The Gallery

I wanted to take a moment to say that I get a good amount of DMs from Black men who appreciate me as a father. They have had experiences growing up that were less than ideal and are tackling their respective traumas in therapy. . . I rarely know how to respond because my experiences growing up are summed up in these photos... my parents are always there to support me so I know nothing else than to keep my son close to me whenever possible. People see me as some paragon of fatherhood when in fact I feel really guilty that I can't give him the exact type of 2 parent in-house experience. .. but those are my issues to deal with. I just can't let them affect my relationship with him. . . I say all of this to say that the love my parents continue to give me is something I'm striving to replicate for my son. They wanted to be at #katsucon2022 simply to support the mission and me... and it's effortless for them. I love my parents dearly and as a father, I respect them so much. . . #Photographer: My Parents #Suit: @womanofwonders8 . . #blackcosplay #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #Hawkman #Family #Fatherhood #Parenthood https://www.instagram.com/p/CaR7TsKLbyo/?utm_medium=tumblr

Can I be honest? No? I don't care. . Learning to read from a teleprompter on the fly because you can't fully remember all of what was written on your son's tablet is HARD!!! Especially when you're trying to act natural. . But the PSA portion of the pitch to @mattel is done save for some creative editing. I'll be reviewing all of the backstories I've received starting tonight because this is happening this Thursday. So thank you... thank you... THANK YOU for everyone who sent something in. You're truly appreciated and awesome for wanting to be a part of this. . If it's not for the kids.... then what's the point? Right? . #blackcosplay #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #HeMan #ArtMonkeyAnimation #ForTheKids #ForTheCulture #Mattel https://www.instagram.com/p/CaPYs9sL6RP/?utm_medium=tumblr

We may not be in Ranger form... but #CombatCosplay is our default!! @sirjuliuscosplay . . #Designer: @thelivingbreathinggoddess #Suit: @womanofwonders8 . . #katsucon2022 #cosplay #blackcosplay #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #kombatinthegrid #inosuke #demonslayer #hawkman #DCComics @kawaiikafe.store https://www.instagram.com/p/CaKwDaIlG4a/?utm_medium=tumblr

When your son picks up the action figure of you for the first time and you don't have the camera ready... it looks like this. But I saw it in real time. It caught his eye and he just went for it. Yeah... yeeeeeaaaah I've gotta make this happen. . . Happy Monday, folks! . . #blackcosplay #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #HeMan #mastersoftheuniverse #MOTU #MastersoftheUniverseRevelation #ForTheKids #ArtMonkeyAnimation #alwayspressrecord @joeamatocustoms #customs https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ9TiQrL3h7/?utm_medium=tumblr

@czdrawings8 is giving @kombat_in_the_grid the @boom_studios treatment with these portraits!! Rain and Smoke are still on the way but follow @czdrawings8 and @dpcx1489 for those updates. . . #cosplay #blackcosplay #28daysofblackcosplay #PowerRangers #kombatinthegrid #mortalkombat #SubZero #Scorpion #Ermac #Reptile https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ1kgNCLvSZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

SHOUT OUT to the fans within the #MOTU Facebook groups that want to create custom characters out of my cosplay!! This is super dope and the second one that's been done in @soulcalibur 6!! . . #cosplay #blackcosplay #HeMan #mastersoftheuniverse #MastersoftheUniverseRevelation #soulcalibur6 #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #videogames https://www.instagram.com/p/CZrX8Kcrm92/?utm_medium=tumblr

My guy @badboyvideoshow hit me a few weeks ago and said he was gonna pull one of my moves...I didn't understand what he meant until he sent me these photos... give this man his flowers. . . @johncena where are you, pimpin? . . @hbomaxpeacemaker #cosplay #blackcosplay #28daysofblackcosplay #peacemaker #HBO #DCComics @dccomics #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter https://www.instagram.com/p/CZpahjGFqD3/?utm_medium=tumblr

I consider myself fortunate to have done a cosplay that has really stuck in the minds of the fandom. From the art to the apparel to the adjoining cosplays... I'm super thankful to everyone who has contributed to this... this experience... is that the right word? In any case... the 4 year me still can't believe that @joeamatocustoms , @minijini_customs and now @bujubu have created figures in my image. He's got my moles, y'all. . . #cosplay #blackcosplay #HeMan #mastersoftheuniverse #MastersoftheUniverseRevelation #BlackHeroesMatter #representationmatters #childhooddreams https://www.instagram.com/p/CZh9vOUFmxA/?utm_medium=tumblr

Episode 2 of @kombat_in_the_grid is available on #YouTube right now! As the Sub-Zero Ranger...I demand that you hit the link and watch the awesome episode! . . Support thriving cosplay by watching what's created. Everyone out here making content deserves at least that much consideration, right? @dpcx1489, @eastcoastpowerrangers and everyone else attached to this project are all artists that are working very hard to bring their passions to life...support them. . . https://youtu.be/9ruxQ6xMM3c . . #cosplay #SubZero #mortalkombat #PowerRangers #kombatinthegrid #RepresentationMatters #28daysofblackcosplay https://www.instagram.com/p/CZheLetFsqB/?utm_medium=tumblr

@thealbizu was awesome enough to create a Sword of Power design that has the words "Representation Matters" written in Wakandan. @karsonkorner was gracious enough to put the design on a pair of sweatpants for sale. . . If that's not Black Excellence...I don't know what is. The link to Karson's Korner is in my linktree in my bio. Getting a hoodie to match would be a... powerful combination!! I'll see myself out. . . #cosplay #Cosplayer #blackcosplay #HeMan #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #SwordOfPower #wakandaforever #28daysofblackcosplay https://www.instagram.com/p/CZeYVuvLRKw/?utm_medium=tumblr

You see this, @mattel and @mattelcreations?? If you would just go ahead and make a He-Sol action figure...a character created by @timseeley for the Masters of the Multiverse run that's inspired by me and @officialsunman .... you wouldn't have French customizers like @bujubu sending me their version of my He-Man cosplay. . . Sure...King Grayskull looks great but I've been here long before @thatkevinsmith and @marcbernardin settled on his design. Make a He-Sol figure and I guarantee it'll sell. . . #28daysofblackcosplay #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #HeMan #actionfigure #customs #mattel #menshealth #applenews https://www.instagram.com/p/CZcv2vRl5L7/?utm_medium=tumblr

The beginning of Black History Month is marked by @applenews featuring the @menshealthmag article featuring photography by @biggoldbelt and the cosplayers who joined me that day at @blerdcon...@bigsmu, @fitnessbysutton, @brownelegz and @thesmoke007!! . . The #28daysofblackcosplay is upon us!! What an honor to have Black Cosplay GLOBALLY featured... we're breaking through to the mainstream, my friends!! . . #cosplay #blackcosplay #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #HeMan #GlobalReach #AppleNews #menshealth https://www.instagram.com/p/CZcD27qreGp/?utm_medium=tumblr

Everything is Twenty Five Percent Off over at @karsonkorner.... that includes all apparel with my face on it. Hit the link in my bio or just go to their page! . . #blackcosplay #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #HeMan #clothing #hellspawnedcosplay #youhavethepower https://www.instagram.com/p/CZZ6KVJFEH1/?utm_medium=tumblr

When my kid is old enough to start wondering why he's a Transformers, DragonBall and comics fan.... I'll be pointing him to these photos for his retrospective. . . #MySon #LittleHero #fatherandson #Fatherhood #BlackFathers #dadisntanoun #dadlife #FatherAndSonCosplay #CosplayDad #ImDaPappy https://www.instagram.com/p/CZX2uW2FDt5/?utm_medium=tumblr

Got a chance to speak with @dadisntnoun and @vtheroes about a myriad of topics the other night. From cosplay projects to fatherhood and mental health and the He-ManPSAs being created by @oliverbanksart, @alwayspressrecord, @fitnessbysutton and myself...the entire show is relatable no matter who you are. . . The link is available in my linktree in my bio... in podcast form and #YouTube. Go listen and see that I'm just a regular guy who was gifted a platform to do some good. I feel like I've gotta say that to keep everyone on the same page and perspective. The work we're doing has always been a team effort and I'll die on that hill. . . https://youtu.be/SvXXyhpwlL8 . https://anchor.fm/dad-is-not-a-noun-ishmael/episodes/Real-Talk-with-Afro-He-Man-e1dih7e . . #cosplay #blackcosplay #HeMan #dadisntanoun #Fatherhood #podcast #spotify https://www.instagram.com/p/CZRxwPcrOjc/?utm_medium=tumblr

LET'S GO, BABY!!!! . ANNOUNCING OUR NEXT GUEST FOR @headnerdsincon a Comic Con for the Culture and Content Creators! . What can we say about one of the most recognizable, innovative and influential #cosplayers of 2021! Demetrius Holt has been advocating thru his art and activism more inclusion and diversity in the media and programming we all love! Founder and Host of the Juneteenth Black AF Photoshoot Demetrius continues to find new ways to keep black culture at the fore front of his platform. We are so excited to have him coming to #HNICon. And to sign up for the Black AF photoshoot you can go to https://www.headnerdsincharge.com/hnicon right now. . Here is a little more information about Hellspawned Cosplay : . Demetrius Holt has been cosplaying since 2017 and has done a number of characters from Kratos to Sub-Zero to He-Man. . He's been to the most recent SDCC as Press and have interviewed actors and composers on behalf of JVS YouTube channel. He's a brand ambassador for Black Heroes Matter and Figure This in 3D but most importantly, he's a father of a 2 year old boy named Kaua'i. . He's currently creating a series of PSAs aimed at educating Black children via his He-Man cosplay in animated form on streaming services. He's made deals with two services that are accessible via Roku TV and Amazon Fire TV devices. He also hosted a Harvest Festival with KonsiderDis Radio for the children in Ward 7 in Washington DC this past Halloween. . Demetrius' cosplay mission beyond having an outlet for his creativity is to push for the proliferation of minorities within mainstream media. He's been making some pretty sizable strides in that arena seeing as how his He-Man cosplay went viral enough for the writers of the DC Comics mini-series “He-Man and the Masters of the Multiverse” used his image within the final issue that debuted in April 2020. He-Sol is the brand new character that is based on him and Sun-Man per the creator Tim Seeley. . #blerd #geek #blackcosplayer #blackcosplayersrock #blackherosmatter #comiccon #fortheculture #blackexcellence https://www.instagram.com/hellspawned_cosplay/p/CZMkrMTrYu9/?utm_medium=tumblr

I just had a 2 hour debate on why Inuyasha ISN'T essential anime with @cthesuperior on the Garden Of Doom podcast hosted by @rathmordigan, which can be found on any podcatcher. I'm wearing the We Are Gods design by @quencybdraw_n ... who did it for the first Juneteenth event co-hosted by me and @headnerdsincharge . The second event is happening this June 18th at HNIC Con... hit the link in my bio to sign up! . . #cosplay #Cosplayer #blackcosplay #RepresentationMatters #BlackHeroesMatter #BlackNerds #Versatility #blackcosplayerhere #ForTheCulture #ForTheKids #JuneteenthPhotoshoot #HeadnerdsInCharge #JuneteenthEvent #hnicon #podcast #anime https://www.instagram.com/hellspawned_cosplay/p/CZFcDI9l-8c/?utm_medium=tumblr