As we left the show Sunday afternoon and police stopped traffic to let the crowd cross River Road toward the parking garage, a charity-driven cosplayer calling himself the Colorado Captain was right there alongside them.
It’s that time again! This weekend my wife Anne and I attended the fourth edition of Fan Expo Chicago at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in the suburb of Rosemont, Illinois. In 2022 they arose from the ashes of the late Wizard World Chicago, which we attended eleven times, and have expended tremendous efforts to maintain the previous showrunners’ geek-marketed traditions to keep luring in longtime fans and newcomers alike.
As is the MCC procedure, let’s start with mandatory cosplay photos! The humble duo here at MCC enjoys the panoply of costumes, and appreciates the makers and wearers who enliven every comic-con with their talents and their exaltation of various fandoms. We regret we can only represent a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the total cosplay wonderment that was on display this weekend, especially from cons like this where we spent far more time waiting in lengthy lines that ate up precious time we could’ve spent taking more pics. We’re just an aging couple doing what we can for happy sharing fun.
Enjoy! Corrections, elucidations, and plugs welcome!
Mister Boombox Head Guy welcomes you to Fan Expo Chicago! (Probably not his name.)
Roxy Richter from the Scott Pilgrim multiverse, a fellow fan in Mae Whitman’s autograph line on Friday.
Robotman from the Doom Patrol, voiced by Brendan Fraser in the TV series.
Kermit D. Frog, who is not exactly the same thing but still nailed the flailing “YAAAAAY!”.
A Chicagoan Papal entourage, dispensing real communion wafers.
The sixth party member, a Bears bishop who strayed from the flock.
The Cubs-dalorian.
Cubpool!
Sheriff Woodypool! There’s a chimichanga in his boots!
Santapool!
Normal Santa but attacked by Gremlins.
Galinda, Elphaba. and Tinkerbell.
Different cosplayers, same characters, but later in the timeline.
Tinkerbell also.
Moana’s occasionally helpful pal Maui, who, when I thanked him, sang back, “You’re welcome!”
The Modal Nodes, taking their Mos Eisley sand-lounge act on the road.
The Mandalorian with No Name, last sighted at Indiana Comic Con 2024.
Sam Wilson a.k.a. Captain America.
The White Tiger from Daredevil: Born Again. (The original version was in some of my earliest issues of Spectacular Spider-Man from childhood!)
The unbeatable Squirrel Girl and her amazing friends. (Bonus points for very cute doggo.)
I’M THE JUGGERNAUT!
Venom about to attack another photographer.
Master Chief has finished the fight and is ready for some hugging.
Also huggy: inflatable Olaf.
Not so huggy: inflatable Cartman.
Fellow South Park resident Chef.
Black Chainsaw Man, Pochita’s true form, from Chainsaw Man. (Yes, I had to look this up, and no, despite the awkward wording, this was not fed to me by A.I. I pressed on and tried to read up on him. Never, ever end your searches at the skin-deep A.I. results, kids.)
Online seamstress Madison Wyman of Carpe Noctem Stitchery in a dress of her own making. [Updated 8/18/2025, 7:05 p.m., with thanks to intrepid commentator Reuven!]
We started with a vehicle, we end with a vehicle: Scooby-Doo in the Mystery Machine, handing out Scooby Snacks.
To be continued! Other chapters in this very special MCC miniseries:
Part 2: Celebrities! [coming soon]
Part 3: Comics and More!
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Wow! Yet another great entry of MCC!. My thanks to you as always for writing it up and sharing it w/the world.
I have it on good authority that the cosplayer of the rose dress may be Madison Wyman of Carpe Noctem Stitchery. I wish I could provide more help than that but I suspect further inquiries into the identity of the cool rose dress may be more productively directed towards the individual who perhaps made and wore it?
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Thanks for the lead! I’ll dig into her wares and update accordingly.
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Once again you have captured my husband in your photos. I’ll lay out the ones I can name quickly
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Elphaba & Galinda – That’s So Cosplay
Cub-dalorian – Captain Cubbo
Bears Bishop – Jen Greeley aka Orangegofish
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Papal Group (L to R)
Chicago Sky – Neal Comedian Haze
White Sox – Glenn Reyes
Blackhawks – Laird of Cosplay
Sister Merlot – Mimi DeCarolis Guido
Cubs – Zadok Manny Camacho
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Thanks very much for all those. Funny how that just keeps happening. It’s not like I actively hunt for him!
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