25 deep-cut Comic-Con cosplay ideas for when inspiration fails you

Heading to San Diego Comic Con or one of the many other comic conventions happening all over the world? Get yourself ready with our cosplay ideas.

We are currently in the superhero phase of popular culture. With massive blockbusters like Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War and Wonder Woman dominating our attention, it’s no surprise that our obsession with superheroes has trickled down to our cosplay. Hundreds of Captain Americas, Wonder Women and Batmen will be guaranteed to roam the convention halls of SDCC this year, and that’s the number one reason why you shouldn’t be one of them.

We get it. It’s easy and topical to opt superhero. It also satisfies our deep-down wish that we actually were one of these effortlessly attractive badasses IRL. But if you truly want to stand out and get noticed at SDCC, obvious superhero is not the route to go.

The great thing about SDCC nowadays is how many fandoms it touches. What started as an event for just the comics industry has ballooned into the Super Bowl for all makers and mediums of entertainment, which means you have a bevy of options to choose from when it comes to deciding what character to cosplay.

So don’t settle for being Iron Man #98. Instead, take a look at our list of 25 deep-cut cosplay ideas for inspiration. This list is full of fun, still topical options that will help you stand out, maybe get a laugh from the people you’re waiting in line with and, most importantly, will ensure you have a great time at your chosen convention.

1. Olenna from Game of Thrones

Let’s be clear: We’re very aware that dressing up as someone from Game of Thrones isn’t a revolutionary idea. In fact, we’re fairly sure that for every Wonder Woman twirling her lasso at SDCC there will also be a blond-and-braided Daenerys Targaryen fixing you with an icy stare while she says, “Dracarys.”

But that’s the thing. Most Game of Thrones cosplayers are going to go for the most well known characters in the series — Jon Snow, Arya Stark, Cersei Lannister. Leave those characters for the lions and wolves, for instead you can be a witty flower with more thorns than petals.

Olenna started building her fan following from her very first thinly veiled jab at Cersei. Her celebrity reached an all time high in the most recent season of the show when she uttered 2017’s best line of television dialogue, “Tell Cersei. I want her to know it was me.”

There’s no better way to pay your respects to one of the most epic characters from one of the most epic stories ever created than by dressing as her. Elegant, confident, worldly, and one of the most dangerous people to play the game, she deserves as much attention as we’re willing to give her.