by Courtney Lockhart
COOL COSPLAYERS: CRITICAL MISS AND RETRO JOAD
Thea Nikolic and Jody Haucke are getting ready
to be very busy very soon. Over Comiccon
weekend they will cosplay 2-3 different characters each, run 3 panels , take
part in activities as members of the 501st legion and League of
Superheroes and perform at the Wondergeeks
Pan-galactic showcase Saturday night. “It’s tricky, especially for Ottawa Comiccon because
it’s
in our hometown.” Jody explained. “We want to work with each group while we’re here in town
to showcase our town to other people who are coming in.” But he knows in the end the stress will be
worth it. “There are nights we’re sitting at that table, it’s the day before con and
we’re
going ‘Why did I do this? I’m never doing this again.’ And then you go to con, and everyone is taking pictures and you’re having so much
fun being the character and you’re like ‘oh yeah, that’s why.”
The pair, known professionally as Critical Miss and Retro Joad, met
when they were both cast in a summer production for Eddie May Murder
Mysteries. Soon after, at the Heroes
and Villains party they debuted their
first and arguably favourite joint costume: Harley Quinn and Joker. “I love my classic Harley, and I still wear
her.” Thea commented “But We’re kind of getting into elseworld stuff where we do our own
thing, like the rockabilly Harley.”
“We want a Joker and Harley for anything we show
up at” Jody added before they riffed on what it would be like to go to an event
like an Ottawa Senators game in costume.
Because of their acting background, they believe characterization is a
big part of a successful cosplay. “The
word means costume play.” said Thea. “We enjoy acting like idiots when we’re Joker and
Harley.” While their antics are usually
well received, they don’t sweat it when the reactions are less than hospitable.
“Life’s a lot easier when you don’t <care> what
anyone thinks.” Jody recounted one time
in Toronto where they were trying to get back into the convention centre
at the same time a Blue Jays game was letting out and they encountered some
judgemental sports fans. “Everyone has their own thing they are going to be a
fan of. You’re going in to spend a lot of money to watch a baseball game very
far away, eat a cold hot dog and drink a warm beer for $25. That’s not what I want to do. If you want to go and do
that, go and do that. If I want to go do this, I’ll go do this.”
Each cosplay experience offers something
different. “At a movie premiere you see
people who don’t necessarily go to comic conventions.” Thea explained. The costumes are appreciated at a different
level and the reactions more varied at a
Con. Jody finds for example that when he
wears his Lucius Malfoy cosplay, people get very quiet versus the explosive
reactions some of the other outfits get.
While they definitely have their dream ‘Money is no object’ cosplays,
Worf and Jadzia’s wedding outfits from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
currently top that list, Thea and Jody
insist that anyone can cosplay at any budget.
“Most people are going to see you from three to five feet away for a
minute and then move on. It doesn’t have to be perfect.” Jody said. Their Cosplay on a Budget panel
that ran last year inspired one attendee to go
out that very night and put together a cosplay to wear for the remainder of the
weekend. “It made running the panel
worth it.”
You can follow their ongoing adventures in
cosplay at their facebook page or on twitter @HarleyQuinnBabe
and @crystalbasement
They will also be working with Browncoats Burlesque on the May 17th
show, Necronomikhann!
Courtney Lockhart lives in the west
end of Ottawa with her husband and step-cat. She
is polishing her skills to pursue one of her dream careers as either a costume
drama character, Torchwood operative or executive assistant to a billionaire
vigilante. You can follow her daily mission to DFTBA on Twitter @corastacy.
No comments:
Post a Comment