In Cosplay We Unite: The 40k Community in Quarantine Pt 3
The 40k Cosplay Community is still united in these strange times.
We might be separated from each other physically, we might not be able to see each other in person… But the spirit of community is so strong in the Warhammer 40k world. This week, we take a look into the hearts of some amazing people and see just how the current crisis has affected them-and what keeps them going strong.
The last few weeks of self-isolation have lead to a LOT of free time trolling the internet. I normally spend a fair amount of time looking online for new cosplay ideas, artists I haven’t yet discovered, and new sources of inspiration, but the Quarantine has exacerbated that to the extreme. While glancing at one of my favorite groups (40K Cosplay on Facebook) I came across a heartwarming post from one of my very favorite cosplayers – Dyfrig Griffiths of Iron Warrior Cosplay. If you haven’t heard of him, you obviously haven’t been reading the Bell of Lost Souls Cosplay beat for the last few years, because I have featured this gentleman NUMEROUS times (and for good reason). From my Cosplay Artist Spotlight with him to the Iron Warrior Sax Time video series, down to the beautiful tribute to Brand’s Great Army… Dyfrig has been at the heart of the 40K Cosplay Community for as long as I have been covering it.
So as I clicked along through the 40K Cosplay group last week, I paused to look over a post that Dyfrig put up that day- a gorgeous group shot of a huge group of Cosplayers.
“Really missing my Warhammer family, they are all amazing and beautiful individuals. This is us at Warhammer fest. One big happy Warhammer Cosplay family and I can’t even begin to tell you how much I want to see them all again! IRON WITHIN!!” -Dyfrig Griffiths
This got me to thinking. I absolutely love how close-knit the 40k community is, so why don’t we take some time to showcase it? I sent a private message to Dyfrig, asking him to message his army and have them send me an email with a picture, their social media links, and answers to a few questions. I was NOT prepared for the magnitude of responses, folks. For the next week my inbox was FLOODED with emails, from all parts of the world. I am astounded, and honored, and humbled to see so many people banding together with the sole purpose of connecting, sharing their stories, and showing how much our community CARES. I hope you enjoy the results!
‘Ginger Nutz Cosplay
What Cosplays do you create?
I’ve been cosplaying for about 6 years, started by helping out on indie film sets making props and costumes for friends. From there I moved over to wanting to go to comic cons and wear one of my costumes. I sort of jumped in at the deep end and decided to go for a post apocalypse theme first and began building a Fallout character. That really taught me some big and expensive lessons about cosplaying. I keep going back to the post apocalypse cosplay to continue improving it. As I dove deeper into the cosplay scene I discovered Warhammer cosplay groups and was inspired to do an Imperial Guardsman cosplay. That’s been my main cosplay ever since. I also cosplay a member of House Orlock from Necromunda.
Where are you located?
I live in Burton on Trent but originally from Stoke on Trent, England.
How has the quarantine effected you?
This year should have been Warhammerfest 2020 and one of our biggest gatherings, sadly Covid-19 has put that on hold. The lockdown has been tough on everyone. I’ve had my down days and up days. Not going to hide that I have had a couple of ‘frustration cries’ during the last couple of months. I think we’re all feeling frustrated at the situation but better days are coming.
What do you miss most about the 40k Cosplay Community?
After attending Warhammerfest in 2018, I met fellow Warhammer cosplayers and we formed ‘Adeptus Habitus’. A great family of cosplayers that help, encourage and inspire to get the best out of each other. The biggest thing I miss about our community, due to the lockdown, is the huge sense of family we have when we’re together. We are all great friends and it’s been really tough not being able to get together and swap stories, tips and tricks.
What keeps you going/motivated during these times?
Part of what’s keeping me going is getting more time to build and paint minis and really take the time to improve my cosplaying. So when we do finally get back to cons etc, my cosplays will be the best they can be.
Jack and Jill Cosplay
What cosplays do you create?
Where are you located?
How has the quarantine effected you?
What do you miss most about the 40k Cosplay Community?
What keeps you going/motivated in these times?
Where can we find you online?
DragonheArt
What Cosplays do you do?
Where are you located?
How has the Quarantine effected you?
What do you miss the most about the cosplay community/what you love most about it?
What keeps you going/motivated during these times?
Where can we find you online?
Impatient Cosplay
What cosplays do you create?
Mainly big ones. I already have a Space Marine chaplain (as submitted in picture), and am currently on a yet-to-be-revealed other big build. I’ve also done a genderbent (and sanity-bent) version of Mercy from Overwatch.
Where are you located?
I hail from the South of Jermani
How has the quarantine affected you?
Well, I suspect similarly to most. With all cons for the forseeable future cancelled, realising I won’t be able to see a large part of my friends for a while was quite a blow. Additionally, I’m currently retraining to become a machinist. The classes that are involved with that have been cancelled since February, and all exams moved to later in the year – for now. Luckily, with the way Jermani in general, and my company in particular, has handled the situation, I am still financially stable. Good for craftin’!
What do you miss/ love most about the 40k Cosplay Community?
Specific people like Dragonhe_art, Beard Cosplay, Shrye Cosplay or Iron Warrior Cosplay, as well as non-40k peeps aside: The yelling. Or, to be less joking, the strange openness of it. You can yell “For the Emperor!” at practically everyone showing they’re into 40k, and they’ll yell it back – or they’re heretics and yell “Death to the corpse Emperor” or such nonsense. What I mean is: Doesn’t matter who they are, you can become friends with any stranger within minutes. It’s sorta like yelling “WACKEEEEEN!” at long-haired people, and that’s kinda awesome.
What keeps you going/ inspires you in these times?
Generic things, such as music, and the desire to finish my current project aside, I think of Brand Sabrewulf with quite some frequency. Our boy just kept going and going, and I genuinely find that inspiring. He often keeps me going, or even gets me off my butt in the first place.
Where can we find you online?
instagram.com/impcos_impatient_cosplay
facebook.com/ImpCos
twitter.com/ImpCos
Commissar Zaku
What Cosplays do you create?
Where are you located?
How has the Quarantine effected you?
What do you miss/love most about the 40k Cosplay Community?
What keeps you going/inspires you in these times?
Where can we find you online?
Join us next week for more stories from the Warhammer 40k Cosplay Community!
~Join us next week for more Cosplay Coverage~
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