Cosplay has been around for decades, but it’s popularity has skyrocketed within the last few years as an accepted art in the comic book subculture. Now, we actually have cosplay artists who are popular enough to have followings and booths of their own, here at New York Comic Con. But that’s just the beginning. Even the non-professional cosplay artists have stepped up in a big way this year. It’s almost impossible to see every costume at a con with over 100,000 attendees, but we’ve been very impressed by what we’ve seen so far.
To celebrate this year’s round of New York Comic Con cosplay, Crave has assembled a gallery of the some of the best costume artists that we’ve come across. To the untrained eye, the lovely woman in the Harley Quinn mask is just wearing some lingerie. But the true fans at this show recognize it as a “Mad Love” reference, and they also recognize the “Gang of Harleys” from the gallery as well. The gender bending “Rule 63” is also popular at cons, but the female Captain America and Spider-Man here are actually their daughters, American Dream and Spider-Girl from one of Marvel’s alternate futures.
Also among these costumes are group cosplays of the ThunderCats (who would just not stop shouting “Hoooooo!” during the con, and that got very annoying) and Sailor Moon, as well as the Sailor Moon girls, Spider-Punk, Ant-Man, Wasp, Silk, Female Iron Fist, Hawkgirl, AIM, Supergirl, Frankenstein’s Monster and his bride, and many more! We’re trying to find that awesome Mystique cosplayer who has been seen on the show floor, so stay tuned!
The Best Cosplay From New York Comic Con 2016:
Let us know which cosplayers you liked in the comment section below!
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay Gallery
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A cosplayer attends 2016 New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz Center on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Stewart/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A cosplayer attends 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Cosplayers attend 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Cosplayers attend 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A cosplayer attends 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Cosplayers attend 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A cosplayer attends 2016 New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz Center on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Stewart/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Cosplayers attend the 2016 New York Comic Con - day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Cosplayers attend the 2016 New York Comic Con - day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Cosplayers attend the 2016 New York Comic Con - day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A Comic Con attendee poses during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Comic Con attendees pose as Weeping Angels from Dr. Who during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A Comic Con attendee poses during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: Jacque Lombardo poses during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A general view of cosplayers during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A Comic Con attendee poses as Jon Snow during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A Comic Con attendee poses during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A general view of cosplayers during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A general view of cosplayers during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A Comic Con attendee poses as The Joker during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A general view of cosplayers during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 09: A general view of cosplayers during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 4 on October 9, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer attends 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer attends 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer attends 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Cosplayers attend 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer attends 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer dressed as Spiderman attends 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer attends 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer dresed as Deadpool attends 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Cosplayer attends the 2016 New York Comic Con at Jacob Javits Center on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Attendees dressed as Thundercats attend the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: An attendee in costume attends the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Attendees dressed in costume attend the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Attendees dressed in costume attend the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Attendees dressed in costume attend the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: An attendee in costume attends the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: An attendee in costume attends the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Attendees dressed in costume attend the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: An attendee in costume attends the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: An attendee in costume attends the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Attendees dressed in costume attend the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: An attendee in costume attends the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 2 on October 7, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: Cosplayer's dressed as Harley Quinn attend the New York Comic Con 2016 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 7, 2016 in New York City. New York Comic Con is one of the largest comic book and science fiction conventions. The convention brings together fans of fantasy role playing, science fiction, movies and television. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer dressed as Dr. Doom attends the New York Comic Con 2016 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 7, 2016 in New York City. New York Comic Con is one of the largest comic book and science fiction conventions. The convention brings together fans of fantasy role playing, science fiction, movies and television. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer dressed as Robin attends the New York Comic Con 2016 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 7, 2016 in New York City. New York Comic Con is one of the largest comic book and science fiction conventions. The convention brings together fans of fantasy role playing, science fiction, movies and television. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer dressed as Spiderwoman attends the New York Comic Con 2016 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 7, 2016 in New York City. New York Comic Con is one of the largest comic book and science fiction conventions. The convention brings together fans of fantasy role playing, science fiction, movies and television. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer dressed as Judge Dredd attends the New York Comic Con 2016 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 7, 2016 in New York City. New York Comic Con is one of the largest comic book and science fiction conventions. The convention brings together fans of fantasy role playing, science fiction, movies and television. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer dressed as Baymax attends the New York Comic Con 2016 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 7, 2016 in New York City. New York Comic Con is one of the largest comic book and science fiction conventions. The convention brings together fans of fantasy role playing, science fiction, movies and television. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 07: A cosplayer dressed as Green Arrow attends the New York Comic Con 2016 at The Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on October 7, 2016 in New York City. New York Comic Con is one of the largest comic book and science fiction conventions. The convention brings together fans of fantasy role playing, science fiction, movies and television. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: (EDITORS NOTE: This photo was converted to black and white in camera with digital filters) A view of fans taking pictures of people dressed as characters from the Star Wars movie at 2016 New York Comic Con on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: Fans dress in costumes at 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: An attendee in costume attends the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: An attendee in costume poses at the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: An attendee in costume poses at the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Steven A Henry/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: Cosplayers attend 2016 New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz Center on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Stewart/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: Cosplayers attend 2016 New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz Center on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Stewart/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A cosplayer attends 2016 New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz Center on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Stewart/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: Cosplayers attend 2016 New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz Center on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Stewart/WireImage)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A Comic Con attendee poses as Napoleon Dynamite during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A Comic Con attendee poses as Harley Quinn during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A Comic Con attendee poses as Vega from Streetfighter during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A Comic Con attendee poses as a Two-Faced Wonder Woman during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A Comic Con attendee poses as Harley Quinn during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A Comic Con attendee poses as Barf from Space Balls during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A Comic Con attendee poses as The Red Queen during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A general view of atmosphere of cosplayers during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A general view of atmosphere of cosplayers during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)
New York Comic Con 2016 Cosplay
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 08: A general view of atmosphere of cosplayers during the 2016 New York Comic Con - Day 3 on October 8, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images)