Unleash Your Inner Mob Boss at Colorado Springs Cosmic Con

Actors from well-known TV shows and movies — including The Sopranos, The Irishman and GoodFellas — will be at Colorado Springs Cosmic Con on April 25 and 26 for photo opportunities, autographs and discussions of all things gangster.

Cosmic Con organizer John Hernandez and lead cosplayer Katie McKenna say attendees can look forward to Ghostbusters and Star Wars cosplayers, cosplaying contests, Itasha Cars, demonstrations and panels, as well as collectible and trading card vendors covering everything pop culture.

Featured cosplayers include Colorado-based Klyon Cosplay, Killercutie Cosplay and Sakun Cosplay. Hernandez says Colorado-based HeatherAfter Cosplay is the genre section’s biggest headliner, with numerous worldwide publications and more than 176,000 followers on Facebook.

Amanda “Killercutie Cosplay” Miller says last year’s panels included one about beginner special-effects makeup, where she shared tips on how to get started. Miller is known for playing horror or fantasy characters, incorporating special effects makeup to create creepy, dramatic looks.

McKenna — “Klyon Cosplay” — says she enjoys designing and building outfits and sharing tips and techniques to help others bring their cosplay ideas to life. With a place for everyone, cosplay is designed to build community, get creative and have fun dressing up as your favorite TV and movie characters.

“There’s something special about sharing your love for a character with someone else. One of the most rewarding parts of cosplay is when someone approaches you, excited to see a character they love brought to life and asks to take a photo with you. Moments like that are what make cosplay so fun and memorable.”— Katie McKenna, Klyon Cosplay

Hernandez, a self-proclaimed closeted nerd, was inspired to create Cosmic Con after attending now-defunct Galaxy Fest more than a decade ago. He launched the first Cosmic Con in a small hotel ballroom in 2015. Although COVID-19 forced a hiatus, the event has grown bigger each year, attracting greater crowds and occupying larger spaces.

Unlike corporate-run conventions, Cosmic Con is a grassroots event organized by a band of dedicated volunteers. That homegrown spirit helps maintain a more personal and welcoming atmosphere than larger cons, McKenna says.

“We pride ourselves on being a fun, affordable and welcoming convention,” she says. “Whether you come for celebrity guests, collectibles, trading cards, cosplay or even just to hang out with fellow fans, Cosmic Con is definitely the place to be.”

Celebrity Lineup

• Jason Cerbone, Matt Servitto, Dan Grimaldi and Robert Funaro — The Sopranos
• Louis Vanaria — The Irishman
• Joseph D’Onofrio and Christopher Serrone — GoodFellas
• R. Bruce Elliott — voice actor, One Piece; Fairy Tail; Attack on Titan; Dragon Ball Z
• John Gremillion — voice actor, One Piece; My Hero Academia; Food Wars
• Cris George — voice actor, My Hero Academia; One Piece; That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime; Overlord