One of the features we do here at Comic Impact is the cosplay girl (NO anime, manga, role-playing games just comics) of the month, that’s right hot girls dressing up like your favorite super- hero characters. This month we’re privileged to have Noelle aka Kirika Yashida as the Cosplay Girl of the Month.
1-What is your name?
Noelle aka Kirika Yashida
2-How old are you?
Old enough!
3-Do you read comics and if so, what are your favorite titles?
Anything Bat-family, Green Lantern, Hellboy, any X-title, Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Superior Spider-Man, Iron Man, some Avengers titles, Hawkeye, Executive Assisstant series, Saga……the list is literally endless. I LOVE comics!
4-What is your favorite comic book character?
I love my Laura Kinney long time! Batman, Red Hood, Harley Quinn, Sinestro, Surge, Miles Morales, Iron Man……again, the list goes on.
5-Who are your favorite artists or writers?
Kyle, Yost, Bendis, Aaron, Morrison, Johns, Mignola, Remender, Hickman, Fraction, Winick, Azzarello……….
Granov, Crain, Nguyen, Daniel, Bermejo, Ramos, Capullo, Choi, Young, Lee, Dodson, Bachalo, Takeda……….
6-What got you into cosplay?
I decided to dress as X-23 at my first convention and I honestly wasn’t expecting people to want to take my picture. It was the most unexpected, overwhelming, scary, flattering, wonderful feeling. I still have to work on getting over my shyness, but I love being in a room full of people with the same interests as me, that appreciate the character I’m portraying as much as I do.
7-If you do more than one character which one is your favorite, and if you do only one do you have some ideas for more costumes?
I don’t have just one favorite. I always make it a point to dress up as characters that I love and know well. It helps me put more into the details and really show my love for the character, which people notice. A lot of my favorites happen to be male, so I have a lot of fun putting a female twist on it, but still keeping the main idea of the original character.
8-How long does it take for you to make a costume?
I’m still very new to this hobby and it’s hard for me to recreate what’s in my mind, so I am not too proud to ask for help. I would rather have a costume true to what I envision in my mind as opposed to a costume I’m less than proud of because I’m limited by my lack of skill. That being said, more times than not, the time on a costume is really at the mercy of whoever I’m commissioning something from. There have been times that a costume I would like to do just never happens.
9-Have you met any of the artists or writers where your costume is based on their work?
Amazingly, yes! For inspiration for Surge, I used artwork from New X-Men by Humberto Ramos and he recognized it right away! It felt especially good cause only about 5 people out of everyone at SDCC that day knew who I was, one being him and another was a Marvel writer who’d written her. Haha
10-Do you buy any toys, busts and etc. based on some of your favorite costumes?
I have several, but I tend to buy everything I can that’s X-23 related, even if I can’t really afford it!
11-So do people know you dress up like a comic book hero on your free time?
Haha, yes. People have recognized me on the street and called me, X-23. I’m extremely flattered and honored to be known as my favorite character!
12-What is the funniest thing that has happened to you at a convention?
I can’t say I have any “funny” moments, but I have plenty of embarrassing “fangirl” moments meeting my favorite creators, writers, and artists!
13-Do kids come up to you and think you are the real life character?
I don’t know if they think I’m actually Laura, but my first memorable moment with a kid was at my first con, this sweet girl that was shy to ask for a picture with me. Another great one that sticks out in my mind was at SDCC, the cutest little girl also dressed as X-23. We took pictures and then she made it a point to come and find me working at a booth later that day to take more pics. Those moments made my whole day!
14-What do you like to do when you’re not costuming, such as other hobbies?
Drawing, reading comics, crafts, image editing, video games, archery, being active, trying anything new.
15-Do you have a website or a Facebook? So people can contact you?
www.facebook.com/KirikaYashida
Would you like to be featured as the Cosplay Girl of the Month(NO anime, manga, role-playing games – just comics)? Then drop us a line! We would love to hear from you! We will also be posting a new Cosplay Girl on the 5th of every month.
Simon Daoudi
Simon@ComicImpact.com
