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7 of the coolest costumes from Central PA Comic Con


The Force was strong with fans who came costumed for Central PA Comic Con Saturday.

But “Star Wars” characters weren’t the only ones represented.

Cosplayers came dressed as everything from Iron Man to Elsa to share their favorite characters with fellow fans.

The event, which continues from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Old Main building and Veranda Room at the York Expo Center, features gaming, gear and merchandise, cosplay, comic book artists, family-friendly activities and more.

Here are some of our favorite looks from the event so far.

1. Boba Fett from “Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi”

Don Bickel, of Harrisburg, has been working on his Boba Fett costume for about two years. He’s researched the character and purchased the most authentic replicas of the original helmet and other costume pieces he could find.

But the most difficult part has definitely been the paint job. Every piece of the costume must be accurately hand-painted in detail to reflect the Boba Fett from the original “Return of the Jedi,” not the special edition, he said. So far, the costume has cost him about $6,000.

“It’s one of the hardest costumes in the ‘Star Wars’ universe,” he said.

2. Golden Freddy from “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2”

Nine-year-old Talon Pauling, of Hellam, dressed as his favorite video game character, Golden Freddy from the horror game “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” Saturday afternoon. His mom made the costume in about 23 hours, using a bucket wrapped in golden fabric for the head and glow sticks for the ears, he said.

Pauling received a lot of positive comments from other cosplayers at Cental Pa. Comic Con. But the best part was when the creator of the game Scott Cawthon liked his photo of the costume on Facebook.

3. Iron Man

Ruby Rinekso, a cosplay model from New York City, said he was going for a casual Iron Man look Saturday, which basically meant he wasn’t wearing his helmet, though he did bring it with him. The helmet is the coolest and most difficult part of the costume to make, he said. It’s equipped with two sets of batteries, which power the motion-sensor, electronic faceplate.

4. Maleficent (before she turns evil)

Four-year-old Kensington Wilderson, of York Township, loves Maleficent. But she’s not talking about the villain from the 1959 Disney film “Sleeping Beauty.” Instead, she’s referring to the younger version of the character (before she turned evil) portrayed by Angelina Jolie in the 2014 film “Maleficent.”

Wilderson’s mom and dad made her outfit out of wire, felt fabric, feathers and plastic bottles for the horns just for Central Pa. Comic Con. Now, Wilderson said she can’t wait to wear it again for Halloween.

5. Winston Churchill from “Pet Sematary” by Stephen King

Andre Smithy, of Fayetteville, was playing a game Saturday to see how many people would ask her if it was hot inside her cat suit.

“I’m already at 10,” she said, adding that it is definitely hot inside the suit.  She made it herself, using a resin sculpt of a cat, foam, fur and LED wiring for the eyes.

But for her, it’s worth it to be a little warm so she can share the character with others.

“People want to talk to me and take pictures, and that’s what I’m here for,” she said.

6. Kakashi Hatake from “Naruto” (an anime series about ninjas)

Elizabeth Stark, of Fayetteville, said her look Saturday was a closet cosplay. That means that other than the vest, which she had specially made, her entire outfit was repurposed from items she already had at home.

Some of these items include a cell phone case, parachute strap and ace bandages. And she styled the wig herself, too.

“People think that if I didn’t buy it, it can’t work,” Stark said. “The most important thing is that it looks real and it could exist in their world.”

7. Boba Fett prototype

Bickel wasn’t the only Boba Fett walking around Saturday afternoon.

Howard Brown, of Wernersville, also dressed as the “Star Wars” character, but as a different version. It took him eight months to assemble and paint the pieces required for this Boba Fett prototype, which shows fans what the character was originally supposed to look like in the film.

Brown said he tries to use as many real parts as he can find, including the exact “Star Wars” beach towel that acted as a cape when this prototype was pitched to creator George Lucas.