JCPL’s Cosplay Contest is a time-honored feature of Comic Surge.
Experience incredible, handcrafted costumes. A team of cosplay professionals will judge entrants. And you can cast your vote in our crowd-favorite category!
Ready to show off your creativity? You could win some amazing prizes. We would love to see you or your group enter.
Read on to get inspired and start creating. We’ll see you—and your stunning craftsmanship—on the stage.
Past Winners
Prizes
All prizes are given in Comic Surge Cash which can be used to purchase items from vendors, artists, and authors at Comic Surge.
Prizes are awarded for Children, Teen, Adult, and Group categories. You may enter one category, not both individual and group.
Prizes are awarded in the following amounts:
First prize: $100
Second prize: $75
Third prize: $50
First place prizes will also be awarded to Crowd Favorites for Children, Teen, and Adult categories.
Judges
Yazmin Granlund
Yazmin Granlund is a special makeup effects artist for film and television, co-partner at Kentucky Creature FX, and IATSE Local 798 member based between Los Angeles and Kentucky.
Her recent credits include Twisted (Paramount/Republic Pictures), where she served as makeup department head and special makeup effects artist.
Jay Bryant
Jay Bryant has been cosplaying for 13 years and has won several awards for fabrication and craftsmanship.
He is also owner of Jay Bryant Cosplay and Props located in Beach Grove, Indiana. Jay’s shop features a variety of collectibles to purchase as well as hosting open community gaming and build events.
Jay specializes in custom foam armor and props from a variety of fandoms.
Jennifer Noran
Jennifer Noran started her foray into Steampunk by attending The International Steampunk Symposium in 2015. Noran fell in love with the aesthetic and camaraderie of Steampunk.
Since that time, she’s created The Airship Caduceus out of Lexington, Kentucky, in 2016, ran such events as The Victorian Valentine Affair in 2019 and the Steampunkin’ Halloween Hullabaloo in 2021.
Noran took over running The International Steampunk Symposium in 2023 and has moved forth from that adventure as the Queen Bee of Queen City Steam!
Along with attending and running events, she’s been creating logos and designs for such projects as the Kentucky Steampunk Society, The Chicago Steampunk Exposition, The Atlanta Steampunk Expo, The Traveling Revelers, and her own Airship.
How Costumes Are Judged
Our professional cosplay judges will be judging each contestant’s costume on a scale of 1 – 5 in the following areas:
- Accuracy. Resemblance of cosplay in its entirety to the intended character.
- Craftsmanship. Qualify of craftsmanship of entire cosplay, including sewing, prop construction, wig, accessories, etc.
- Difficulty/Complexity. Attention to detail with respect to the original character’s design complexity and difficulty.
- Portrayal. Resemblance of cosplayer to original character, in-character acting, and character knowledge.
Cosplay Rules
We want everyone to have a safe, fun day at Comic Surge!
Visit our Cosplay Rules page to learn how you can do your part, whether or not you choose to wear a costume.
Cosplay Resources at JCPL
Check out a sewing machine, learn to 3D print in our Creative Space, or read books about cosplay!