It’s time once more for another cosplayer interview! This next one, shared from Cosplay Blog with a Brain, is an interview with Bob Mask! He’s a friendly cosplayer from Colorado, who does a lot of awesome charity work too!

Bob Mask out of costume

What’s your cosplay alias and why did you choose it?
I don’t use an alias. I do have trouble sometimes convincing people my real name is “Mask”. When I got started it just never occurred to me that I might not want people to know who I was. I totally understand why some folks use them, but if I had to do it all over again I think I would still use my name. I just like being me.

How many years have you been cosplaying and what got you started?
I’ve been doing this for a little over three years now. I got started in sort of a roundabout way. My daughter showed some interest in going to a con so I started doing some research on them. I met some really great folks online who encouraged me to come to a con and to go in costume. After that I just sort of got bitten by the costume bug.

Bob Mask as Batman from Batman. photo by Tori Mask

What has been some of your favorite things to work with when constructing costumes and why?
I love to try new things so I can learn. My sewing is getting better and better all the time. I love talking to people and learning new techniques.

What are you excited to be working with in the future and why?
In the near future I plan on working with several different materials and processes to create my daughter’s first costume. It will be the Carrie Kelly Robin from The Dark Knight Returns. I’m excited for a couple of reasons. First I will be doing more on this costume than any other I’ve worked on so far. Second, I’m really excited that my daughter has taken an interest in costuming.

What are some of the traits you like to see in other costumes and who do you think does well in them?
I love to see people who pay super attention to detail and really take pride in presenting the best costume possible. I have a number of friends who consistently inspire me with their creations. Margie Cox, Brin Londo, Eric Moran, Kristi Kai, Alys Adamantium, Victoria Lee and Leman Yuen are just some of the amazingly creative people who have helped me.

What is your view of the “cosplay scene”?
I try not to get too caught up in all the stuff going on. I do this to have fun and try to make people smile. I consider many of the people I have met through cosplay as family. And I love meeting new people.

What are some of the things you want to see change in the scene?
I guess I wish more people could just have fun with it. It seems like more and more people are looking at it as a way to become well known. Don’t get me wrong, if someone can make a living guesting at cons, selling pictures and etc. I say more power to you. Anyone who can make a living doing something they love is way ahead in the game of life.

Bob Mask as The Creeper from DC Comics, photo by Pat Loika

What is some advice you could give people starting to get into cosplay?
I would say “have fun”! Don’t be afraid to try new things and don’t shy away from meeting new people. You never know when you might meet a friend for life!

What are some of your favorite conventions you’ve attended and why?
Well I’ve only been doing this for a few years, so I’m still somewhat new. I’ve been to MegaCon in Orlando several times. I love Mega because it’s like a family reunion for me. I see a lot of friends there. I’ve done Dragon Con a couple of times. You gotta love DC for the spectacle of it all. I’ve been to Denver Comic Con all three years. And I am now very heavily involved with Rocky Mountain Con. I’m hoping to visit some smaller cons throughout the country over the next few years.

Give a random fact about one of your costumes that you’re proud of!
Well let’s see…I guess it would be the cape for my NightOwl costume. It is a huge cape that is fully lined. It is the first thing I created from beginning to end; from idea to pattern to sewing and completion. And I think it turned out pretty well if I do say so myself.

Bob Mask as NightOwl from The Watchmen, photo by Tori Mask

Thanks for the interview, Bob Mask! You can check out the convention he works with, Rocky Mountain Con, here!

Koi

A cosplayer for over a decade now, Yunie is a giant nerd who still pretends she’s cool. She runs several sites on her own, including Engi no Shouzoku! Cosplay, Cosplay Blog with a Brain, and her store, Yunie’s Designs. An avid fan of fellow nerds, Yunie loves attending conventions and dorking around in costumes with all types. Oh, and if there’s shenanigans, even better!

More Posts - Website

Follow Me: