the ladies of PENSACON

Colors and costumes stand out at annual event

By Bradley “Beej” Davis, Jr.

The wildly popular and successful Pensacon is finalizing preparations for the last weekend in February where thousands of costumed comic characters will gather in Pensacola for this 10th annual multi-genre cosplay event. Not only is this event an opportunity for cosplayers to celebrate their passionate and selfdescribed “geekdom,” but it also provides attendees the chance to meet and greet with a host of celebrities, writers, artists and comic vendors within the comic convention realm.

Needless to say, events like these are brimming with vibrant sights and sounds, including the conspicuous color red, which has a special place in comic fandom.

“Red is always a color that’s going to get attention,” said Pensacon executive committee member and local comic guru Juilo Diaz. “You’re always going to have colors stick out wearing red, whether it be Superman’s ‘S’ on his chest or a character like The Flash or like Deadpool.”

Bella Magazine had the pleasure of swooping in to ask a couple of local cosplayers about their decisions to be ladies in red for the sake of humanity.

Pensacon 2023

• When: Feb 24-26

• Where: Pensacola Bay Center (and various local venues), 201 E. Gregory St., Pensacola; 850-432-0800

• Cost: Three-day passes starting at $85; Single-day passes starting at $35

• More information: pensacon.com

MARCY MOON: DEADPOOL/ MANDALORIAN MASHUP

Marcy Moon’s mixture of The Mandalorian and Deadpool results in a character that is mysterious, sassy and sweet. When she’s not coaching fitness or teaching local art classes, she’s working on her own personal artwork with a portfolio featuring anime, fanart, mythological series and portraits. You will even be able to see and purchase her work at the event, as she is an official art vendor. Since Moon was a young child, she recalls being enamored with drawing, which could be one of the reasons she’s chosen a unique and creative route with her Pensacon costume.

Why did you choose this combination?

Every year I mash up Deadpool with a character.

So, a different character?

Yeah, every year. Two years ago, I did this (costume) because Mandalorian was coming out, and I wanted to build armor really badly.

Tell us a little about this armor and how you constructed it?

It’s foam, and a lot of paint and Plasti Dip, so it’s just layering stuff and forming it with heat.

About how long did it take you?

Oh, I don’t know. What do they call it when you’re hyper-fixated on something? I did it in like five days non-stop just working on it.

What is your “grownup” job?

I coach at a gym called Revolt Fitness, and then I also do some classes at Painting with a Twist – I do a couple weekends there. I also sell art.

How many years have you been attending Pensacon?

Nine years? This is the 10th year, and I missed the first year.

What is one of your favorite things about Pensacon?

The community – everybody is so nice. And what I mean by everyone is nice, it doesn’t matter if you’re in a $5 cosplay or you’ve spent hours upon hours (on a costume), everybody’s going to say ‘you look amazing.’

LAVONNE FRENCH: JEAN GREY

By day, LaVonne French is a professor with Pensacola State College’s Theatre Department as well as the costumer/ seamstress for all of their productions. By night, or by Pensacon rather, she’s Marvel character Jean Grey, one of the most powerful female characters in the franchise and born with superhuman abilities including telepathy and telekinesis.

French’s costume choice, which was a labor of love as she worked for several months to complete the gorgeous garnet ensemble, is from the movie “X-Men 3: The Last Stand.” She said the character as well as the costume were what drew her to Jean Grey.

Why did you choose this character?

I like this costume and love the character. She’s pretty amazing, but I like this costume, and I’ve always wanted to build it.

So, the costume is what drove you to this character?

No, I like the character, but I think this costume is really amazing.

What are some attributes of the character that you like or try to emulate?

Well, I don’t know if so much as emulate, I just think she’s a good character. She’s one of the X-Men. She’s got some power. Is costuming something you enjoyed doing growing up?

Yes, I taught myself how to sew on my mother’s sewing machine, I think I was 10. Of course, everything was textbook, but I tried to figure it out, you know? It’s just something that I love doing and it’s another way to be creative. My background is dance, but this is another area that I like as far as being creative.