Getting Into Character: Michael Robinson Talks Blackness in Cosplay

An Interview with Jessica Wise

Tell us about your passion for cosplay. Why do you love it? What led you to create and build your own costumes?

I don’t quite remember what made me want to start. I just remember in 2011 telling myself I was going to go to Dragon*Con, and I was going to dress up as Deadpool. I bought a spandex suit on eBay for somewhere between $50 and $60 with money I definitely didn’t have, bought a pass, and I went.

It was the most fun I ever had. I told myself I was going to go every year thereafter.  Since then, I have only missed one and that was for a friend’s wedding. Something about the party atmosphere, with no care in the world, while dressed up as some of my favorite characters just spoke to me on a spiritual level.

Since then, I’ve come to love the building aspect of the costumes, learning how to make props and armor out of foam, learning electronics, and bonding with my mom as she teaches me how to sew for new projects. It’s a fun sense of accomplishment in finishing a build and then a sense of pride in showing it off to others.

Do you believe there is enough representation of Black characters in the world of fiction and cosplay?

I believe in the world of comics, there are quite a few Black characters that have been around for decades, but we’re now starting to see them in more prominent media, such as the small and big screen. Outside of that, it still feels like we’re not necessarily represented in other fictional media; however, we’re seeing more Black creators enter the space and make their own fantasy worlds, which is exciting!

In terms of the world of cosplay, I do feel like we are starting to see a lot more representation appear.

Do you consider yourself a Blerd?

I absolutely consider myself a Blerd. My mama raised me a Blerd and there ain’t nothing wrong with it. She raised me to love Star Wars, Star Trek, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings and it just branched off from there.  I even attended Blerdcon 2021 in Arlington, Virginia.

Blerds seem to be getting more media attention/recognition now for their contributions to culture. What about this excites you, if it does at all?

It excites me in that I feel like I can more openly be myself. It’s “cool” to be a Blerd and you don’t have to be ashamed to admit that you are one. I don’t think I ever really hid it, because I don’t really know the concept of shame. But seeing other people being happy and excited to express themselves and their inner nerd, even close friends of mine I’ve known for years, is heartwarming.

How do you think the quarantine and covid changed the cosplay world? Has it created more opportunity for Black cosplayers to gain more public traction?

I think the biggest change is seeing more virtual comic conventions. This has led to people who might not have been able to travel out to distant cons being able to attend, and potentially enter virtual cosplay contests. I’m not sure if that’s led to more public traction among Black cosplayers, but it has somewhat opened the door a bit more.

How has the world of cosplay evolved for Black enthusiasts?

I feel like in some ways it has evolved immensely and in others, nothing has changed.  On the one hand, we are seeing so many more people of color on the whole starting their cosplay journey. I’m seeing more and more new cosplayers get love from IG pages dedicated to amplifying black creators, like @dcblackgeeks and @blerdover. Plenty of content creators even celebrate #28DaysofBlackCosplay to further amplify black creators during Black History Month.

On the other hand, because we’re seeing so many black people get so much love, we also see so much more gatekeeping. People telling others that they can’t cosplay a certain character because “they’re [the character’s] not black,” “you’re too dark,” “your lips are too big,” etc. Just outright racism. It’s sick, disgusting, and demoralizing, but those same pages that amplify the black cosplay voice also put those same racists on blast, and deservedly so.

Do you believe cosplay contributes to Black joy? If so, how?

From what I’ve seen, it absolutely has! You can see more and more Black cosplayers proud to display their work and own their geekiness/nerdiness. For years, there seemed to be this stigma of being a Black Nerd. I feel with more people openly embracing their creativity, it absolutely is contributing to Black joy.

Want to learn more about Michael’s cosplay adventures? Follow him on IG at @heartthrob_mrob!