Over the years, comic books have gone from subculture to mainstream. Along with it came the rise of cosplay. For those that don't know, cosplay is the art of re-creating a costume of a specific character. Sometimes it entails "becoming" that character — a little bit of method acting never hurt anyone. Those that cosplay often promote themselves by participating in photoshoots.
A cosplay favorite is definitely Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise. While many individuals are a fan of the key members of the Avengers, there are those who are fans of the villains even more. One popular villain? Thanos. Here are ten outstanding Thanos cosplays.
10 Akufadum
Akufadum, AKA Walter D, is a Canada-based cosplayer. He does not accept commissions but hey, he seems to have a good time with what he does. Akufadum's Thanos is fun, simple, and to the point. It is in the realm of achievable for a good number of cosplayers that don't specialize in foamsmithing or armor making. This particular version of Thanos has a tolerable amount of detail that requires basic knowledge of painting cosplays. Which, to say the least, can come with its complications. This Thanos is large and well-made. It is something to be proud of.
9 Paulstarhero
Here is another cosplayer-cosmaker combo. Paulstarhero is Thanos' cosplay model. He is also a UK Make a Wish Ambassador. He dons the incredibly tall Thanos kit with pride. The kit is crafted by Dasilva Fx and features a variety of builds such as The Incredible Hulk, Venom, and Green Lantern. Dasilva's Thanos is so terrifyingly large, it's easy to imagine being in the presence of the real deal. Imagine what young Gamora felt whenever she was around her father — a man larger than most other beings. Kudos to Dasilva for instilling that same fear into us all.
8 Ally B Cosplay
Ally B is a professional Latina cosplayer based in Texas and has been cosplaying since 2010. She is available for booking via email which is posted on her social media accounts. In 2015, she won Best in Show at Japan Festival. She is known for cosplaying a variety of well-known characters such as Vegeta (Dragon Ball Z), Aerith (Final Fantasy VII), Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics), Poison Ivy (DC Comics), and many more. Of course, because she's on this list, that means she's also cosplayed Thanos — brilliantly, we might add.
7 Cecilosaurus Cosplay
Cecilosauras is a French cosplayer. Cosplays in her repertoire include Super Girl (DC Comics), Commander Shepherd (Mass Effect), Lady Deadpool (Marvel Comics), and more. Something that makes her stand out from other cosplayers is the fact that she has created her own dress form. While this is not an original concept, it is uncommon to see it from conception to completion and to see it being used. Hers is unique because it is full-bodied, rather than torso or mid-thigh. That is how she is able to create perfect fitting cosplays, and her Thanos is no exception.
6 HurleyFX
HurleyFX, AKA Lee Hurley, is a freelance sculptor. He specializes in prop-making, prosthetics, and armor. Each of his cosplays has a large amount of fine detail — line-by-line, scale-by-scale. He sells his products and has 5-star reviews. But of course, he has his amazing Thanos cosplay. From head-to-toe, Hurley decks out in full Thanos regalia. The jaw prosthetic has all the deep grooves, the thick arms have veins, the Infinity Gauntlet glows, and the boots are designed and sized to scale so that it is proportionate with the rest of Thanos' body.
5 Prizmatec Cosplay
Prizmatec Cosplay is an Italian company that produces robots and large armor cosplays. They opened shop in 2012 and have four people on their team. They currently have fourteen characters available (i.e. BB-8, Iron Man, K2SO, and more). Be on the lookout for their new shop website, Farout. With many armored cosplays in their repertoire, Thanos comes as no challenge to them. Their version of Thanos focuses on the armor rather than the prosthetic details. Instead of showing a lot of that purple skin, Thanos dons a deep blue set of armor. The only skin shown is his face and hand.
4 Cat & Crown
Cat & Crown, AKA Jamie Flack, is from South England and is a cosplay photographer. Most of his work is free but he has a Ko-fi page accepting donations. Flack has done photoshoots for a variety of cosplays: Elsa and Anna from Frozen, Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones, Aquaman, Lady Thor, and others. The Thanos in Flack's photography features a young Gamora by his side. The combination of both Thanos and Gamora leaves the viewer with an unsettling feeling in the pit of their stomachs. The true meaning lies behind Thanos' cold stare and possessive grasp of young Gamora.
3 Waltimusprime
Waltimusprime, AKA Walter Welsh, is a professional FX artist. He specializes in sculpting and prop-making. This California resident is currently featured on FACE OFF on the SYFY channel. Welsh also sells his products on his Etsy store: WelshCreations. His store features parts of Thanos' prosthetics, Iron Man helmets, a Batman helmet, and a variety of other creations. His Thanos kit is so incredibly detailed, it looks as if it's real skin — deep wrinkles and scowling demeanor really sell the look. The helmet and rest of the armor are worn — suitable for someone of Thanos' reputation.
2 Talldarkthan
Talldarkthan is cosplayer Jean-Louis Seneque. His Thanos cosplay is crafted by the French cosplayer Lord Krayven. Krayven started his cosplay business in 2016 and takes commissions for props and armor. He is passionate about his craft and it shows in his work, which can be viewed on various social media sites. Krayven finds ways to compartmentalize armor in such a way that there are as few separate pieces as possible, making it easier to work with. His Thanos comes with several pieces but the chest plate, for example, is one piece rather than a series that you have to place together.
1 Real Illusion Creations
Real Illusion Creations, AKA Michael eTe, is a cosplayer and cosmaker, as he states on his Instagram profile. He too specializes in heavily armored characters. His costumes look amazing and comfortable. From Captain America to Princess Zelda, his talents know no bounds. This Thanos is the most surreal from this list. The details give the whole set an almost ethereal glow. It's so real it's unreal. Thanos looks out of this world, which is fitting considering that he is literally not from Earth. What's more impressive is that Thanos' armor is crafted from EVA Foam (which is a standard in the cosplaying community, but is nevertheless impressive).