B.A.M.F.

can i have your smoke? xD

wow, um, is this what you consider fantasy and art? Some homo-erotic pose by a pimply adolescent in bad garb? Shame on all of you for wasting time.

this is actually a really nice cosplay... though a wig or dying his hair would have made it complete...

and anonymous, i have to tell you, the work that goes into choosing and creating a costume to do a good cosplay is hard. and it is art, and that pose is perfect for sanzo

Wow!

You've got Sanzo mannerisms down...

Ooh! I like this very much! :D He is waaay handsome.

Awesome... would have been perfect though if he had a fan to hit someone with.lol. Really good costume and great stance, absolute Sanzo.

You are just an ass who has no life so you make fun of others who know how to have fun.

I am indeed an "otaku" who cosplays, so I highly approve of this positive portrayal of anime fans. There seems to be a simmering attack by many misguided folks towards us all at the moment. I do indeed dress up as "Naruto" quite often to go to "comic-cons" and "anime/manga cons" even just to the bar to get drunk on a friday night. I would be even happier, if "Mother Jones" would print a comprehensive article, explaining what anime and manga is for the unintroduced. There was an extremely derogatory article published by "The Wall Street Journal", not that long ago, trying purposely it would seem, to miss inform parents and policy makers as to what anime and manga is. It tried to say all anime and manga was adult sex stories in nature, in other words "hentai". Hentai is strictly an "adult form" of animation and comics for those adults, who enjoy that sort of thing. Certainly, that would be trying to say all magazines in this country, including this one are the same as "Playboy" and "Hustler". The article was written in a very hostile manner towards, any "otaku" especially vehement in regards to young people. Any way, cool article I'm certain and very good portraits of these cosplayers. That "Sanzo Priest" is especially cool. Watch "Saiyuki Reload", where that character comes from, it's based on "Journey To The West" from ancient Buhddist Dogma.

I really think these photographs have much to say on why the sort of people who are attracted to these fantastical pastimes are. All of these people, this kid in particular, are outside the media celebrated norms of beauty. (Well, honestly, they all have very bad skin.) But look at this kid! Look at that silly face of confidence. He probably can't get that feeling out of costume. And everyone deserves to feel good about themselves at some points in their lives. Even if they have to pretend to be someone else- someone impossible. At least he isn't doing heroine to achieve this feeling! Or is he?