The creativity on display in these costumes is incredible.
This past weekend, nearly 250,000 fans of film, TV, anime, and gaming flocked to the Javits Center in Midtown for celebrity panels, a bustling merchandise market, and a dazzling array of costumes, many of which took countless hours to create.
Amid the throngs of Jedi, superheroes, and armored characters, a delightful gathering of Disney princesses was present, including a unique Ariel whose ball gown was crafted from a repurposed couch purchased during a church rummage sale.
“The moment I spotted it, I thought ‘this is perfect for Ariel,’” remarked Amanda Caswell, 25, who dedicated a month to sew the eye-catching pink-and-white dress. “The fabric of the couch is so comfortable and easy to move in.”
“I adore twirling in a ballgown,” added the New Jersey cosplayer. “Ariel’s journey is so inspiring, as it encourages us all to explore new horizons.”
Caitlin Martin, 35, invested her summer hand-adding rhinestones to her shoes and a matching towel showcasing the New York Comic Con logo, all in tribute to her Cinderella-inspired look.
“The towel took about three weeks, and each shoe required ten hours,” said the Astoria, Queens transplant, noting the elaborate costume cost her several hundred dollars. “I also crafted the babydoll dress and corset myself; the wig is actually two wigs stitched together.”
“I indulged in a lot of TV while working on this,” she confessed, explaining she completed the sleeves for her baby blue dress just that Sunday morning.
As a comic book vendor, Will Damante Jr. observed that the term “Comic Con” has increasingly become a misnomer.
More attendees now don costumes inspired by Disney characters, “Squid Game,” and numerous other elements of pop culture.
“It’s named Comic Con, but it doesn’t always focus on comics,” he expressed.
The passionate comic collector mentioned how Comic Con remains one of his busiest days of the year, yet he noted that economic uncertainties may have kept many fans from splurging in 2025.
From New Milford, New Jersey, Amanda and Fred Alvaro were seen in simpler costumes—an inflatable Godzilla and Mothra—while celebrating their eighth wedding anniversary.
“The level of creativity in cosplay is astounding,” Amanda remarked, having attended with her husband since 2013. “It’s always thrilling to witness the imaginative ideas people come up with.”
A four-legged cosplayer, Benjie the white German shepherd, even sported a cape matching Krypto the Superdog, delighting attendees.
“I got him for a noble cause, but he seems to thrive on all this attention,” said his owner, Bre Azanedo from New Jersey, about the year-old pup who was rescued during a visit to San Diego Comic Con.
Gym owner Sean Cronin, one of Benjie’s fans encountered on Sunday, arrived with a group costume inspired by the Justice League, portraying Superman while his wife Elena represented the Green Lantern along with friends as Hawkgirl and Supergirl.
“With the recent Superman film, we thought this cosplay choice would resonate,” shared Cronin, 37, owner of NYLO Fitness. “If the theme is too niche, it might not be recognizable to everyone.”
In past years, this dynamic duo has embraced group costumes that nod to “Mad Max: Fury Road” and the anime classic “My Hero Academia.”
“Choosing something relevant keeps it engaging for everyone,” he concluded.
