Veteran cosplayer Eddie Newsome, known for his Deadpool, Captain America, and Static, among others, and Geppi’s Entertainment Museum (GEM) President Melissa Bowersox have teamed up as the lead authors of Gemstone Publishing’s 2015 book, The Overstreet Guide To Cosplay. The book will get its official kick-off at the November 22-23, 2014 Virginia Comicon and debut in print in November 2015.

A regular columnist for GEM’s monthly online magazine, FAN, he’ll not only share his cosplay experiences, but will bring other cosplayers to the table to talk about the ups and downs of hitting the road in character. He talked with Scoop about the book and cosplaying in general.

Scoop: What draws people to cosplay?
Eddie Newsome (EN): I think for every person what draws them to cosplay is different. For some it’s the chance to dress as their favorite characters or group, while others do it as an expression of identification or to pay homage to an artist or writer, while others do it as a badge of pride or honor of a character that embodies a historical or fictional aspect that they are proud of, the list goes on and on.

Scoop: Can you describe your first experience with cosplay?
EN: My first experience with cosplay was at San Diego Comic Con. It was great to be at the mecca of geekdom and seeing all the people in costume while I was in mine and feeling like it was just the daily norm.

Scoop: What was your first costume and your favorite costume?
EN: My first costume was Isaiah Bradley (the first black Captain America.) I read that book Truth: Red, White, and Black by Kyle Baker and Robert Morales and was instantly drawn to the story and the character and my favorite costume is Isaiah Bradley as well.

Scoop: Who’s the best cosplayer you have seen?
EN: To say someone is the best is opening a BIG can of worms but there are a few that I draw inspiration from.

Scoop: What’s the best experience you have had as a cosplayer?
EN: There have been 2 experiences that are up there one being happy and the other bitter sweet and those are when I met Kyle Baker at San Diego Comic Con dressed as Isaiah Bradley. It’s a cosplayers dream to meet the creator, artist or writer of the character they are dressed as and get the thumbs up, and he was very happy to see it. And, the other being when I dressed as Future Static Shock created by Dwayne McDuffie, we had spoken online and at SDCC and I told him that I was working on the costume and that he was my inspiration. Sadly he passed the year that I was finally ready to debut it. But to get the thumbs up from the Milestone crew as well the voice of young Static Phillip Lamarr as well as his creator Michael Davis was good. And to finally meet his widow a few years later in the costume and to see her get emotional over the costume and tell me how he would have been proud, made it all worthwhile that I paid homage to the man and the vision.

Scoop: What’s the worst?
EN: The worst was when I wore my Isaiah Bradley to SDCC and it was featured in Marvel Comics website and in the comments I was called everything from Captain N-word America to U.S. N-word by trolls. I was fairly new and it really hurt but when people I didn’t know began to school them on the character and shoot down the hate it gave me hope.

Scoop: Have you met any of the creators/artists/writers you are cosplaying as?
EN: I’ve met Kyle Baker (Isaiah Bradley creator), Michael Davis (Static Shock creator), Rob Liefeld (Deadpool creator), Paty Cockrum (the widow of Dave Cockrum creator of Gladiator from the X-Men) and she told me that his dream was to see him come to life and she thanked me for doing it, Jason Scott Campbell (Marvel artist and creator of D-Pooly the hip-hop Deadpool and one of my favorite costumes) and Ken Lashley, Reggie Hudlin and STAN LEE (Stan was the co-creator of Black Panther and Ken and Reggie inspired my version of the costume).

Scoop: Cosplay seems to be enjoying a new level in popularity, can you isolate a certain event or events that caused the increase in popularity?
EN: I can’t really isolate a specific time but, I can say the popularity of TV shows, movies and resurgence of comics helped the cause as well and geek culture being embraced.

Scoop: Do you see any specific cosplay trends right now?
EN: That’s the beauty of cosplay it’s not about trends but more about expression and appreciation.

Scoop: As one of the lead authors of The Overstreet Guide to Cosplay what are your goals for the book?
EN: To showcase cosplayers, creators, groups as well as the different factions and styles. To make a book that celebrates as well as inspires and shows great builds and cosplayers.

Scoop: Will the book include tutorials on how to create costumes?
EN: Yes

Scoop: Will the book provide money saving tips on costume creation?
EN: Yes

Scoop: What do you have planned for Virginia Comic Con in November?
EN: I plan on cosplaying a little. Maybe a D-Pooly dance party or two and a few other surprises.

Scoop: Virginia Comic Con is offering free admission to cosplayers, do you see this as a new trend? Are you aware of any other cosplay incentives at conventions?
EN: I think it’s a great thing, there have been a few discussions about how “cosplay is ruining conventions” and to that I say it’s all about evolution and adaptation of cons. As far as exclusives there’s a limited edition of 1,000 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters #1 from IDW with a special wraparound cover by guest artist Matt Slay, and a lot of fun in and out of costume and finally the big one, there’s also the epic beginning of the book and a chance to be featured in it and the hunt for two cover models!

Previous articles in this series:
VA Comicon Welcomes Huge Cosplay Influx
Kicking off The Overstreet Guide To Cosplay

Inside the Guide: Cosplay Brings Character to Life
J.C. Vaughn Interview

Inside the Guide: Bringing Cosplay to Life
Melissa Bowersox Interview

Inside the Guide: A Cosplayer’s Point of View
Carrie Wood Interview