COSPLAY SPOTLIGHT
Ryan Frye TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU GOT STARTED AS A COSPLAYER? It all started while searching for a costume at a retail Halloween store. The clerk and I started talking about how much we love wearing costumes. One thing led to another and he introduced me to his group of friends that “cosplayed”. I had heard this term before when I watched a documentary about how popular it is in Japan. But, I had no idea how popular it is here in the states too. Turns out his friends welcomed me into their circle with open arms and I started doing charity events with their group Costumers With a Cause. From then on I was hooked and started touring various cons.
YOU ARE MOST KNOWN TO COSPLAY AS THOR. TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE COSPLAYING AS THOR. I like to get into character no matter the costume I’m wearing. So I have a lot of fun doing a parody version of Thor. You know, the big Jock with the cheesy one liners. Thor has become tremendously popular because of the recent movies so people are naturally drawn to me when I wear this costume, but then they can’t help but laugh when I start talking to them.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST MEMORY AT A WIZARD WORLD SHOW? I’ll never forget meeting Stan Lee in the hotel I was staying at during Wizard World Austin Texas. I was coming down the elevator, half dressed in my Thor costume, when it stopped at one of the floors. In walks Stan Lee with his handler who ended up standing between us as the doors shut. I didn’t want to be “that guy” that freaks out in front of Stan the Man Lee so I just stood there suppressing my inner screaming fan boy. After what seemed like an eternity of silence, Stan’s handler leaned over to him and said, “Hey Stan, we’ve got the god of thunder over here.” and then motioned over to me on the other side. He leaned around his handler and shouted, “Oh hey! Nice to meet you!” We shook hands and the rest of that elevator ride was glorious.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE TO COSPLAYERS ON ALL LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE? Be you and have fun. I know that sounds cliche, but there are too many in this community that exclude people just because they don’t look the part of the character or didn’t make every little piece of the costume themselves. Learning to make costumes comes with time and through the amazing friendships that seem to instantly form in this community.
WHAT ARE OTHER COSTUMES YOU ARE WORKING ON AND WHAT IS YOUR DREAM COSTUME TO MAKE? Right now I’m currently working on a steam punk version of Lion-o from the 80’s cartoon Thunder Cats and the 90’s version of Aqua Man. My dream costume? I have always wanted to cosplay a character from one of Frank Frazetta’s artwork. But to narrow it down from there would be impossible because I love all of his paintings.
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WIZARD WORLD ST. LOUIS COMIC CON 2014 •
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