comic Con Costumes.
The Teen Titans, through their successful cartoon series, have made their ways into the hearts of many 2000s kids. it is easy to find one character from the show to relate to, and there are a plethora of costumes to choose from!
You can wear a black bodysuit and a blue violet cloak to go as Raven, purple bikini armor to go as Starfire, or even white and silver armor to go as Cyborg! There are plenty of options to choose from here.
Teal’c of Chulack from Stargate SG-1 is a Unique Costume Choice
As one of the most recognizable characters from the cult classic Stargate franchise, Teal’c is a popular dress up choice for Comic Con, and an easy one at that!
All you need to achieve the look is a black tank top with matching pants and a golden stamp on your forehead. If you want to go the extra mile, get some friends to dress up with you as Samantha Carter or even Daniel Jackson!
The Main Cast of Farscape is Full of Classic Characters
Farscape may be one of the more niche shows on this list, but its diverse cast of characters and loyal fanbase makes the characters a favorite to dress up as, and dressing up as one is sure to get recognized by at least one person!
You can go simplistically and dress as astronaut John Crichton or humanoid Aeryn Sun, or you can go all out with makeup and go as Ka D’argo or Pa’u Zotoh Zhaan!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Scooby Gang is Good for a 90s Cosplay
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the most iconic fantasy shows of the 90s, and for good reason. It stars action girl Buffy Summers and her allies, nicknamed the “scooby gang”, fighting vampires and other evil agents of darkness, so it gives you a lot of costumes to work with!
You can use fake bite marks and black clothing to dress up as Buffy, have short bleached blonde hair and a leather jacket to dress up as Spike, or glasses and a dapper suit to dress up as Rupert Giles!
Sam and Dean Winchester from Supernatural are more Timely Costumes
The Supernatural series is about to end, but its popularity will live on in the hearts of nerds and other fantasy fans everywhere. Brothers Sam and Dean Winchester will be remembered as among the most popular demon hunters of the decade, so why not honor them by dressing up as them?
Get yourself a long (for Sam) or short (for Dean) brown wig, a khaki jacket, and some flannel, then you will be instantly transformed to one of the Winchester brothers! it is that easy!
Commander Shepard from Mass Effect is a Classic Costume Choice
Whether boy, girl, or someone in between, Commander Shepard from the Mass Effect video game series is a popular character to cosplay as. Many would recognize Commander Shepard as traditionally male, but famous cosplayers such as Holly Conrad have made the female Shepard popular too!
If you are not good at making costumes by yourself, there are plenty of Commander Shepard costumes online you can buy or rent instead. Because the character is customizable, one does not need a wig or prosthetics to perfect the character.
Spongebob Squarepants and Friends is a Colorful, Friendly Costume
Everyone recognizes Spongebob Squarepants and his friends! it is one of the most popular cartoons of all time, and the cast often hosts a panel or even a live reading of a script at every Comic Con!
You do not have to get a Spongebob suit to cosplay as him, though. You can get creative and dress how he dresses in the musical, or even in the new spin off series, Kamp Koral, or even as one of his friends like Patrick Star!
L from Death Note is an Instantly Recognizable Character
L is one of the most recognizable anime characters from the 2000s, and it is no wonder why, as Death Note is a super popular anime in japan and abroad. The brooding detective with a sweet tooth is easy to dress up as, too!
All you need is all white clothing, a spiky black wig, and black eyeliner, and then you’ve got the traditional “L” look down! it is that easy!
Ash Ketchum from the Pokemon Anime is the Most Popular Anime Character of All Time
Ash Ketchum, known in his native Japan as Satoshi, is the most recognizable anime character in the western world! He is kind, optimistic, and of course, easy to dress up as!
Of course, you can easily buy an Ash Ketchum costume on the internet, but if you want to do it yourself, all you need is a replica of Ash’s iconic hat, a black shirt, and a blue vest! do not forget a Pikachu plush to sell the look, and you can get your friends to cosplay as Misty and Brock if you want them to!
The Gaang from Avatar: The Last Airbender for a 2000s Vibe
Despite only lasting for three seasons, Avatar: The Last Airbender is considered the greatest Nickelodeon cartoon of all time. With well rounded characters, a gorgeous setting, and cool fight scenes, its only dark mark was the M. Night Shyamalan movie.
You can wear blue and be Katara or Sokka, wear orange and paint arrows on your body to be Aang, or wear green to be Toph Beifong. Or, if you prefer, you can wear orange and dress as their Fire Nation disguises from the first half of the third season!
Practically Any Character from South Park if You Want to Keep Your Costume Simple
Despite its inevitable controversy, South Park is a cartoon that’s still going strong after over 20 years on the air. With its endless cast of characters and annual Comic Con exhibit, there is a chance at least someone will recognize your costume at the convention!
Any South Park costume is easy to make, too, as long as you know what your character looks like. As long as your jacket, pants, shoes, and iconic South Park hat are in order, then you are on your way to dressing like the South park character of your dreams!
Rick Sanchez and Morty Smith are Fun To Go All Out With
Rick and Morty is one of the most popular adult animation shows from the 2010s, and it is not hard to see why. The dynamic between the alcoholic, mad scientist Rick and the pubescent, introverted Morty is hilarious and has attracted fans from all over the world.
The base costumes for Rick and Morty are easy to achieve, with a white lab coat and light blue shirt for Rick and a yellow shirt for Morty. But, the fun of the costume is being able to dress up as Ricks and Mortys from other dimensions if you so choose. Find one that you like the best and get creative!
The Characters from Puella Magi Madoka Magica are More Niche, But Are Recognizable
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a more obscure anime than the others on this list, but as a dark subversion of the “magical girl” genre, it has gained a cult following with many people. Even if people do not recognize the character, there is a chance people will like your Puella Magi Madoka Magica costume regardless!
The above is true regardless of if you dress as the timid, good natured Madoka, the dutiful, aloof Homura, the confident, but troubled Mami, or the tomboyish, idealistic Sayaka!
Naruto and his Gang are Super Cool Characters to Dress Up As
Naruto is one of the most well known anime franchises out there, second only to the Pokemon franchise. Ninja in training Naruto Uzumaki and his friends, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Horuno, are highly recognizable characters and are super fun to cosplay!
Luckily, there are costumes for all three characters you can find online. But, if you want to dive a little more into obscurity, you can instead dress up as Hinata Hyuga, Kakashi Hatake, or even Naruto and Hinata’s son, Boruto Uzumaki!
What Should I Bring to Comic Con?
Regardless if you are going to Comic Con dressed up as your favorite character or dressed down in normal clothes, there are several things you should most definitely bring for a comfortable Comic Con experience:
- Your RFID chip enabled Comic Con badge. This one is a no brainer. Scanners will always check for your authentic Comic Con badge before you enter the convention center every day, so be sure to wear it in a position where it is always visible!
- A good quality, sturdy backpack. You are going to be walking around a LOT at Comic Con, so be sure to invest in a good backpack you are willing to wear throughout the convention!
- Lots and lots of bottled water, or a reusable water bottle. Water bottle prices at Comic Con are usually super high, and that money can be used to instead buy super cool merchandise you can’t find anywhere else!
- Easily packable snacks. Just like water, paying for snacks at Comic Con can really be the exact opposite of a bargain. Luckily, popular snacks like chips, granola bars, and cookies can easily be bought in bulk. Just put them in your bag as well!
- A comfortable pair of shoes. Just like a sturdy backpack is necessary for all the walking you are going to do, comfortable shoes are also a definitive must for convention survival. A well broken into, comfy pair of sneakers is always a safe bet.
- A zip hoodie. Convention centers can become super duper cold at times, even when compared to the boiling hot weather outside. Whether nerdy or not, get yourself a good, comfy zip up hoodie you can easily take off and on depending on the temperature!
- A portable phone charger. Regardless of your phone’s battery percentage when you enter the convention, it will inevitably drop to the single digits at some point in your day. Luckily, portable chargers are here to the rescue! Just plug your phone into one when you need to, but be sure to charge the charger before you go.
The following are optional things you can take to Comic Con as well, but some of them may be necessary depending on what you want to do at the convention:
- Fabric tape and safety pins. If you are going to the convention in costume, you should have both of these tools on the ready at all times. there is nothing worse than a sudden costume tear that you can’t fix, and both tools are easy to use and long lasting.
- An art storage tube. If you intend to buy some cool new posters at Comic Con, you should most definitely bring a storage tube to keep them in! Posters of any size and shape can bend and even tear in ordinary bags and backpacks, but the cylindrical shape of the storage tube will prevent that from happening.
- A sharpie. You will never know if you have a one of a kind encounter with your favorite celebrity at Comic Con! If you want to get an autograph of them on the dot, be sure to have fresh sharpies at hand in case they do not have any! You might want to bring an autograph book, too, if you really want to get plenty of autographs.
- Cash. Most vendors at Comic Con these days accept most major credit and debit cards, but you may run into the occasional vendor who only accepts payments in cash. To avoid potential embarrassment, you may want to have some cash handy in case this happens!
- A spare pair of shoes. It is fun to go all out with your cosplay and wear shoes true to the character, but again, you will be walking a lot at Comic Con no matter how many people approach you. Be sure to bring a pair of comfy shoes if the ones for your costume get too uncomfortable for you!
And there you have it, the best 30 Comic Con costumes to take inspiration from, as well as other tips and tricks along the way. But don’t forget the best convention advice: Have tons of fun!