The heroes and villains of the history of superhero costumes can be attributed to DC). These are the best cosplays belonging to characters from the DC Universe of the year.
This list contains only cosplays pertaining to the DC Comics universe. Any film-related cosplay, regardless of quality, will not be included below. What follows below is the list of the very best cosplays of the year based on originality, craftsmanship, style and comic-book accuracy.
Nubia Cosplay - Cutipiesensei
The superhero Nubia is a fast-rising star in the greater Wonder Woman mythos, even though the character has decades of history. She was first introduced in Wonder Woman #204, released all the way back in 1973 (she was made out of black clay as the twin sister of Diana), and slowly grew a devoted fanbase over time. In honor of the release of Nubia and the Amazons #1, veteran cosplayer Cutiepiesensei created this stunning and colorful rendition of Nubia's battle armor.
Adhering to the red-blue-yellow color scheme introduced by Superman (and later Wonder Woman), the armor is detailed while keeping the lines from the comics quite distinct. Of note are the detailing in Nubia's golden gauntlets and red sword hilt. Cutiepiesensei has already cosplayed numerous other DC heroes such as Wonder Woman, Starfire, Supergirl and more, but her stunning Nubia cosplay is by far the most elaborate; the cosplayer was even rumored to be involved in the sequel to Wonder Woman 1984, (but Cutiepiesensei dispelled the rumors herself).
Bombshells Supergirl - Astelvert
Supergirl is one of DC's most famous superheroes that retained a massive fan following as soon as she debuted as Superman's cousin (complete with an awful disguise that was somehow even worse than Clark Kent's). But the character's popularity eventually led to alternate-universe variants of Kara Zor-El. Case in point: DC Bombshells, a concept that saw heroines like Supergirl and others reimagined in a 1940s style.
On the website reddit.com, cosplayer Astelvert created a magnificent rendition of Supergirl's vintage attire. The 1940s hair style is perfectly replicated here, along with the light blue of the base section of the costume. Supergirl's signature S-shield is located on her stomach instead of her chest, worn in the fashion of a large belt that replicates circus entertainers. Gold accents on the edges of the gloves and the S-shield complete the look, along with dark red boots (a call-forward to Superman's own Golden-Age suit). A red sash around Astelvert's neck adds the final piece of red needed to complete the Bombshell Supergirl look.
Power Girl - Cosplayer.gal
While Supergirl is the more well-known of Superman's cousins, Power Girl is a well-known character in her own right. Kara Zor-L, or Karen Starr, is a Kryptonian just like Supergirl, but from another parallel universe (the world of DC Comics has plenty of such characters cross over from reality to reality and back again on a regular basis). Power Girl has been around since the 80s and is a fan-favorite character among DC fans, and as such is an oft-cosplayed character.
Via instagram.com, Cosplay.gal has created her own variation of Power Girl's classic white costume (distinct from her New 52 costume which is disliked by most fans). The bright colors of the gloves and cape offset the white uniform, but unlike many cosplays, it retains the modern incarnation's twin raised lines down the front of the suit. The yellow rope and belt buckle offset the white yet again, completing the look. Power Girl's red cape sits on her left shoulder, a departure from the standard superhero cape that's worn from both shoulders and tucked in to the neck. Cosplayer.gal's Power Girl is a stunning rendition of a fan-favorite superhero and is not to be missed.
Starfire - Heirofglee
Starfire, while not as well-known as the DC Trinity (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman) or their related side characters, is still a beloved character known to many fans. The current generation of DC comic book fans were no doubt introduced to Starfire through the 2003 Teen Titans animated series along with other Robin, Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven. Starfire is quite a challenging cosplay in any iteration, but cosplayer Heirofglee was up to the challenge.
Heirofglee's inspiration came from the Super Sons variation of Starfire's costume, and the cosplay work on multiple levels. Starfire's requisite color pallet of orange, purple and green (all secondary colors) is on full display, as is her long hair that shines with light. Starfire's center green orb in the middle of her costume is ed by the glowing eyes and the entire look comes together quite nicely. Overall, the Tamaranian warrior looks powerful and energetic thanks to Heirofglee's dedication and work on the cosplay.
Harley Quinn - Cllownin
Harley Quinn is finally at the end of her 25 year-journey from villain to hero, but her fans still favor her old supervillain looks. While Harley is officially a DC hero now, she's always had a sense of style that many cosplayers use to their advantage. But few depict Doctor Harlene Quinzel, the psychiatrist who would eventually become used by the psychopathic Joker. Enter cosplayer Cllownin, via reddit.com and her dual cosplay.
Harlene is portrayed with a professional lab coat, black tie and red shirt, combined with round glasses and hair in a bun which echoes her appearance in Mad Love, the fan-favorite episode of Batman: The Animated Series. On the right, Harley wears her classic domino mask and jester's hat. Both cosplays feature Harley Quinn's customary red/black color scheme. The cosplay is simply fantastic, and Cllownin has shown that Harley Quinn's greatest asset is the ability to progress from innocent doctor to violent villain to a superhero of the DC Universe.
The cosplays above are just a fraction of the spectacular creations from various cosplayers all over the world. That the DC superheroes and villains can inspire such creative endeavors is a testament to their everlasting appeal. If these are the best cosplays from the DC Comics universe in 2021, one wonders what they will create in 2022 and beyond.
