When cosplaying, everyone has their own reasons. Some people dress as a character because they are aesthetically pleasing, while others do it due to having a connection to a character that holds a very significant place in their heart. There are as many reasons to cosplay as there are cosplayers, but two of the most popular types of characters to cosplay are heroes and villains. I personally find enjoyment in cosplaying both heroes and villains, but in very different ways.

The Hero

Cosplaying heroes is always great because it’s so easy to get into their head space. With heroes, everything is much more black and white– good is good and bad is bad. Of course that’s not always the case, but it’s fun to dress as the good guy who gets the girl, or the hero that saves the kid from a bad guy. There’s a type of pride that is almost tangible when going to a convention as a hero and having a little kid run up to you, stars in their eyes, and ask for a picture with you. 

The Villain

Cosplaying the villain is exciting in a whole other way. Villains are often more complicated and fleshed out in their characters and backgrounds, which tends to make their personalities more unique and deep. I’m someone that believes that our past experiences shape us into who we are, so knowing the breaking point for a villain is important to me before cosplaying them. Getting into that headspace is a lot more fulfilling and fun for me. Take Harley Quinn for example– she’s a fun character to cosplay because she’s just so full of personality and quirkiness. She’s pretty crazy, but there’s something fun about strolling through a convention as the bad guy, finding the heroes in a crowd, and sticking your tongue out at them. People still get excited to take pictures with me when I’m dressed as a villain, but I notice it being adults and teens as opposed to little kids.

But why cosplay a villain?

I think as adults it’s easier to relate to the more morally gray mindset that some villains seem to have, which is why many of my favorite characters in stories, comics, and anime are usually the villain. I think there’s just something relatable to some villains in the way that the world doesn’t often show them mercy or luck. When I was in a writing class, my professor explained that in order to have a well rounded character, you have to break them. I believe villains are the characters who broke and couldn’t piece it back together, where heroes often had the support to pick their pieces back up.

Personally, that’s what I’ve always found as a huge difference between heroes and villains: the support and opportunity that was or was not there when they needed it most. You see heroes with tragic experiences in their past, but the difference is they not only kept their heads up, but they had those around them to help them when it felt overwhelming. That is why I advocate for therapy and being transparent about mental health. The more we can normalize talking about trauma, depression, and other things we struggle with, the more we can give one another the support we so desperately need as a community.

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. We do not own nor claim any rights.

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