Skip to main content

The best cosplays of San Diego Comic-Con 2023

Cosplay is something that you will find at almost every comic book convention across the world. But since San Diego Comic-Con is among the biggest conventions, it tends to a draw large number of fans who show up dressed as their favorite characters. Skill levels can vary from cosplay experts to first-time cosplayers who just want to experience the joy of dressing up in costume among a like-minded crowd. After all, how many times do you get a chance to become your favorite heroes and villains outside of Halloween?

As we did for last year’s Comic-Con, Digital Trends walked the floor of SDCC and asked a select group of cosplayers to let us share their craft with you. There were so many fans in costume that it was simply not possible to see every single cosplay at Comic-Con. But we did the best we could, and these are our picks for the best cosplays of San Diego Comic-Con 2023.

Recommended Videos

Wonder Woman

A fan dressed as Wonder Woman at Comic-Con.
Photo by Blair Marnell

Sometimes the classics are the best. This fan came to Comic-Con as the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman from the ’70s TV series.

The Ash Up

A mash up, or "Ash Up" of Ash Ketchum and Ash Williams.
Photo by Blair Marnell

Have you ever noticed that the lead characters of Pokémon and Evil Dead/Army of Darkness share the same first name? At least one fan at Comic-Con did, and that’s why he created this mash-up (or “Ash up,” as he described it) of Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum and Evil Dead‘s Ashley J. Williams. When it comes to Deadites and pocket monsters, he’s gotta catch ’em all!

Articuno

A fan dressed as Articuno from Pokemon.
Photo by Blair Marnell

This young woman told us that she was dressed as Articuno, one of the bird-like creatures from Pokémon.

Na’vi Warrior

A fan dressed as a Na'vi warrior from Avatar: The Way of Water.
Photo by Blair Marnell

We’re not sure if this fan is dressed as a specific Na’vi character from Avatar: The Way of Water. But this costume is a triumph of body paint and makeup.

Reva Sevander

A fan dressed as Reva Sevander at Comic-Con.
Photo by Blair Marnell

This character, Reva Sevander, hails from the Obi-Wan Kenobi miniseries that streamed on Disney+ last year.

Tomax and Xamot

Two fans dressed as G.I. Joe villains Tomax and Xamot.
Photo by Blair Marnell

Meet the guys who put the evil in evil twins: Tomax and Xamot from G.I. Joe! Or more accurately, Xamot and Tomax, since Xamot is the one who has the scar on his cheek.

Darth Talon

A fan dressed as Darth Talon at Comic-Con.
Photo by Blair Marnell

Darth Talon may have been wiped out of Star Wars continuity when Disney purchased Lucasfilm, but at least one fan came dressed as this distinctive villain.

Darth Nihilus

A fan dressed as Darth Nihilus at Comic-Con.
Photo by Blair Marnell

From the video game Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords comes the terrifying visage of Darth Nihilus. I love that design.

21 and 24

Fans dressed as 21 and 24 from The Venture Bros..
Photo by Blair Marnell

To celebrate the premiere of The Venture Bros. animated movie, two fans came as The Monarch’s loyal henchmen, 21 and 24. However, they have a few demands before they go into battle again.

Sybill Trelawney and Mad-Eye Moody

Fans dressed as Sybill Trelawney and Mad-Eye Moody.
Photo by Blair Marnell

This cosplaying couple came to Comic-Con as two of Harry Potter‘s professors: Sybill Trelawney and Mad-Eye Moody.

The Batman Family

Fans dressed as Robin, Batgirl, and Batman at Comic-Con.
Photo by Blair Marnell

Robin, Batgirl, and Batman. We’re assuming their costumes were partially inspired by the Batman: Arkham games.

Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy

Fans dressed as Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy at Comic-Con.
Photo by Blair Marnell

“Ice to meet you!” This Mr. Freeze cosplayer actually said that, which confirms our suspicion that he and his partner in the Poison Ivy costume were inspired by Batman Forever.

Firestar

A fan dressed as Firestar at Comic-Con.
Photo by Blair Marnell

Meet Spider-Man’s most amazing friend: Firestar! While Firestar is currently a member of the X-Men in the comics, this fan picked her original costume from the ’80s animated series, Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends.

Spotted on Twitter

We didn’t get to see these costumes in person at Comic-Con, but we still wanted to share them here.

Cosplayers from #ComicCon #spiderman #daveyjones #maleficent #peacemaker #ComicCon2023 #SanDiegoComicCon #sandiegocomiccon2023 #SDCC #SDCC2023 #cosplay pic.twitter.com/jS9PrewaOq

— Abel (@Abel_0888) July 24, 2023

Cosplay 4 the Day: SDCC 2023 🖤

@sdcomic_con#unclefester #wednesday #sdcc #cosplay #fandom #con #geek #instagood #addamsfamily #sandiegocomiccon #nerd #sdcc2023 #gameonwithaxcess pic.twitter.com/j4K3Nqr2f9

— Game On with Axcess (@axcess247) July 24, 2023

Some great classic cosplays this year! Hard to choose a favorite. I wonder if these two went more obscure so as not to promote struck work? Well done. #SDCC #SAGAFTRA #cosplay pic.twitter.com/V9NNn5EMtW

— Daniel Noa (@DanielNoa5) July 23, 2023

This thanos cosplay is epic 👏👏 #sdcc pic.twitter.com/aimYn5J1SZ

— Ł•𓂀•F•Ë 🎨 (@LiferGraffiti) July 23, 2023

Blair Marnell
Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek…
5 best Prime Video shows of 2023, ranked
Sam wearing a mechanic's uniform in a garage looking scared while standing by a window in a scene from Gen V.

If you have an Amazon Prime subscription and you aren’t checking out the shows on Prime Video, you’re missing out. The streaming service, which is included as part of an Amazon Prime subscription, has tons of great content. This includes both movies and network shows, both old and new, as well as originals.

When it comes to TV shows, Amazon Prime Video had fabulous ones this year. Four of the five shows listed here were released in 2023 and one returned with its second season this year. The shows are all very different in terms of premises and stories, but all five have one special thing in common: they are totally worth watching. If you're looking for more, check out all the best shows on Amazon Prime Video right now.
5. Gen V (2023-)

Read more
5 best dramas of 2023, ranked
Four brothers sit or stand alongside a fence.

This has been a fantastic year in film, especially for dramas. Superhero films have dominated the box office for nearly 20 years. Yet, a historical drama, Oppenheimer, grossed more at the worldwide box office than the year's highest-grossing comic book movie, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. If you told someone that during The Avengers era, they wouldn't believe you.

Not every drama had to dominate the box office like Oppenheimer to be called a success. Many critically acclaimed dramas have garnered recognition at some of the industry's top award shows. Other dramas have been popular on streaming, where they found a new audience. Below, we selected five of the best 2023 dramas and where you can watch them. Our picks include Oppenheimer, a riveting courtroom thriller, and a wrestling drama that will break your heart.
5. The Iron Claw (2023)

Read more
25 best Thanksgiving movies to stream right now (November 2023)
Steve Martin and John Candy in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

Thanksgiving usually conjures three things for Americans: food, festivities, and football. Lots, and lots, of football. Yet for many, the holiday is also a time to park one's rear in front of the TV set and catch up on the mountain of movies that are waiting in the streaming queue.

Time is precious, so Digital Trends has put together a list of the 25 best movies to watch for Thanksgiving on almost every streamer out there. (Yes, even Tubi.) From obvious classics like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Planes, Trains and Automobiles to films seemingly unrelated to Turkey Day like Moneyball and The Worst Person in the World, these movies will satisfy that emotional craving to have a good time while digesting all those leftovers.
Paramount+
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Read more