Manheim Comic Con Cosplay Contest & Events
Sponsored by Emazanti Creations
Schedule Coming Soon!
General Cosplay Rules
Manheim Comic Con is a family friendly event, therefore all cosplayers are expected to abide by all of our rules and regulations.
1. All weapons will be subject to safety inspection upon admission to Manheim Comic Con. No exceptions. Props and replica weapons cannot pose a safety threat. No firearms, projectiles, thrown objects. No explosive devices, including but not limited to flashpots, confetti cannons, or items that produce similar special effects are allowed.
2. No Nudity. It's said that “clothes make the man (or woman)” and cosplay is no exception. No clothes = No costume.
Failure to follow these rules will result in removal from the premises.
Adult Competition Format
Registration for the Adult Competition will begin when Manheim Comic Con opens at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 23, 2024 and will be located at the Admissions area. Registration cutoff will be determined at a later date, so please continue to watch this space.
Pre-Judging will be held at a time yet to be determined. All competitors who have crafted/modified at least 50% of their cosplay will need to be pre-judged. The Pre-Judging process is not open to public viewing.
Call time for all Adult competitors will be at a time yet to be determined. We ask that every participant be on time, so that our staff can organize and instruct everyone in a manner that ensures you all can showcase your wonderful work for the audience and judges.
The Adult Cosplay Competition & Showcase will be held at a time yet to be determined. This is where you'll be able to show off and briefly perform for the audience. Once everyone has taken their bow, a short final deliberation will take place between the judges, followed by the awards ceremony.
Adult Cosplay Competition & Showcase Rules
Failure to follow these rules and guidelines can result in disqualification from the contest and the forfeit of any prizes.
1. The Adult Cosplay Competition is for cosplayers ages of 13 and older.
2. There is a limit of one entry per participant. Competitors may not enter as both a single entry and part of a group.
3. Speaking of group entries, groups are defined as two or more participants who would like to be judged together. Adult Cosplay Competition group entries will be eligible for the Best Group Award, with a $50 prize to be split among the winners at their discretion.
4. All adult competitors who have crafted/modified at least 50% of their cosplay will need to be pre-judged.
5. There is a limit of 40 pre-judging spots available. The judges reserve the right to open up more if possible on the day of the event.
6. Reference and Work In Progress build books are advised but not required for pre- judged entries.
7. All competitors who are not pre-judged will be eligible for the Best Masquerade Award, for those who crafted/modified less than 50% of their cosplay or are appearing in a store bought costume.
Awards
Best In Show Grand Prize of $100
Best Craftsmanship $75 Prize
Best Group $50 Prize
Best Performance $25 Prize
Best Masquerade
In addition to those listed above, there will be 4 Judge's Awards, to be given by each judge to a competitor who did not place in any of aforementioned categories. There will also an Audience Choice Award, to be voted on by the Audience to be given to the competitor with the most votes that did not receive any of the previously listed awards.
Kids Competition Format
Registration for the Kids Competition will begin when Manheim Comic Con opens at 10:00 AM on Sunday, November 24, 2024 and will be located at the Admissions area. Registration cutoff will be determined at a later date, so please continue to watch this space.
Call time for all Kids competitors will be at a time yet to be determined. All participants under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a legal adult. We ask that every participant be on time, so that our staff can organize and instruct everyone in a manner that ensures you all can showcase your wonderful work for the audience and judges.
The Kids Cosplay Competition & Showcase will be held at a time yet to be determined. This is where you'll be able to show off and briefly perform for the audience. Once everyone has taken their bow, deliberations will take place between the judges, followed by the awards ceremony.
Kids Cosplay Competition & Showcase Rules
Failure to follow these rules and guidelines can result in disqualification from the contest and the forfeit of any prizes.
1. The Kids Cosplay Competition is for cosplayers between the ages of 12 and under. To ensure the safety of younger cosplayers, participants under 12 years of age must be accompanied by a legal adult.
2. There is a limit of one entry per participant. Competitors may not enter as both a single entry and part of a group.
3. Speaking of group entries, groups are defined as two or more participants who would like to be judged together. Kids Cosplay Competition group entries will taken into consider along with individual entries for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Awards.
Kids Cosplay Competition & Showcase Awards
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Meet Your Judges
Knightmage – International Cosplayer/Entertainer/Philanthropist
Michael “Knightmage” Wilson is a 24 year Deputy Sheriff for the Mahoning County Sheriff's Office in Youngstown, Ohio and an award winning renowned International Cosplayer who has turned the art of cosplay from a hobby to a full-fledged passion. Genuinely loving to entertain, create, inspire and spread positivity, cosplaying has become that avenue. Having created over 380 costumes since 2012 and worked with over 200 charities word-wide to being a decorated Deputy Sheriff to working on big budget Hollywood films to receiving awards such as the Presidential Volunteers Service Award from Barack Obama for his charity work, Knightmage continues to strive to be a representative of ideas and possibilities.
Andi Serpenti - Cosplayer/Entertainer
Andi Serpenti was born in & currently resides in Youngstown, Ohio. Andi is a professional pet groomer and has been cosplaying since 2015, however her love for nerd culture and animals has been in her heart since she was a little girl. A great lover of books and true crime, in her down time she can usually be found reading or listening to a podcast or audiobook. This combined with her favorite childhood tv shows such as Batman the Animated Series and Xena Warrior Princess would later become inspirations for many of her future cosplays.
Andi aims for extreme detail with all of her cosplays and often adds her own little touches to the characters she chooses to portray. It is this attention to detail and natural charm she uses while portraying a character that has not only earned her the praise of many but led her to winning costume contests as well as being featured in several mediums in various cosplay related articles online and syndicated television.
A firm believer that everyone is beautiful inside and out, and that there is no wrong way to cosplay, Andi hopes to help inspire people from all walks of life to cosplay, just as she was inspired by others in the cosplay community. Taking a cue from one of her favorite musicals, ' The Rocky Horror Picture Show', Andi's message to those who want to cosplay but may be hesitant to do so is, "Don't dream it, Be it."
Nate Charles – Assistant Promoter & Cosplay Competition Director
Nate Charles is an avid comic book and gaming fanatic who has long since admired the art of cosplay, but only recently worked up the courage to pursue it himself. Being charged with organizing Manheim Comic Con's Cosplay Competition & Showcase is something that he considers a huge honor and witnessing all the wonderful work the competitors display and the fun they have doing so never ceases to inspire him at each and every convention.
Fee Bain – Sponsor