For the fifth consecutive year, The Young Folks music editor Ryan Gibbs and photographer Megan Phelps visited the Rhode Island Comic Con. This year, we could only do the Friday (Nov. 1), so we don’t have as much coverage as we have in previous years. However, we do have some excellent photography and interviews with several cosplayers, which you can find below.
Before we get into the cosplayer interviews, we’d just like to note that Friday was a much mellower day for this convention than the hustling and bustling Saturdays. If you’re looking to have a casual day at next year’s RICC, or were interested in buying merch, comics or toys, Friday is the day to it. There was less of a rush around the panels and the celebrity signings as well. Saturday is typically the biggest day for the con, so you might still want to pop by then as well just to get the full experience.
All photos by Megan Phelps; You can view more of Megan’s photography at her Behance page.
Stephen Gencarelli of Westerly, R.I. cosplayed as Captain America at this year’s Rhode Island Comic Con.
TYF: What did you decide to dress as Captain America?
Gencarelli: Captain America is one of my personal favorites. He’s an amazing hero. He’s basically the superhero version of a Boy Scout
TYF: How long did it take you to put your costume together?
Gencarelli: If I’m doing it by myself, it takes me about half an hour. If I have someone to assist me with the zipper, about 15 minutes.
Aisha Beauchemin of Leominster, Mass and Sarah Lucas of Winter Garden, Fla., cosplayed as Storm and Bulma at this year’s RICC.
TYF: Why did you decide to cosplay as Storm at this year’s convention:
Beauchemin: I’ve been dressing up a Storm for many years. I pretty much look up to her because she’s not just a boss of the mutants, she is a leader. Someone you can look up to?
TYF: How long did it take you to do the costume?
Beauchemin: It’s all handmade and hand-sewn, and it took me about three months straight to work on it.
TYF: How do you do the contacts?
Beauchemin: I usually wear glasses naturally, and they’re non-prescription, so I naturally can’t see at all. I just have to pop them in my eye and hope for the best.
TYF: And why did you decide to dress as Bulma
Lucas: I love Bulma because she’s a super bad-ass, smart-ass chick and she’s super cool. This is my second Bulma cosplay, so I’m trying to go through all of them as I go.
Andy Cordeiro of Rhode Island, who dressed as Loki for RICC ’19
TYF: Why did you decide to cosplay as Loki for Comic Con?
Cordeiro: Whenever I cosplay Loki, I feel really confident as him. It kind of brings out the inner badass in me.
Ruth and Lance Morrell of Connecticut, with their son Phineas, who dressed as Han Solo, Princess Leia and Chewbacca at this year’s Comic Con.
TYF: Why did you decide to go as Leia, Han and Chewie this year?
Ruth Morrell: We do it every year.
Lance Morrell: He’s the addition because he wasn’t born before?
TYF: What do you like the most about this convention?
Ruth Morrell: It’s local and it’s easy to get to.
Lance Morrell: You see a lot of the same people every year.
TYF: Did you come to see anyone specific?
Ruth: John Barrowman, and we’re doing the National Lampoon’s Summer Vacation package.
TYF: Why them?
Ruth: We’re also big Doctor Who fans, and we love all the National Lampoon movies. They’re some of our favorites and who would pass up meeting Chevy Chase and the whole crew?
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Raymond Ramos of New Bedford, Mass. , who is a featured cosplayer who volunteers for the convention, went a Cyborg this year.
Why did you decide to go as Cyborg this year?
Ramos: Because he’s cool.
How long did it take to put together your costume?
Ramos: Anywhere between four to six months.
Are you here to see anyone specific this year:
Ramos: No, I’m here to walk around and give a good show and take pictures with fans.
How many pictures have you been in so far, aside from ours?
Ramos: Probably about 40 so far.
Lastly, here’s a gallery of some of the most interesting pieces of merchandise on display at this year’s convention, from metal Millennium Falcons to posters and more.
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