Cosplayer Spotlight: Mary Mordrake Cosplay
Updated: May 28, 2019
We are back with Cosplayer Spotlight! This month we sit down with the talented Mary Mordake Cosplay!
Droids: This week we have a treat for our fellow geeks! We get to sit down with the beautiful, Mary Mordrake Cosplay! Thank you for sitting down with us for an installment of Cosplayer Highlight!
Mary: Thanks for having me!
Droids: Easy/typical questions first. What was the first convention you attended? What was the most memorable part of that convention?
Mary: My first con was I think Fan Expo 2007? It was much smaller than it is now, and I went in an EGL (elegant gothic lolita) style dress with makeup based on Death, from the Sandman. I just remember a lot of little things about that con, like lining up to meet Chris Bachalo to get my comics signed, as well as leaving his booth and spotting a pair of Gentern cosplayers from Repo! The Genetic Opera. I remember a lot of amazing cosplayers from that event, like Hawkgirl, Superman, and Rogue, and thinking that I'd love to do something like that one day.
Droids: Is there a cosplay you will not do? If so, and Why?
Mary: I always joke that I'd never cosplay Cyclops because he's probably the only X-Man I really can't stand! But actually, I'd just never cosplay a character I can't connect with on some level. That could be a shared experience, personality trait, or just similar interests, but there's always some kind of connection there. I do a lot of Harley Quinn and X-Men cosplays for that reason. Money's also a factor of course, I've dropped a few characters I've really wanted to do because they're just way out of my budget to bring to life.
Droids: What was your favorite cosplay costume that you've done so far?
Mary: I have to say my classic Harley Quinn, I practically live in it and it's made up of pieces by other cosplayers that I admire. It's come to almost every con with me since 2013, and is also probably my most well received cosplay at cons, by other cosplayers, Harley fans, and oddly, by a lot of younger kids! I'd give an honourable mention to Quicksilver, because I spent forever collecting screencaps and concept art of his belt from Days of Future Past to make it as accurate as possible, and it's my favourite prop/accessory I've made to date. Plus, it's more casual and comfortable for the spring/summer picnics.
Droids: Do you have a favorite convention? If so, which one is it, and why?
Mary: It changes year to year, depending on the experience. Last year it was Niagara Falls Comic Con, because I stayed with friends that I don't normally get to spend time and cosplay with, and also because I finally got to meet Chris Claremont. In 2015 it was Fan Expo, because I got to hang out with literally everyone I know in the con community, and because I met Mads Mikkelsen 3 times over the weekend (hear that? It's the collective groan of everyone who knows my obsession with Hannibal all too well!). This year, Atomic Lollipop is hopefully returning, which is always such a unique and amazing experience compared to your usual con, plus I helped to fund FannibalFest, a fan-run Hannibal convention, so those two will probably be in my tops for 2017!
Droids: What was the hardest costume for you to make to date? What made it so difficult?
Mary: I'm going to go with Apocalypse on this one. I started it back in fall of 2015 with the intention of wearing it to MTCC 2016, and then pushed it back to Fan Expo, and then dropped it entirely to work on other things. This one is my first time heat forming foam and making any sort of armour, and it was intimidating! I think I just felt like it wouldn't be good enough compared to some other Apocalypse (or other armoured) cosplayers I've seen. But hey, everyone has to start somewhere, right? That's what I told myself when I decided to get back to work on it this past winter. I still haven't finished it, purely because the cold and windy weather isn't the best for spray painting and sealing outside, but Apocalypse will definitely be premiering at Fan Expo this year!
Droids: Is there a cosplayer that you look up to for inspiration?
Mary: Oh, so many. Gillykins, for sure, who's been in the cosplay game for much longer than I have and has done so many of my dream cosplays. Her X-Men cosplays are what inspired me to get moving on my own. All the Harley cosplayers I've met on the internet over the years, since my first foray into the SuperheroHype forums looking for inspiration, and from there onto tumblr – Enasni Volz, Elise Archer, and Lady Haha are some of my favourites. I could keep listing cosplayers for days, we have such a vibrant and creative community that's crazy talented and inspires me every day with their work!
Droids: Is there a Con that you have not gone to yet but aspire to do so?
Mary: Again, so many. Wondercon is at the top of my list though, because a lot of the cosplayers (especially Harley cosplayers) that I've loved from a distance for ages go to that one and I'd love to be able to finally meet them! I also want to do DragonCon one day, and Red Dragon Con in the UK because of course I'm a huge Hannibal fan! As I mentioned before, we are getting our own Hannibal con in Toronto this year, which I will be attending, but it would still be so cool to go the UK one as well!
Droids: Do you have a funny experience from a comic con that you want to share?
Mary: My favourite funny moments always happen with the Deadpool cosplayers. I've joined their colouring parties as Captain Marvel, pretended to whack them with a giant mallet as Harley, done photos and fun little interactions in character as Domino, and busted out into spontaneous dance parties in other cosplays!
Droids: Is there anything else you want to add about cosplay or yourself in general or perhaps promote something that may not have already been covered?
Mary: Cosplay's really become my way of connecting with others, making friends, and becoming part of a community. I feel like a whole new world opened up to me when I started cosplaying and getting to know other cosplayers at events. I've joined groups like Ontario DCU, started my own cosplay group for Anime North, and very recently become an admin for Aftercon Meetups in Toronto, to hep organize social gatherings (in or out of cosplay) outside of the convention circuit. As passionate as I am about the crafting and creating aspect, being able to connect to other people, and helping others to meet and connect over shared interests, is my favourite part of cosplay. And as a side note, that cosplay group I mentioned for AN is for Steven Universe, and we are still looking for people to join us! So far we have around 8 characters filled, and we are still welcoming more if any local cosplayers are interested in joining!
Droids: It was an absolute pleasure sitting down with you! Congratulations on your continued success as an amazing cosplayer!
We hope to see you at a Convention some time!