Crystal Graziano Cosplay Spotlight

At its highest levels, cosplaying isn’t just a hobby--it’s an art form. Getting every last detail of a character’s costume right takes hard work and dedication, especially when you’re constructing everything yourself. But the complexities of cosplaying don’t stop Crystal Graziano, an ardent gaming fan and cosplayer extraordinaire. She expresses her love for video game, anime, and comic book characters by assuming the form of her favorites, through the use of wigs, contacts, and some truly stellar costumes. We guarantee that she’ll turn you into a diehard fan of Raiden (of Metal Gear Solid fame/infamy).

To find out what kind of work goes into pulling off such stunning looks, we asked Crystal about her passion for all things cosplay. Read on to find out how she ended up spray-painting bras, studying concept art, and meeting Hideo Kojima himself.

Crystal Graziano: I'd gone to San Diego Comic Con for a few years and was first exposed to cosplay there. At first I thought all the cosplayers were crazy, but then I saw some from series that I liked and started liking it. I eventually got brave enough to don a really bad closet cosplay of Aeris from FF7, and I had a blast! My costume was terrible, but I made a lot of friends through it!

Pictured above: Felicia from Darkstalkers.

CG: Cosplaying for me is a way to first and foremost connect with other fans and contribute something to your fandom. It's also a great creative outlet and a way to show what you've made.

Pictured above: Selvaria Bles from Valkyria Chronicles.

CG: Well, back when I first started cosplaying, I made a Sephiroth costume for my then-boyfriend to wear. The whole thing was atrocious, but I think the shoulder pauldrons took the cake. I made them by spray painting bra cups silver. Never again.

Pictured above: Laughing Beauty from Metal Gear Solid 4.

CG: Accuracy is very important to me. I actually go a little too crazy with it sometimes, like with my Metal Gear Ac!d 2 Venus costume. You never see the back of her outfit in game because of her hair, but there's a single concept artwork of the back with all kinds of crazy straps. It took a while, but I actually bothered to do all of the back detailing out of leather.

Pictured above: Venus from Metal Gear Ac!d 2.

CG: Final Fantasy VII still holds that title, but I'm also a big fan of Metal Gear and Mass Effect.

Pictured above: Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII.

CG: Sweet Raiden is my favorite. The costume was really simple, but I had a great time cosplaying with my friends in a Sweet Snake group [cosplay based on chibi Figumate Sweet Metal Gear Solid toys). And Hideo Kojima flew me to Japan for Tokyo Game Show, which blew me away.

Pictured above: Raiden from Metal Gear Solid 4.

CG: Don't be afraid to try new things, like sewing or armor-making. Your first attempt may not be great, but craftsmanship comes over time, and the only way you get good is through experience!

Pictured above: Ivy from Soulcalibur V.

CG: Infested Kerrigan from Starcraft! It would be a huge investment of time and money, but it's something I've always wanted to do.

Pictured above: Cammy from Capcom’s 1942: Joint Strike art.

CG: I'd like to give a shout out to my sponsors over at Red 5 Studios, makers of the free-to-play shooter Firefall! If you can get into beta, you should try the game out!

Pictured above: Mourningstar from Firefall.

To see more of Crystal’s work, you can check out her website, blog, Facebook page, Twitter, and Deviantart page, all of which are chock full of pictures of her amazing cosplay. We’ve gone ahead and included more of our favorite shots, with characters ranging from video games to comics, anime, and everything in between. Crystal clearly knows her stuff; check out these awesome costumes, then leave her a comment commending her commitment to cosplaying greatness!