If there's one experience every cosplayer can relate to, it's burning your hands on last-minute costume fixes in the crunch time before convention day.
And for Leanne Madigan, you often begin with nothing more than hot glue, craft paint and a dream.
As two thirds of the cosplay team The Helluva Girls, named after the adult animated musical web-series Helluva Boss, Madigan and Rain Calderazzo will take the stage at this weekend's Australian Championships of Cosplay as part of Oz Comic Con Canberra.
Kicking off this Saturday at Exhibition Park, Oz Comic Con is one of Australia's largest pop culture conventions.
Drawing in all manner of pop culture enthusiasts across two days, the convention's cosplaying championship showcases the talent and craftsmanship of fans who make costumes and props by hand based on their favourite films, games, animations, TV shows and comics.
Winners will get the chance to duke it out in a champion grand final round in Sydney.
From wigs and contacts to copper wire wolf ears and papier mâché horns, Madigan and Calderazzo said their love for fantasy and cosplay started with the help of their respective crafty and supportive parents.
"When I was a child, dressing up in my princess tutus or even anything tomboyish was fun and all," Madigan said.
@raincloud314 part 2!! I'm tired so I'm gonna sleep and deal with whatever I have tomorrow. stay tuned to see about the photoshoot/interview, @🌌🖤🐺Wolfie88🐺🖤🌌
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"But that was the starting point of realising, I love doing this, I like trying to be something that I'm not, or a character that I like."
LiriRien, or Rin, as she is known within the ACT's cosplay community, inherited her love for the "wild and extravagant" world of cosplay from her grandparents.
"Who doesn't want to be a seven-foot tall dragon lady? Or a fairy?" she said.
"Oz Comic Con feels special ... and our community is in a state of growth."
Meanwhile, Canberra's very own God of Thunder Thor of Oz - health and fitness coach Andy Leigh by day - is preparing to take a special guest spot at this weekend's convention.
The Thor impersonator has travelled the world, met Chris Hemsworth himself, played tennis with Roger Federer, and now dons a screen-accurate suit and hammer made by professional costume makers for $3000.
But his best advice for up-and-coming cosplayers is to start small.
He began his own cosplay journey by growing out his hair, learning how to sew, and building his armour from thermal plastics and a hair dryer.
"Just throw on a cape," he said.
"If you're out to have fun, to celebrate your favourite genre or your favourite movies, I think you'll find the community is very inclusive."
If elaborate costumes and props fail to pique your interest, Oz Comic Con Canberra offers plenty of attractions for people of all ages and pop obsessions, like video games and role-playing.
While The Helluva Girls are not sure if they'll win this weekend's contest, they said the past six months of careful planning and crafting had been an irreplaceable bonding experience for their friendship.
"This has really helped bring us closer," Caldarazzo said.
"I think we both can agree that we're really proud of how much time and effort we have really put into this."
- Oz Comic-Con Canberra is on August 24-25 at Canberra Exhibition Park. ozcomiccon.com/canberra
