We know what you like to see.
What is it about cosplay that’s so much fun? Is it better just because of hot women that keep themselves in great shape? Well, without trying to sound sexist…hell yeah. Sexy cosplay is insanely hot, and while it does put women on display and objectify them, the truth is that the ladies appear to enjoy what they’re doing not only because they get attention, but because, well, it’s fun. Let’s face facts: a lot of those into cosplay are the types of folks that get called freaks, nerds, geeks, fanboys, and fangirls…and that’s absolutely AWESOME.
The fact is that cosplay allows people to get into the characters and the stories that they’ve grown up with, idolized, and enjoyed for years and years. For everyone, it’s a way to enjoy those stories and become a part of them, even if their participation is more for their gratification than anyone else’s. However, those who make this type of event something to look forward to and something that is an integral part of their life makes it better for everyone. Men and women make cosplay great in their own ways since a lot of people get deep into the costumes and the lore, but focusing on the ladies is great since, well, the fact is that they’re undeniably sexy thanks to how female characters have been depicted in the comics over the years. Call it sexist, but people still enjoy it, and here at Radass we think it’s great all around.
Here are just a few women who know how to make cosplay as sexy as possible.
It’s true, female characters are highly sexualized
There’s no doubt about it, a lot of female characters in the comics have been sexualized and a lot of cosplayers have picked up on it. There are plenty of cosplayers that aren’t insanely attractive and don’t have smoking-hot bodies, but we don’t tend to display them, do we? If it’s an article about having fun and enjoying the culture of cosplay, sure, then it’s all fair game and people want to see as much as possible just to get a feel for it. But the nature of the comics, TV shows, movies, games, etc., that are seen being mass-produced does feature a lot of female characters that are highly sexualized and wear skin-tight outfits to accentuate every curve and tight muscle of their bodies. It’s actually kind of impressive to see cosplayers do the same in their own way. Appreciating everyone that loves to cosplay is easy, but appreciating the hotties that love to dress up and emulate their favorite characters in this manner is a step above.
There is justification for hot characters in the comics and in cosplay, and it has to do with the fact that in the comics, the fittest characters are going to be the toughest. In cosplay, the fittest individuals are going to represent those characters the best since they bring to life the fantasy that so many people love to watch and read. That’s just one aspect of the nature of cosplay, and it’s one of the best ways that people can continue the said culture.
Strangely, the most badass characters sometimes have the least clothing
It’s hard to think that wearing less clothing would make anyone tougher, right? But women in the comics tend to wear the tightest and skimpiest outfits, and they’re some of the toughest individuals around. Take Angela, above, for instance. She wears armor, but only enough to look badass and make it clear that she is a warrior. Showing her body this much feels like it should be a huge detriment, but the fact is that she’s an Asgardian and therefore is far tougher than most characters. That sounds so contradictory that those who don’t understand comics would likely laugh and call it absurd, but some characters could wear a bikini, or nothing, and be just as comfortable tanking a massive explosion as some folks are when being doused with a hose.
The fact is that invincibility and invulnerability are great since they allow some female characters to show a great deal of sex appeal. Even those who aren’t seriously tough on the outside are often given skimpy outfits that are made of some strange polymer or are skin-tight and super resistant to damage. In other words, writers and artists have made up for their adolescent fantasies by making a lot of these ladies so insanely tough that they could stroll through a battlefield while either dodging or deflecting bullets and other munitions with ease. Or, they could be like Emma Frost from the X-Men comics and shut people down before they can attack.
Things have changed over the years
The funny thing about some of these characters that people idolize so much is that they’ve been sexualized for a long time now. The fact that very few people felt the need to create a public outcry about it (short and unsweetened as it is) is kind of amusing. Not only that, but the few changes that have been made, and allowed to stick, over the years have only heightened that feeling and the attraction that people feel toward their favorite characters. While the more classic characters have changed and then gone back to their original form, only to change and then snap back again, the truth is that the sexual nature of female characters hasn’t changed much. It’s still evolving, but it’s doing so around the core idea that people still want to see feminine characters as, well, feminine.
There is a pretty good reason why female characters have been depicted in such sensual ways, and it’s the fact that this helps to make them popular. Does it foist expectations of women? No, not really, since these characters are fantasies, not necessarily reality. Would men go wild if a woman could read their minds in real life, or create a massive storm cell in their localized area? Some might, but a lot of folks would find this disturbing. The sexualization of characters such as these isn’t much more than adolescent fantasies being marketed to those who might enjoy a good story with hot women that can do a massive amount of damage. And honestly, cosplay is a way for female nerds around the world to enjoy themselves and look damned good while doing it.
Some classic characters have always been sexy
Like it or not, the introduction of some characters made them stand out in a big way no matter if it was intentional or not. Chun Li is only one of many characters that came off as attractive to the players, and whether they were marketed that way or not, they reached players on a level beyond the good, old-fashioned need to win. Admit it, characters like Chun Li became popular because of those big, muscular, sexy legs, and the fact that she was the most badass woman, at one point the ONLY woman, in a group of men that could kick some serious tail.
It is a little disturbing to think that characters who are idolized by kids, as well as adults, are sexualized in such a manner. Individuals that come from kids’ cartoons are being shown as adults, shown in compromising ways, and are often shown in ways that kids don’t fully understand. But the only real justification for this is the fact that those who first enjoyed these characters are adults now, and appreciate the idea that as they grew up, so did the characters. It does make some sense, and it’s a lot less creepy when thinking of how the characters have actually grown up.
A lot of female characters are more memorable than their male counterparts
That’s a bold statement of course, but the truth is that these days, a lot of people do tend to remember the female characters every bit as much as the men. While not as many female characters have been as memorable as the males, there are plenty of big names out there that people have decided to emulate, and, more to the point, it’s been a great success. Seriously, when a female warrior attends a convention in full cosplay, it’s worth attending just to see how detailed some of them get with their outfits.
Not only that, but female characters are highly refreshing at times since they bring a new perspective to a lot of roles that are different yet still grounded in the original mythology of one character or another. Comics and movies without women don’t make as much sense any longer, and those that don’t feature at least a couple of strong women that can take the lead aren’t quite as fun all the time. The emergence of strong female characters has gone a little overboard at times, much as certain male characters have, but the overall effect is that women have managed to show that they can be every bit as impressive. Sometimes they’re even better.
Some characters are better off being sexualized
Yes, I really just said that, and there’s a good reason. For one, getting the attention of the fans is tough enough, but keeping it is even harder. While sexualizing a character is a cheap way to do this, it also builds a memory of the character that helps to keep them around. If that proves to not be enough, then it means that somehow the character’s story wasn’t enough to create a spark that the general public picked up on. Some characters are still very niche in nature, but cosplay is a way to keep them alive and for those who enjoy said characters to show their appreciation. Hey, we appreciate it.
Making characters relatable is always a challenge, but creating a great story, giving the characters a real personality, and also keeping the elements that made them popular in the first place is kind of tough. Over the years, many female characters have stuck around long enough to become legends, but sexualization is still necessary these days, so like it or not, the way they’re presented in their own stories, and by cosplayers, is here to stay. And yes, it’s awesome.
WTR? (Why’s That Radass?)
The point is that the sexualization of female characters in movies, comics, on TV, and in other media is going to continue to be an issue for a lot of people. But when all is said and done, it’s an exciting part of a lot of great characters that a lot of fans still love to emulate. Hey, we’re here for it.
