Categories
Geekery Interesting RTD Original

8 Sci-Fi Rooms That Are Out of This World

Love geeky stuff? How about a whole room? Here are some of the most mind-blowingly geektastic rooms, apartments and houses you could ever hope for.

Star Trek Federation Apartment, Engage

This is actually a bit of a sad story, as Tony Alleyne spent ten years converting his apartment to look like a shuttle craft from Star Trek: The Next Generation. All in all, he estimated it would have cost around $140,000 in parts and labor to hire a contractor to do the work.

Unfortunately, Tony’s wife, who he separated from when he started working on the apartment, owned the property. When the couple finally filed for divorce in 2012, she decided the apartment would be worth more without the Star Trek theme, so she gutted the work done and now this marvelous tribute to one of the world’s most popular sci-fi franchises is no more than a memory. At least we can still enjoy the pictures and remember what once was.

Allons-Y With the TARDIS Control Room

The interior of the TARDIS may change with every reincarnation of The Doctor, but the heart of the ship remains the same. And a lot of heart is precisely what makes this amazing TARDIS control room by JP Fox so fantastic.

JP did all the electrical, lighting, design, painting and construction himself within one ear. He was able to do it on a fairly tight budget as well, since he already owned all the timber and works at a factory with random spare parts that worked perfectly to decorate the console.

Basement to Bridge

For those who aren’t sure about converting their entire home into a tribute to their favorite tribble-filled sci fi program, the basement is a great place to start. Trekie Line Rainville, spent $30,000 renovating hers to look like a ship Captain Kirk could walk into at any minute. The Canadian social worker re-created parts of the transporter room, recreation room, observation deck, Spock’s quarters, and, of course, the bridge.

Originally, the idea was to just make a home theater where Line could relax, but once she started, she soon became obsessed and couldn’t stop until the whole basement was completed.

The Home Theater You’re Looking For

When you think about Hawaii, you probably don’t imagine any of the sets or characters from Star Wars, but if you visit this stunning mansion in Honolulu, you might. That’s because tucked in the massive space is quite possibly the best home theater dedicated to Star Wars in the entire galaxy.

The ceiling features a 3D fiber optic starscape and the door is motorized to look and operate the same way as those on Disney’s Star Tours. Inside the theater are life-size replicas of R2-D2 and C-3P0 that talk to the audience while the film isn’t playing.

The ceiling features a 3D fiber optic starscape and the door is motorized to look and operate the same way as those on Disney’s Star Tours. Inside the theater are life-size replicas of R2-D2 and C-3P0 that talk to the audience while the film isn’t playing.

Drink With The Dark Side

This mansion in Carmel, IN has its own bar complete with a Star Wars theme. Unfortunately, the owners opted not to replicate the Mos Eisley Cantina, but getting to show Darth and The Emperor your billiard skills while staring at the stars of a distant galaxy is still pretty fantastic. Best of all, this home can be yours at the cool price of $4.5 million.

Where No Theater Has Gone Before

This fan-made home theater was made primarily with lumber, dry wall and love.  The home owner, Gary Reighn, converted a corner of his unfinished basement into the theater. The great thing about this project is that it shows that you don’t need to be a millionaire just to have a home theater, even one with an amazing theme. You just need some creativity, time and imagination to make it work.

The Painting on the Walls

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Photo by Walls Of Art LLC Muralist. See more traditional spaces designs

If you really want an amazing sci fi room, the walls are a great place to start and Tony of Walls of Art in Minneapolis has quite the skills when it comes to turning an ordinary white wall into an epic Star Wars scene. Here are just a few examples of his amazing artwork that manage to take a pretty typical room into a science fiction themed masterpiece in no time.

Open the Stargate

Despite their popularity, anyone who has even basic knowledge of geek culture knows that Star Wars, Star Trek and Doctor who are far from the only worthwhile sci fi franchises out there. And when it comes to home design, this Stargate theater might just be the most beautiful sci fi room out there.

The ceiling reveals a night sky filled with stars and swirling comets that appear at 30 to 60 second intervals. It can even be adjusted for different effects such as clouds. The 96 inch screen is located within the legendary Stargate itself, which is made from fiberboard adorned with the glyphs that are backlit with Christmas lights. The circle within the Stargate can light up blue so it even looks like the Stargate does before transport.

Most people might not have the time, energy or money to dedicate to converting part or all of their living space into a shrine to their favorite sci fi franchise. But even for those who would never consider doing so, these great designs provide some great inspiration for minor home redecorations –especially when you’re looking to make your house feel a little more futuristic.

Categories
Crafts Holidays Interesting New Products or Services RTD Original

Wonderful Vases Perfect for Mother’s Day

If you’re looking to get your mom a little something beyond the standard bouquet this Mother’s Day, you may consider a beautiful vase that she can hold onto long after her flowers have wilted away. No matter what kind of mom you are lucky enough to have, there is certain to be one piece in this list that will fit right in with her home decor.

Serpentine Wood

This unique vase looks different from every angle. With sweeping wood shapes flowing around a standard glass form, art-lovers are sure to love this creation by EvensensProductions.

St. Germain

This elderflower liquor has a legion of fans and a uniquely beautiful look. If your mother has joined the cult of St. Germain, she’ll love this stunning vase by BottlesNWood made from one of the brand’s iconic and crystal-like bottles.

Tall Iris

Delicate and graceful, this vase sold by AndreasAntiquesFinds is a lot like the flower it is meant to depict.

Photo-Filled

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this personalized vase that can be filled of images that show Mom what she means to you is absolutely priceless. Etsy seller Jenny Gaynor will also leave a note and a special date on the base of the vase to add even more significance to the piece.

Test Tubes

This striking test tub vase set by Etsy seller JupiterCarpentry is perfect for those who simply love science, as well as those who want to display their blooms in an all new way.

Customized Birch

Etsy seller PartySparkles customizes lovely wood vases so you can engrave them with your mother’s initials, you and your siblings initials or a message that reads “ILU.”

Anatomical Heart

Is your mom more of a Morticia Addams than a Martha Stewart? Then rather than going with something pretty, make her go batty over one of these fascinating anatomical heart vases by Etsy seller Dellamorteco. Available in redblackpewter or transparent with veins, they’re the perfect way to say “I love you even just the bloody way you are.”

2D Made 3D

If your mother loves drawings over sculptures then she just might prefer this great illusionary vase from CraftPrintsByV that looks like a drawing made real.

Puzzle Pieces

A perfect fit for any puzzle-fanatics, this cool 3D wall sconce by SJPuzzles is made up of beautifully painted jigsaw pieces.

Caterpillar-Inspired

Why settle for one bouquet when you can share many? The caterpillar vase by RiversEdgeRelics displays six different bundles of blooms at a time in a fun, bubbly line.

Deer Head

Ideal for an animal-loving mother, this clever design by DobrCeramics lets you replace antlers with beautiful floral displays or even plain branches.

If you think your mom might want something besides a vase, Etsy also has tons of handmade creations she’s sure to love. Whatever you get your mom this holiday, Happy Mother’s Day.

Categories
Crafts Holidays Interesting RTD Original

12 Fun Easter Crafts You Can Do With Your Kids

If you’re looking to create some fun projects with your kids this spring, here are a few fun Easter crafts you can make as a family and proudly display around your home.

Peeps Wreath

The great thing about making this wreath from Eclectically Vintage with your kids is that you can enjoy making something that lasts for years with some of your favorite people while your kids can enjoy munching on Peeps that won’t make their way onto the wreath. Just make sure you buy enough Peeps to account for snacking.

Fluffy Bunny Wreath


If you’d prefer not to fill the kids with too much candy, this cute bunny wreath by Hoosier Homemade is simple and safe enough to make with your youngsters -who will love the resemblance to a certain bunny that only visits once a year.

Easter Bunny Door

Alternatively, rather than decorating the door with a bunny, why not make your door into a bunny? This cute design by East Coast Mommy Blog is sure to be a hit with kids everywhere.

Tulip Bulbs In Vases

Here’s a great way to teach your kids about botany all while growing a stunning centerpiece for your Easter dinner. Just follow the directions from Homes To Love and you’ll soon be on your way to growing flowers right in the vase.

Easter Bunny Flower Pot

Another great way to teach kids about the way plants grow is to have them plant grass. With this cute craft by Kids Fun Reviewed, you also get the benefit of having grass grow right out of the Easter Bunny’s head.

Bunny Chalk

Want to teach your kids that simple chemistry makes some of the things they love to play with? Then work with them to make these cute bunny chalks by A Bubbly Life and then let them go crazy coloring the sidewalk with the completed results.

Hand Print Bunnies

Hand print turkeys are treasured by parents everywhere and now you can bring that tradition alive during Easter too by making hand print bunnies like this one on Imgur. Just make sure you keep the kiddo’s thumb dry or your bunny will end up with a weird growth from the side of his face.

Candy-Filled Flower Vases

Peeps and jelly beans can really brighten up a flower arrangement and all you need to duplicate this look featured on The Laws of My Life are two vases (one that fits neatly inside the other), candy and flowers. Best of all, you and the kiddos can munch on any leftover candy.

Crazy For Carrots Centerpiece

With all the candy spread around by the Easter Bunny, it’s a great time to remind kids that veggies can be tasty too -in fact, they’re the preferred food of that legendary bunny. This vase by Chic Style is simple, beautiful, and a great way to get your youngsters to munch on a few extra carrots.

Bunny Banner

This simple paper craft is so kid-friendly that the creator at Serving Pink Lemonade even created the original with the help of her own tiny assistant.

Paint Sample Garland

For youngsters that just can’t get enough colors, you can also try turning paint swatches into Easter eggs and then making a garland from those as seen on Modern Parents Messy Kids.

Easter Egg Window Art

These simple foam window decorations by Pleasantest Thing look absolutely charming and happy, but best of all, your kids can put them up and decorate them all on their own.

Have a Happy Easter dear readers!

Categories
Fashion Geekery RTD Original

Punk Rock Geeks Unite: Nerdy Patches and Pins!

These days, geeks aren’t just dorks in bow ties with glasses, but anyone with a soft spot for comic books, books, video games, sci fi and all other wonderfully nerdy pursuits. And that includes a lot of punk rockers who might like to have fashion with a little edge, but also want to celebrate their love of books, Disney, Dungeons and Dragons and so many other wonderful things. If you’re looking to get a gift for such a person this Christmas or just want some new patches and pins for your collection, you won’t want to miss this post!

Do or Do Not

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There is no “try to be cool,” do or do not by wearing this patch by Think Patch instead.

Mr. Robot

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E Corp may be real, but you can bring a little Mr. Robot into your real life with this patch by Karma Patch that hopefully doesn’t induce psychosis.

I Want to Believe

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Do you still believe in Mulder? Prove it with this great patch by Think Patch.

Druid D20

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Every druid should get their hands on this epic pin by The Secret Cat Shop.

Creepy and Kooky

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If you’d marry into the Addam’s clan without a second’s thought, then you need to get your hands on this patch by Thor’s Threads.

Socially Impaired

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Here’s one I personally relate to. Brag about your own social awkwardness with this patch by the appropriately named Printrovert.

Don’t Panic

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Don’t worry, this place is mostly harmless, but remind others not to panic with this patch by The Happy Hours.

Treat Yo Shelf

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Your love of Parks and Rec combined with books? Yes please! Pin by Infinite and Darling.

Han Shot First

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Yes, the call of the real Star Wars nerd is embroidered beautifully in this Han Shot First patch by Geek Parade.

Navi Pokemon Card

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This Navimon pin by TomaytoTomahtoShop is the perfect blend of the Legend of Zelda and Pokemon.

Mario Bullet

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Wear your love for this classic Mario villain on your sleeve thanks to Etsy seller SpnStickerPatches.

Disney Original

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Your babe doesn’t need to be in a biker gang just to have her own tough-guy patch. Just get her this adorable Disney Original patch by bohemianblue instead.

Mischief Managed

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This mischief managed pin by Midnight and Vine is perfect for Harry Potter lovers everywhere.

For the Horde!

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Can’t stand those self-righteous Alliance jerks? Then show your Horde pride with this patch by Kelticism.

Action Surge!

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This Action Surge pin by Paolas Pixels is a critical hit with the D&D crowd.

Patch Banner Displays

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I know, I know, it’s easy to go overboard when buying patches and pins and realize you have too many to wear on your gear. Well, now there’s a solution for that -let your wall “wear” them with these cool patch banners by Santos Demonios.

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They even come with velcro attachments so you can switch them out as you see fit. You could even add velcro to your favorite jacket – click here for more info and switch out your patches between your jacket and your banner.

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Here are the links for the XL (holds 18 patches), medium (holds 12) and small (holds 10) (shown in that order).

Note: this article contains affiliate links, however, these products are all things we would highly endorse without extra incentive because they’re so cool.

Categories
Comic-Con Geekery Interesting RTD Original

San Diego Comic Con Cosplay From 2018

It’s a little later than usual and there are fewer pictures than usual (you try taking an eight month old with you and still taking hundreds of cosplay pictures). But seeing as how some of the only posts we even put up on this site are the yearly Comic Con cosplays and the fact that we’ve now done it for ten years, it just felt wrong to skip posting altogether. So here are some of the best cosplays spotted at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con.

Movies:

This guy had the Barbosa spirit down -and a monkey!

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Fun fact, this kid wasn’t even with the rest of the group, but just popped in for a picture.

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Jay and Silent Bob had a kid together? Who knew?

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Trelawney and Hagrid look fabulous together.

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No Luna Lovegoods ever bother to put together the lion head hat.

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Comic Con is so hot right now.

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Love this rebellious Twi’lek.

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This little Beetlejuice and Lydia were so into their costumes.

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This guy really got into character.

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Great Scott! #DocToTheFuture

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Gotta love seeing older Han and Leia together.

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Television:

This zombie with his dead dog just killed me.

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Shame! Shame!

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Comics:

This might be my personal favorite cosplay from the whole weekend.

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These Gotham Gals have it going on!

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This is a killer Killer Croc cosplay.

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Hawkman’s wings are soooo cool.

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Wakanda is in good hands.

SDCC cosplay 2018

Sorry this picture sucks, but this Storm was awesome.

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This Venom looked amazing!

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Steampunk Green Lantern? Why not?

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Check out this sexy Cat Wo(man).

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Cartoons:

You’ve gotta love someone who goes all out for his Ash costume.

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All hail the Crimson Chin and beware the Bronze Kneecap.

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This Jasmine looked simply stunning.

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Aladdin even had his own magic carpet.

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Bill was looking sexy in his fishnets and heels.

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This guy was part of the Laika Live exhibit -and he looked amazing.

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Bob and Linda Belcher look great, but Jimmy Pesto isn’t looking so good these days.

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This guy makes a great Milhouse.

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There are tons of Jessica Rabbits every year, but never that many Rogers, until this year.

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Jessica and Roger, again.

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I loved this guy’s Up! cosplay.

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I’ve never seen Deathnote cosplay before.

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Video Games:

Bal Rog from Street Fighter looks perfect!

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This chocobo earned an award from the masquerade judges -even though she didn’t enter the masquerade.

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Mashups:

A Sith and a Spider-Man? Use the Spidey-Force!

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Mary Anne isn’t just a classic Gilligan’s Island character, in this case, she’s also a Trill.

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Bob Ross Deadpool? Why not?

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Unknown:

As a traditional part of my San Diego Comic Con cosplay roundup, I’ll leave a few of these here for you to identify since I can’t. This strange fellow is something mixed with Woody from Toy Story, but what?

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Is this Disney-loving Frankenstein from somewhere in particular or just a cool original creation?

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A pirate needs a mermaid, but is this lovely bright blue merman from somewhere in particular?

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I assume these two are from a video game, but I don’t know which one.

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Want more? Then check out this year’s sexy cosplays, great mashups and genderswaps. Also, don’t miss our general cosplay from Comic Con 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and from WonderCon 2014 and 2013, as well as our past sexy cosplay pictures of ladies from 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008, the hot guys from 2016, 2012 and 2011 (there just aren’t as many most years) and both genders from 2015 and  2017.

Categories
Comic-Con Geekery Hotties RTD Original

Sexy Costumes Spotted at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con

Are you ready to drool? Because we’ve got ten of the sexiest lady cosplayers and one hot dude from this year’s San Diego Comic Con.

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Victoria Barajas is looking good here as Poison.

Sexy San Diego Comic Con Cosplay

And here is Vera Bambi’s sexy take on Inspector Gadget.

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I’d wrestle with this gorgeous lady.

Sexy San Diego Comic Con Cosplay

For those not in the know, this is not a Harley/Captain America mashup, but a GLOW cosplay.

Sexy San Diego Comic Con Cosplay

These babes might e a little mature, but they’ve still got it.

Sexy San Diego Comic Con Cosplay

Boop boopy doop! Wow!

Sexy San Diego Comic Con Cosplay

Beetlebabe! Beetlebabe! Beetlebabe!

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Check out this Captain America doll.

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These gals are purrfect!

Sexy San Diego Comic Con Cosplay

She may be sexy, but she’s also just plain cute.

Sexy San Diego Comic Con Cosplay

And here’s one for the ladies, a little Zardoz for you.

Don’t miss out on seeing our past sexy cosplay pictures of ladies from 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008, the hot guys from 2016, 2012 and 2011 (there just aren’t as many most years) and both genders from 2015 and 2017 as well as general cosplay from Comic Con this year, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and from WonderCon 2014 and 2013.

Categories
Comic-Con Geekery Hotties RTD Original

Seven Sexy Costumes From The 2017 Comic Con

We always do a sexy costume roundup after Comic Con, but this year, there just weren’t as many as usual -though there did seem to be more men this year. While there weren’t quite so many, it just felt wrong to skip this yearly tradition, so here are some of the hottest babes and dudes at the con:

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Like these pics? Then don’t miss out on seeing our past sexy cosplay pictures of gals taken in 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008, the hot guys from 2016, 2012 and 2011 (there just aren’t as many most years) and both genders from 2015 and general cosplay from Comic Con 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 as well from WonderCon 2014 and 2013.

Categories
Comic-Con Geekery RTD Original

Over 125 Cosplay Costumes from the 2017 San Diego Comic Con

Love cosplay? Then you won’t want to miss this epic collection of over 125 cosplayers in their wonderful costumes from the 2017 San Diego Comic Con. There’s a lot of pictures here, so let’s get going! And don’t miss our list of the sexiest cosplays from this year here.

Comic Books:

she hulk

gotg 3

wonder woman 4

jubilee

joker

harley

wonder woman 3

gotg 2

joker 2

constantine

wonder woman 5

yandu poppins

joker and harley

SDCC 2017 cosplay (75)

deadpool

gotg

wonder woman

harley 2

batgirl

wonder woman 2

SDCC 2017 cosplay (27)

bat family

thor

Movies:

aliens

crow

bat country

star wars

rey

beetlejuice

star wars

hobbits

c 3p0

gladiator

star wars 2

boba fett

indiana jones

SDCC 2017 cosplay (33)

kylo ren

Cartoons:

quail man

ninjago

Love Live!

SDCC 2017 cosplay (37)

tmnt

rick and morty good

rapunzel

my little ponies

SDCC 2017 cosplay (21)

princess monoke

maui

pokemon

frozen

SDCC 2017 cosplay (1)

moana

lumpy space princess

velma

atlantis

disney baddies

mermaid man barnacle boy

transformer

mermaid kimono

coon

mad tea party

SDCC 2017 cosplay (3)

gravity falls

Tv Shows:

firefly

got 2

got 4

whovians

jayne

glen

it

stranger things

got 3

handmaids

star trek

got

Video Games:

princess kenny

mario

skyrim

mario 2

SDCC 2017 cosplay (80)

mario (2)

omnigul

zelda

fallout

witcher

prince peach

Other:

cosplay repair

steampunk tinman

steampunks

SDCC 2017 cosplay (111)

steampunk

Unknown:

Like every year, there are a lot of of cosplays out there and I can’t possibly recognize them all. That’s where you come in! Help me identify the characters in these cosplays and earn bonus points on your Geek Card.

clown

Obviously this is a super creepy clown, but what is he from specifically?

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I admit, I have no clue where this guy is from at all.

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She looks like a Blizzard character, but that’s just a guess. Thank you AGirlNamedMichael and Silvere for pointing out that this is a Blood Elf Paladin from WOW.

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He looks like a cartoon character.

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These two look great together, even if I can’t recognize them.

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Take your time trying to figure out who the one on the right is, Dr. Fate is the one on the left though. Thanks to Steph who explained that the guy next to Dr. Fate is the main character from Persona 5.

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The guy is from Xavier Renegade Angel, but is the gal? Turns out they’re both from Stephen Universe and thanks to Steph I now know this is Jasper and Yellow Diamond.

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On the left is a Gears of War character and Pyramid Head is on the right, who is the girl in the middle though? Thanks Steph and Erin for explaining that this is Rosita from The Walking Dead.

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This lion martial artist looks anything but cowardly, but where is he from?

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This is a Snow White mashup, but what is he mashed up with?

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We’ve got a steampunk Batman on the right, who is on the left though?

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It’s possible this is a genderswapped Peach, but it’s also possible that I am dead wrong about that. I was, unsurprisingly, wrong about who this was and Steph correctly identified him as Giorno Giovanna from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.

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Who is this mysterious elven maid?

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This costumes are amazing. Does anyone know where they come from?

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Obviously we have Snow White and her prince here, but who is the girl in the middle? Thank you Chris (David) for pointing out that the girl getting between Snow and her prince is Liliana from Magic the Gathering.

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It’s possible the guy on the left is Speedy, but is that for sure, and who are the other two?

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Venom is unmistakable, but who is the masked character on the left?

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This costume is really cool even if I can’t tell you what it is. I actually played Dragon Age 2 and still didn’t recognize Arishok, so thanks once more to Steph!

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This guy’s floating illusion was amazing, still, I don’t recognize his costume. And this is Zenyatta from Overwatch, identified once again thanks to Steph!

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This puppy killer is pure evil, but who is he? Steph says this is Dr. Suchong the BioShock  and I’m inclined to believe her.

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Red Hood is on the left, but who is the kick ass warrior on the right?

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Anyone recognize these two gals?

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I’m guessing these two come from an anime, but which one? This is Franky and Sabo from One Piece, once again identified by Steph.

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Where is this beautiful warrior from? Thank you for isweedan for identifying Dee from the comic Rat Queens.

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This guy looks so futuristic, but what future is he from?

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These costumes look incredible, help me place them.

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She’s pretty unmistakable -if you’re actually familiar with the character, which I’m not. This one is a genderswapped Junkrat from Overwatch, identified by Steph.

waldo

This guy looks like a post-apocalyptic Waldo, but he’s missing the trademark glasses and cane, so I could be wrong. According to Michael, this is a Where’s Waldo/Walter White mashup. Personally, I think he needs either a pork pie or stripped knitted cap if he really wanted to make this one obvious.

Like these pics? Then don’t miss out on seeing our past cosplay pictures from Comic Con 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 as well as hot ladies at Comic Con from 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008, the hot guys from2016, 2012 and 2011 (there just aren’t as many most years) and both genders from 2015 and 2017. I also have pictures from WonderCon 2014 and 2013.

Categories
Comic-Con Geekery

11 Things You Should Know Before Going to the San Diego Comic Con

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If you’re going to the SDCC for the first time this year (or any year), the experience can be equal parts intimidating and exciting. Here are the tips to know before going in order to make the trip as rewarding and fun as possible.

Don’t Fall for the “Line Ride”

Lines, lines, everywhere you look there are lines!
Lines, lines, everywhere you look there are lines!

There’s an old Simpson’s episode where Bart insists they wait in a huge line at Duff Gardens, explaining, “if a line is this long, it’s got to be good” -then the camera pulls up to reveal they’re in line for the complaints department. Unfortunately, some people at Comic Con seem to live by that mentality and just jump in any line they see.

There are a ton of lines at Comic Con (just about every signing, giveaway, photo opp and convention exclusive draws its own massive line). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked someone what they are waiting in line for only to be told they don’t know -half the time the people just assume they’ll get an autograph or toy they can resell later.

While I shouldn’t have to explain how stupid it is to waste your own time waiting in line for something when you don’t even know what it is, it’s also worth noting that doing so is also incredibly selfish because just about every line at the convention is limited to a certain number of people, so by standing in line for something you don’t care about, you’re also likely to be taking a space from someone who legitimately cares about what’s in the front of that line.

If you’re thinking “what if I want to get stuff to resell?” let me be the first to let you know that most of the autographs at the convention would never sell for good money. As for the toys, they usually go for a lot right after the convention, but most of them lose their value about a month later -so just let someone who actually wants to own the collectibles buy them rather than hoping you can make some money on it later.

Know When to Buy What

Perhaps the most exclusive toy of all time
Perhaps the most exclusive toy of all time

For most people, half of the point of Comic Con is to buy collectibles, artwork and toys from the massive exhibit hall. But there’s an art to the timing of buying goodies at the convention.

Overall, if you want a limited edition item, a Comic Con exclusive or something that the vendor only has a handful of, buy it as soon as you can. These items will sell out quickly and I can’t tell you how many people I know waited to buy one of these rarities only to come back (sometimes in as little as 15 minutes) and find the stock was completely sold out. Some Comic Con exclusives require you to participate in a lottery system and then come back at a certain time of the day and obviously those types of rules are what you have to abide by if you’re getting something of that nature.

Buy posters and artworks late in the day so you can get them out of the convention with minimal risk. The exception, of course, is if the artist (or actor/band member/writer, etc. of the work depicted) is signing things that day. In this case, you’ll want to buy the poster in advance so it can be signed, but try to find out in advance if the person doing the signing will only be signing a specific item or you could be wasting your time and/or money.

If you have a badge that’s good for Sunday, you might want to wait until just before closing to make that big purchase you’ve been planning (assuming it’s probably not going to sell out in which case you should absolutely buy it as soon as possible). Most vendors are happy to minimize the amount of stuff they have to pack up and bring back with them, so they’re often happy to offer deals on the last day of the convention. Don’t wait too long to start your negotiations though or you might get thrown out by security before you seal the deal.

On a final note, there are often exclusives that are practically impossible to get a hold of. Vendors throughout the convention might end up getting a few and reselling them for a small markup, which is often worth paying. If you can’t get a hold of an item during the convention though, be assured it will almost certainly end up on eBay. If you absolutely must have and will pay any cost to get your exclusive, buy it on eBay right away while there are still some available.

If you don’t mind taking a small gamble though, most exclusives drop drastically in value a month after the convention is over. Wait a few months and assuming people are still listing it on eBay and that exclusive will often end up going for the same price it did at the convention -and sometimes for even less.

Take Public Transportation

Not even Batman would want to drive around here
Not even Batman would want to drive around here

San Diego is a car-oriented city with a mediocre public transportation system. That being said, the one place with good public transportation is the downtown area and with a Comic Con badge, getting around is even easier since the convention offers free 24 hour shuttle service going all over downtown and to a few other areas that have a lot of hotels. There are also pedicabs and Ubers everywhere if you want to get somewhere a little faster.

Parking in downtown is notoriously bad when there’s nothing going on there. During the biggest annual event in the city, you’re lucky if you can find parking within an hour of arriving downtown. Most spaces are subject to a two hour maximum and you can bet your butt that the city is on top of those time limits.

If you’re willing to pay for a lot, most far away lots charge at least $20 (and you’re still going to have to walk an extra mile or two to get to the convention) and the closer you get, the greater the chance the lots will be completely sold out. In fact, ACE Parking and a few other companies sell spaces online prior to the event and those spaces were sold out over a month before the convention even started.

If you’re a local, drive to a trolley station with a lot of parking and then take the trolley the rest of the way. If you’re a tourist, you probably should just forgo renting a car at all, but if you insist on having something to drive, leave it at the hotel unless you’re going somewhere besides the downtown area.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

Even socks are geeky at the SDCC
Even socks are geeky at the SDCC

Even if you do take the trolley right from where you dropped off your car or from your hotel and got off right across the street from the Convention Center and even if you don’t plan on doing anything outside the Convention Center, chances are you’re still going to be walking a lot.

The Comic Con exhibitors hall is over three miles long and that’s if you start at one end and walk in an organized fashion to get through all the booths. More realistically, you’ll end up walking five miles to cover the whole thing because you’ll double back, have to walk to the restrooms, trek to a specific booth to get someone’s autograph at a certain time.

And, let’s be honest, most people don’t just come and walk the floor and go home. You’ll probably also leave the convention to get some decent food rather than a poor-quality $15 burger with a $4 soda. You’ll want to check out all the crazy things movie and tv studios set up outside the Convention Center. You’ll probably want to do something in the evening too since all of downtown basically becomes one giant geek party.

I actually used Google Maps to estimate how much my boyfriend and I walk on a typical day at Comic Con and the answer was between 15-20 miles. Granted, we have press badges and we geek out trying to cover every single thing we possibly can, but I think most people who actually eat outside the Convention Center and do stuff in the evening tend to walk at least 10 miles a day.

And yet, I can’t tell you how many women I’ve seen try to do as many convention-related activities as is humanly possible all in stiletto heels. Do your feet a favor, wear your most comfortable set of shoes and if you don’t have any, buy some now and break them in before the convention.

You Don’t Have to Cosplay

But I'm still pretty glad this guy did
But I’m still pretty glad this guy did

Whenever I tell someone who has never been to Comic Con that I’m going to go, the first question is always “are you going to dress up?” And with a few rare exceptions, the answer is always “no.” Pop culture, particularly shows like The Big Bang Theory, has made the general populace assume that anyone attending a convention will always cosplay as their favorite character, but that’s just not true.

If you have cosplay skills and have been working on a costume, by all means, wear it! Comic Con is a great place to show off good cosplay and find people that are truly appreciative of your talents.

That being said, if you were just going to wear a costume you bought off the rack and wore for Halloween a few years back, skip it. You’ll get far more compliments and love for a geeky tee shirt than you will for a crappy polyester and plastic Superman costume.

Wearing normal clothes is also going to keep you a lot more comfortable, which matters a lot at Comic Con. Just because everyone envisions San Diego as a magical land where the weather is always a comfortable 80 degrees doesn’t make that a reality. There have been years where it has been 95 degrees. There have been years where it’s been 85 degrees but with so much humidity that it felt like 95 degrees. There have been years where it has been 70 degrees and rainy. Wearing crappy, store-bought cosplay costumes isn’t just going to make you look like a half-assed fan, it’s also going to leave you uncomfortable. Check the weather reports before you go and then wear something you’ll feel comfortable in.

Get Ready to Party

Comic Con is easily the biggest event in downtown San Diego and with so many bars and restaurants all trying to compete to bring in the most geeks, the whole area turns into one giant nerd party. A lot of big-name movies even rent whole lots to host exclusive parties and while you might not be able to get in, you can sometimes catch major bands like Weezer if you’re willing to stand across the street from a huge Hollywood party.

Over the last few years, MTV took over the Padres’ baseball stadium across the street from the convention to host a huge party with food, rides and live bands -and that’s open and free to everyone!

While few people leave the downtown area during the day, many attendees are willing to take a journey after the exhibitors hall closes and now there are nerd events all over the county trying to attract Comic Con attendees with live music, burlesque and art shows. If you’re looking to do more with your evenings than go to bed and wake up early for another long day at the convention, it pays to do a little research into events going on outside the convention.

I personally recommend fans of geeky rap to check out MC Chris, who has been featured on multiple Adult Swim shows, most notably Aqua Teen Hunger Force, at The Music Box on Thursday, July 20 or Mega-Ran, who takes inspiration from the classic Mega Man video game series, at The Merrow on Friday, July 21.

Skip Hall H

The worst line of all
The worst line of all

For those who know nothing about Comic Con, the phrase “Hall H” is meaningless, but those who have attended or keep up on the news from every convention know that Hall H is where all the biggest movie and TV show panels are held. Fans will wait in line not only for hours, but some for days, camping out just so they can get in to see their favorite actors in person. If you really want to get a feel for just how miserable waiting for Hall H can be, don’t miss this article on The Verge.

Hall H is the biggest waste of time and one of the most awful experiences in all of Comic Con. As I mentioned, you have to wait FOREVER to get into the panel, then even if you make it before the cutoff, you’ll still likely be in the back of the room where you’ll just be watching everything on a giant TV screen anyway because the hall is so big you can’t even see the people in front of the room from the back.

Some people will still justify it by pointing out that they got to learn all the amazing stuff about their favorite show or movie before anyone else, but the difference is literally the length of the panel itself because as soon as the panel is over, everything that just happened will be put up on the internet -so you just gave up AT LEAST half of your day at Comic Con just so you could see stuff on a screen happen an hour before the general public.

On occasion, the panels might give away some piece of exclusive swag you can’t buy anywhere else (Cartoon Network does this a lot), but even then, not everyone in the panel will want theirs, so if you’re that concerned, you can still go on eBay and spend $15 to get one from someone else who waited in line for hours. If the swag is really your only reason for going, then consider what your time is worth -getting the item on eBay is almost certainly going to be cheaper than 4+ hours of your day.

Don’t Try to Do Everything

This is what happens to people who try to do everything
This is what happens to people who try to do everything

I’m not just talking about skipping Hall H, I mean everything as in EVERYTHING. There’s so much to do at Comic Con that a person literally couldn’t do it all -and if they did, they’d be moving around too fast to actually enjoy any one thing they did do. Decide what autographs and panels you have to do, what booths you have to visit, what giant outdoor attractions you have to see, what after party or concert you must attend -then try to fill in any leftover time as it arises. Chances are you still won’t be able to do every single thing you want to do, especially when you sit down for dinner and realize all you want to do is take a bath and go to sleep, but if you prioritize everything ahead of time you can hopefully catch the things that matter to you the most.

Expect the Unexpected

While we’re on the subject of planning only to do the things you really desperately want/need to get done, remember to leave yourself time for unexpected surprises. Comic Con is a weird and wonderful place. You could easily end up going to a bar and find yourself sitting next to your favorite actor who actually wants to talk to you for a while. You could find yourself in the middle of a zombie walk you had no idea was happening. You could go to a musical about Jurassic Park because the idea is just so stupid and then find that the experience was the best thing you did all weekend. You could get free ice cream from a girl dressed as a victim of a serial killer. You may stop by a party just to say “hi” to a friend and realize that it is the only place you want to be that night. You could end up playing an officially licensed game of Double Dare Live hosted by Nickelodeon. You could stumble upon a concert where one of your favorite bands is playing a secret show before a woman dressed like a storm trooper does a striptease.

These are all things that have really happened at Comic Con and will all very likely happen again. If you can’t embrace the randomness and weirdness, you’re going to miss out on a lot of fun.

Discuss Your Dining Options Early

As I mentioned earlier, you almost certainly do not want to eat inside the convention center where you’ll be getting terrible food that is marked up 4-5 times its value. That being said, restaurants nearby will be slammed with customers -especially if you go to eat right after the hall closes. Decide ahead of time with your group if you want to wait an hour or longer for a table or if you’d rather walk or take a pedicab (they’re often the fastest option when the streets are slammed with people and cars) to eat somewhere a little further that won’t have a line.

If you want to try a particular restaurant, check ahead of time to see if they have a special Comic Con menu and if that menu is any good. Most restaurants within a few blocks of the Convention Center will have a special menu. Some places offer that menu in addition to their regular offerings to show that they are celebrating the convention, but others try to deal with the massive surge of customers by offering only a slimmed down version of their regular menu (which often features higher-than-usual prices as well). If you have an allergy, be particularly wary of places that only offer those slimmed down menus because many of them have pre-made the food and cannot properly cater to allergies although over-bubbly waitresses may tell you they can (I speak from personal experience here). Also, don’t set your heart on trying one particular restaurant because it’s entirely possible that they will have way too long of a wait all weekend long.

Overall, most restaurants downtown are expensive because the rent is expensive and it’s where San Diegans go for a fancy night out on the town. That being said, there are some cheaper options but expect either a long wait or a long walk because when it comes to food near Comic Con, you can get things fast, cheap or close, but not all three.

Celebrate the Crowds

When the floor closes, that's when things get really messy
When the floor closes, that’s when things get really messy

Comic Con is actually getting less crowded these days both because the mainstreaming of geek culture has finally slowed down and because the convention introduced RIFD technology into the badges which makes it impossible for people to just scan their badges and resell them to others. If you went between 2010 and 2015, you’ll probably notice how much less crowded the exhibit hall feels when you walk around these days.

That being said, the convention is still crowded as all heck and you’re just going to have to deal with all the people. The best thing you can do is embrace the crowds as much as possible. It’s not always easy when you’re stuck in an aisle and can’t move anywhere else and someone farts, or when you’re waiting half an hour just to use the bathroom, but if you’re just feeling claustrophobic or mildly annoyed with the number of people around you, try to look on the bright side of having so many people. First, remind yourself of exactly that -it’s not as bad as it used to be.

Second, remember that all of these people are also geeks and that many of them are all into the same stuff as you, so it’s not like being surrounded by thousands of random strangers, many of these people could end up becoming your friend if you actually had the time or patience to sit down and talk to them. For many geeks who are used to being surrounded by people who have no idea what Battlestar Galactica is or who have never played D&D, this can be a refreshing feeling worth celebrating.

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Animals Videos

This Ice Cream Shop Makes an Ice Cream Cone for a Local Squirrel Every Day

(Video Link)

Putter is a squirrel that lives in a tree outside of Fantasy Isle Ice Cream and Mini Golf in Holden Beach, North Carolina. The shop owners have grown to love the little squirrel and now give it two little tiny ice cream cones daily. The ice cream might not be great for the little squirrel, but before the shop started volunteering cones to Putter, she would mooch from visitors and take their leftovers instead. Now she is a guest favorite and she doesn’t actually need to be feed by the guests themselves.

Via Distractify