Inside the Strange World of Cosplayers

Photographer Andrew Boyle's new book 'Heroes & Villians' explores the cosplay phenomenon.

October 27, 2017 9:00 am
Heroes and Villians
Sally, The Nightmare Before Christmas (© Andrew Boyle)

Andrew Boyle pays homage to the devoted fans of the pop culture phenomenon that is New York Comic Con with a new book, Heroes & Villains: A Photographic Odyssey Into the Fantastic World of Cosplay which documents cosplay. 

Boyle himself is a lifelong comic book fan and renowned photographer. The book shows more than 200 cosplayers at NYCC in a series of photographs and interviews taken from 2012 to 2015, according to a press release by Smith Street Books.

Each chapter looks at a different theme: “Capes & Cowls,” “The Assembly of Rogues,” “Legends of Anime and Manga,” “Realms of Screen & Sound,” and “Cartridge Crusaders,” the press release says. The collection showcases the recreations and reinterpretations of some of the best known super heroes and villains from comics, cartoons, movies and television.

Boyle has photographed many celebrities, including Whoopi Goldberg, Miley Cyrus, A$AP Rocky, and more. He is based in New York and has worked for publications such as The Music, Milk, and Nylon, among others.

Heroes and Villians
Sally, The Nightmare Before Christmas (© Andrew Boyle)
Heroes and Villians
‘Trailer Trash’ Poison Ivy & Harley Quinn (© Andrew Boyle)
Heroes and Villians
Barf, Spaceballs (© Andrew Boyle)
Heroes and Villians
‘Steampunk’ Wonder Woman (© Andrew Boyle)
Heroes and Villians
Thor (© Andrew Boyle)
Heroes and Villians
Spawn (© Andrew Boyle)
© Heroes & Villains by Andrew Boyle, Smith Street Books, 2017

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