Cosplay Confessions is a series we do to spotlight and get to understand the wonderful members of our cosplay community (and beyond!). This time we have the extremely impressive costume stylings of Tony Pacella!!

HOW DID YOU GET INTO COSPLAY?

I have been a comic fan since I was a child and as Halloween has also always been my favorite holiday, I have always been interested in Cosplay. I always dressed up in costume for trick or treating with all my children and finally made my first leap into actual Cosplay in 2007. I was 37 years old.

WHY DO YOU LIKE COSPLAYING?

I love the hobby of Cosplay! I enjoy bringing characters that are favorites of mine for whichever reasons to life. I enjoy being able to put my attention to detail into the love of making them just “right” for me. Interaction with other cosplayers, fans, and kids of all ages is so enjoyable at the conventions I have been able to attend and I’m happy to say I have made some really great friends in the industry as well.

WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER(S) TO COSPLAY?

My favorites ...honestly I cannot pick one! I have really enjoyed all the suits I have put together. My favorites seem to favor the villain side of the spectrum as I have more villainous suits than heroic ones. Probably because I’ve always believed a great villain makes a great hero look really great! Although the one hero character I had always wanted to do when I was younger I finally made a reality in 2017... the Wolverine.. and it is absolutely one of my favorites to this day!

HOW DO YOU PUT TOGETHER YOUR COSTUMES?

I research what character I’ve picked and then decide what look I want. I will usually sketch it out several times until I get the “look” that I think is perfect for my tribute to the character.

Then it’s time to start searching for the helmet or mask... I ALWAYS start with the mask or helmet if the character, then work around that. It’s just a personal preference I have and it’s been fun to find out other high end cosplayers I now know also do the same thing.

I usually then hunt down some of the pieces to my suit and combine that with commissioning out other parts to some great people that I am lucky enough to know and trust and have a great working relationship with.

WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE CONVENTIONS/EVENTS TO COSPLAY AT?

Always at Wizard World and C2E2 here in Chicago.

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE COSPLAY STORIES?

Just the interaction between fans and kids is awesome. I remember a married couple approaching me as Wolverine at C2E2 asking me if I was a good sport and would take a picture with their 6 year old son who had been following/stalking me for 15 minutes!

At Wizard World last summer I unveiled my Dr Doom and had a young fan (10 years old?) approach me, bend the knee and yelled out “ All hail Lord Doom!!” I immediately placed my hand on his shoulder and named him commander of my armies. His parents laughed and it was just great!

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU'VE HAD TO OVERCOME BEING A COSPLAYER?

The heat a costume can create can be really bad for sure. Hampered movement, uncomfortable parts to the suit are also big problems. Limited vision and hearing can also be a huge factor. But it’s all for the sake of bringing the character to life and can be overcome with some kind of planning and patience. Learning curve definitely applies here.

Unfortunately sometimes inconsiderate people at a con can happen and it isn’t easy when people slam or bump into you when you have a suit that can be broken or you cannot see well.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEONE IF THEY WERE INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO COSPLAY?

Pick a character or characters you like.. that appeal to you for whatever reasons, and just HAVE FUN with it! Create the character with your own twist or preference ... do it exactly as the comic or movie.. your choice!!

Enjoy.. take your time ... do not get frustrated and just enjoy it!!! That is truly what matters!

WHAT CHARACTER WOULD YOU LOVE TO TACKLE SOMEDAY?

I’d love to do a Darth Vader as Star Wars was a favorite movie of mine back in the 70s!! It would be a blast to do and I’d definitely love to do it one day!!

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST COSPLAY ACHIEVEMENT?

My Wolverine was picked by Wizard World and used in advertising for their show in other states! They are still using my Wolverine and it was so awesome to see!! With all the amazing cosplayers at the con and my Wolverine was selected as one of the few to use in their adds for Wizard! That to me is just awesome and was such a great surprise to see!