There was an entrant in the ConFrancisco masquerade in ’93 who dressed as a Transformer (which one is lost to me now); it was made of cardboard and very little else. As the MC intoned the words “completely indestructible,” half the back fell off. (I ran into one of the other entrants at a party later that evening, who said the guy literally stuffed it all into a garbage bag when he came offstage.)
At No Brand Con a few years there were 3 Transformers who made their costumes from cardboard too but they painted their boxes with special paint that hardened the cardboard too. Anyways their cosplay was so fragile and it was very heavy they didn’t even get on the stage for the contest. They actually were somewhat forced into the contest because it was that good that they were almost certain they would win and I think they got a good prize too.
At Worldcon 2006, there was an Optimus Prime that failed to get on stage. And it was already in the wings. I think the problem, though, was getting the “pants” (legs) on.
Phil Foglio was MC, and he ran out of “stretch” so bad he resorted to a “Roll out the Barrel” sign-along with the audience while the crew figured out how to get the failed costume out of the way of the next entry.
Ask any long time fan about why Westercon etc. masquerades have a “no peanut butter” rule… it’s hard to find ANYTHING weird enough that it hasn’t happened. (That and if you’ve got a fluttery costume do NOT stand in front of an entry with wires on the front of their shirt – in my case it was a Westworld android after his chest exploded, and I had a sash cape. We came thaaat close to having to be a joint entry…)
UnCONventional is a comic that ran from December 2009 to December 2019 about the staff of a small town anime convention and their lives. This is a complete online archive of the comic.
Read Peregrine Lake, the Follow Up To UnCONventional - Updated Every Tuesday!
9 thoughts on “One Shall Fall”
Xon890
Bwahahaha…
this brought tears to my eyes.. so funny
Bryony MacGreine
Stop laughing for a minute? No. No, they cannot.
James Bacon
That’s hilarious… why I am laughing so much
EcchiKitty
I feel there is a Sailor Stars joke there I should be getting, but I don’t.
Trae Dorn
It’s not so much a reference as me trying to come up with something ridiculous and weird that someone’s probably actually done.
K`shandra
There was an entrant in the ConFrancisco masquerade in ’93 who dressed as a Transformer (which one is lost to me now); it was made of cardboard and very little else. As the MC intoned the words “completely indestructible,” half the back fell off. (I ran into one of the other entrants at a party later that evening, who said the guy literally stuffed it all into a garbage bag when he came offstage.)
Langland
At No Brand Con a few years there were 3 Transformers who made their costumes from cardboard too but they painted their boxes with special paint that hardened the cardboard too. Anyways their cosplay was so fragile and it was very heavy they didn’t even get on the stage for the contest. They actually were somewhat forced into the contest because it was that good that they were almost certain they would win and I think they got a good prize too.
Andrew Trembley
At Worldcon 2006, there was an Optimus Prime that failed to get on stage. And it was already in the wings. I think the problem, though, was getting the “pants” (legs) on.
Phil Foglio was MC, and he ran out of “stretch” so bad he resorted to a “Roll out the Barrel” sign-along with the audience while the crew figured out how to get the failed costume out of the way of the next entry.
Kay Shapero
Ask any long time fan about why Westercon etc. masquerades have a “no peanut butter” rule… it’s hard to find ANYTHING weird enough that it hasn’t happened. (That and if you’ve got a fluttery costume do NOT stand in front of an entry with wires on the front of their shirt – in my case it was a Westworld android after his chest exploded, and I had a sash cape. We came thaaat close to having to be a joint entry…)
About the Comic
UnCONventional is a comic that ran from December 2009 to December 2019 about the staff of a small town anime convention and their lives. This is a complete online archive of the comic.
Advertisement
Things People Ask Me For:
-How To Start a Con
My guide to starting a convention
-How To Survive a Con
My con survival guide
Advertisement