Harleyqunnaid and Pseudicide

[Gail Simone]

What the fuck.

I mean, seriously, what the fuck.

How in the world did I end up with readers and supporters like you people?

I honest to god am baffled. When I go to a con, the generosity of readers just astounds me. They bring me hand-made presents and treats, they speak so kindly, and they are so genuinely wonderful and polite. I keep hearing other pros talk about rude people in the signing lines and I swear, I don't think I've ever had that. And then there are the people here, who have stuck here through every dumb thing I ever said...nossir, I don't get it.

This isn't false modesty. I feel like the same person who used to do perms and acrylic nails, but I didn't have a group of remarkable people out there around me like I do now back when I was a hairdresser.

I am always grateful, but sometimes I'm just plain astounded. There have been so many acts of kindness I can't relate them all. It's overwhelming.

Recently, two crazy cosplayers have come into my life that I treasure ridiculously. On Twitter, they are @harleyquinnaid and @pseudicide. Pseudicide, or Dee, also posts here.

I don't know what to say about these fierce, hilarious, wonderful women.

Let me give you some background. I had seen some photos of Harley, who cosplays Harley Quinn, one of my favorites, and she just does an amazing job and I commented, I think, and met her and Dee through those comments, and I always enjoyed their crazy and funny tweets. They're both from Australia, so the chance of meeting is pretty remote.

Then they just went crazy. They wanted me to come to an Australian con, and I said what I always say, not really thinking about it..."I have to be invited, sorry."

Those crazy bitches took that SERIOUSLY.

They went and started a facebook group to Get Gail Simone To Australia. They got hundreds of people to join and sign a petition including some comics professionals.

This actually happened. I laugh about it now, but when I first heard about it, it was already up and running with three hundred names on it. Sure enough, I get a call from a con promoter a week later, "Please come to Australia before those crazy women track me down and murder me."

I made up that quote. But the REST is TRUE. So in February, I'll be in Sydney. Because of these two.

Then they did this video, teaching me about Australian fine culture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5WE_OxpYrQ

I love them both and if you knew them, you would too.

A lot of you guys know I already feel very protective of cosplayers. My first reaction when people insult them is not to smile politely but to punch profusely. Because this is their art and love on display and fuck you if you don't get that.

They are a HUGE part of what makes conventions fun. I'd rather lose the overblown celebrities from a con any day of the week than Lady Deadpool or Asian Superman.

Anyway, this past week some folks on a message board got very upset about a scene in a comic of mine. Don't want to rehash the whole thing, but when I woke up this morning, the first thing I saw was this, from Harley.

http://gailsimone.tumblr.com/post/718598705/clownyprincess-i-meant-to-do-this-in-full

That actually made me cry a little, first thing, you wake up to a gesture like that.

I don't know what I did to deserve people like this, like the posters here, and the readers at conventions. I say again, this is not false modesty. I don't get why remarkable, kind, creative people would be this generous to me. I certainly never had anything like that growing up, just the opposite, in fact. It's very, very nice. I hope all of you guys know how much I appreciate it. I hear all the time, "oh, it's nice that you talk directly with the readers," and I'm always thinking, yes, it is nice. FOR ME. For selfish ME! :)

And Dee and Harley?

You guys rock. I can't pay you back, but I'm bringing you both something special when I come to Australia.

[ComicbookJeff]

In an era when women are spending billions of dollars in cosmetics, apparel, and even surgery, to look like Paris Hilton, I look at the cosplayers as the sane ones.

Fans so passionate that they design and construct an imitation of superhero pop culture.

I'm a fan and share the 'protective' outlook.

[pariah-1972]

I don't see why anyone would have a problem with Cosplayers it's just like dressing up for Halloween.

[Gail Simone]

It's a mix of performance art and wearable fanfic. I think it's wonderful.

It's all about the carriage. I don't care what body shape a person has, it's the ACTING that makes it.

[Grazzt]

Then they just went crazy. They wanted me to come to an Australian con, and I said what I always say, not really thinking about it..."I have to be invited, sorry."

Those crazy bitches took that SERIOUSLY.

They went and started a facebook group to Get Gail Simone To Australia. They got hundreds of people to join and sign a petition including some comics professionals.

This actually happened. I laugh about it now, but when I first heard about it, it was already up and running with three hundred names on it. Sure enough, I get a call from a con promoter a week later, "Please come to Australia before those crazy women track me down and murder me."

I made up that quote. But the REST is TRUE. So in February, I'll be in Sydney. Because of these two.

Don't do it Gail! They're minions of Cam, who's planning to kidnap you and ransom you for beer money!

[Free-Man]

Don't do it Gail! They're minions of Cam, who's planning to kidnap you and ransom you for beer money!

One of them is dressed like Harley Quinn. That's how you know this is true!

[JKCarrier]

Being a comics pro on the internet must feel like having a big target on your back a lot of the time. Nice to hear that there's an occasional up side too. :smile:

[pariah-1972]

It's a mix of performance art and wearable fanfic. I think it's wonderful.

It's all about the carriage. I don't care what body shape a person has, it's the ACTING that makes it.Well i'm too shy and self-conscious to ever do anything like that.

But hey more power to them !

[Grazzt]

Well i'm too shy and self-conscious to ever do anything like that.

Maybe you should just start with someone more understated. I'd like to do the Shade or Jack Knight myself one day.

[JeffreyWKramer]

It's all about the carriage. I don't care what body shape a person has, it's the ACTING that makes it.

I'd have to disagree with that, at least in some more extreme cases.

Some builds simply don't work for some costumes. I'm definitely not someone who believes women have to be slim or have teenager builds to be attractive - beauty comes in lots of forms - but I have never seen the Red Sonja scale-mail bikini or the Slave Girl Leia outfits look good on larger women, including those who look great in a lot of other outfits. Similarly, guys with larger builds might want to reconsider stuff that is more or less skintight or which shows too much skin.

I know that if I was to do cosplay for a con, I'd more likely go with something like Rorschach (an overcoat can be a good thing) than He-Man or Spidey.

[pariah-1972]

Maybe you should just start with someone more understated. I'd like to do the Shade or Jack Knight myself one day.Nah lol i'm comfortable just going as myself (if i ever get to go)

I would rather stare at the other people and do my own thing.

[JKCarrier]

I'm definitely not someone who believes women have to be slim or have teenager builds to be attractive - beauty comes in lots of forms - but I have never seen the Red Sonja scale-mail bikini or the Slave Girl Leia outfits look good on larger women, including those who look great in a lot of other outfits.

Whether you think they look good is less important than whether they're having fun.

[Teal_Lantern]

That's sweet :smile:

I could never cosplay. Honestly, I'm pretty close minded when it comes to what I wear.

[JeffreyWKramer]

Whether you think they look good is less important than whether they're having fun.

That's a whole different matter entirely.

Gail's statement is that, essentially, attitude can make any costume work. While that's often the case, it isn't always so, and that's the point I'm making. If a 300 lb guy puts on nothing but a Speedo and little wings glued to his ankles and goes to a con as Namor, he may or may not have fun, but more likely than not, most people will agree the choice was not a good one for him, i.e., it didn't "work."

[Nick Soapdish]

That's a whole different matter entirely.

Gail's statement is that, essentially, attitude can make any costume work. While that's often the case, it isn't always so, and that's the point I'm making. If a 300 lb guy puts on nothing but a Speedo and little wings glued to his ankles and goes to a con as Namor, he may or may not have fun, but more likely than not, most people will agree the choice was not a good one for him, i.e., it didn't "work."

There are a couple famous examples of cosplays that didn't work.

[scandalsavage]

If someone wants to put themselves out there and Cosplay then I say "go for it" and good for them.

And the woman who Gail mentioned who cosplays as Harley is amazing.

[AthenAltena]

Back to the original topic:

Aw! That's so sweet. You have great fans, Gail. :)

[TCJohnson]

Whether you think they look good is less important than whether they're having fun.

And how they feel about how they look in the costume.

Last weekend of the MD Ren Fest is devoted to cosplayers. You can dress up however you want. Medieval Boba Fett is a popular one. It is a lot of fun?

[Melbourne Mew Mew]

What's the name of the convention you'll be at?

I saw you at Armageddon Melbourne '07, but I might fly up to Sydney to catch you.

[Corrina]

This story is awesome.

:)

[Zamdrist]

How perfectly awesome this all is :)

We have 2 annual conventions here in Minneapolis, and they are pretty modest. There's little to no hope of getting anyone remotely exciting to show up, much less Gail Simone. But then again, if more high profile artists/writers were recruited, perhaps it would'nt be such small affairs.

Anyhow, thanks for sharing all this Gail, wonderful stuff.

[Vesper]

Aw, that totally rocks!

[Pseudicide]

Anyway, this past week some folks on a message board got very upset about a scene in a comic of mine. Don't want to rehash the whole thing, but when I woke up this morning, the first thing I saw was this, from Harley.

http://gailsimone.tumblr.com/post/718598705/clownyprincess-i-meant-to-do-this-in-full

That actually made me cry a little, first thing, you wake up to a gesture like that.

I don't know what I did to deserve people like this, like the posters here, and the readers at conventions. I say again, this is not false modesty. I don't get why remarkable, kind, creative people would be this generous to me. I certainly never had anything like that growing up, just the opposite, in fact. It's very, very nice. I hope all of you guys know how much I appreciate it. I hear all the time, "oh, it's nice that you talk directly with the readers," and I'm always thinking, yes, it is nice. FOR ME. For selfish ME! :)

And Dee and Harley?

You guys rock. I can't pay you back, but I'm bringing you both something special when I come to Australia.

The original intention had been to get that photo done at the con, and to try and get Nicola into it. But I had zero free time. It really really works how Harley did it and I love it.

On another note, I run a group called curvy chicks cosplay on facebook as well. It's all about the attitude, man. I've seen girls with stereotypically great figures and no confidence fail because of that, and I've seen women my size and bigger (I'm a US 16) absolutely rock things because of attitude and confidence. There will always be people who try and dictate what is suitable for women or men to wear because of size, and I'm sorry, I call bullcr*p.

And finally, for anyone who wants to meet the amazing and darling Harleyquinnade, she's organised a Harleypalooza at SDCC this year, her first time going. http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=365710564291&index=1

Okay, I lied, this is finally. Gail, it's you who rock, and that's why we go to these lengths. Thank you.

~Dee

[Cam63]

Don't do it Gail! They're minions of Cam, who's planning to kidnap you and ransom you for beer money!

I already have enough beer money !

Hmm... I suppose I could use it to buy a decent Blues State of Origin side.

Yeah... Battle hardened, ruthless mercenaries with footy skills... that's the way to go.

[ceebee_eebee]

Ok, fine. I registered here because Dee told me I had to and her peer pressure is a truly powerful thing. Plus? I had to come and agree with the sentiment that she is awesome. Because woman DEFINITELY has her moments. ;-) And she rocks the cosplay. I've told her a million times that if I had the mad sewing skillz and the body to work it, I would be rocking Canary's costume every damn day of my life. Con or no con.

ANWAY. That's the situation. Dee is bad ass and makes me do things like post to message boards. But while I'm here, I thought I'd share my thoughts on this:

<< I don't know what I did to deserve people like this, like the posters here, and the readers at conventions. >>

I'm not saying this to be ass-kissy or precious and maybe it's been said a million times before and I'm just feeling particularly sappy at the moment. But whatever the reason, I feel the need to say it.

Gail. The reason why you have fans like this is because you've EARNED them. Your love for comics and the characters you write is evident in every page. You've become (as the lovely dcwomenkickingass on tumblr said today) THE comic book writer for many, many people. And not just because you are a woman writing comics. But because you are a woman writing fucking KICK ASS comics and showing the industry what's possible when you have the skill, and the dedication, and the awareness to not just rehash the same tired bullshit. We need more people like you in the industry and I think you'd agree with that. It's also, imo, why people are SO passionate about what went down in BOP2. You're more than just another comic writer to a lot of people, and BOP is more than just another series. You've raised the bar and that leaves you open to intense emotions from people who look to you to be better than the rest. Maybe it's not fair, but it's what is.

In any case, that's how I feel about it. You have the fans you have because you deserve them.

Now, I just need to figure out how to get you to an East Coast con in the near future so I can fangirl you properly. ;-)

[Cam63]

Welcome, Ceeb :)

[DavidAllred]

The cream always rises. As a long time DC Comics reader, your books are a breath of fresh air. They are that way when they are naughty; and they are that way when they are nice. It's good stuff Gail, really. Like ceebee said, "you've earned it."

[nigel33]

In an era when women are spending billions of dollars in cosmetics, apparel, and even surgery, to look like Paris Hilton, I look at the cosplayers as the sane ones.


Abso-effin-lutely.

Better to be a well-adjusted dork having fun at a con than a self-loathing lemming going under the knife.

[Free-Man]

Welcome Ceebee!!!

And that video had me LOLing. Cam's supervillain hit squad sure looks stylish!XD

[Pseudicide]

Welcome Ceebee!!!

And that video had me LOLing. Cam's supervillain hit squad sure looks stylish!XD

You should see us when we go out. Now that's stylish.

And our plan has never been to kidnap Gail. Ever.

>.>

<.<

>.>

REALLY. Welcome Cee. You're awesome yourself and way too nice to me. Also, I hardly twisted your arm ;p

~Dee

[Gail Simone]

Ok, fine. I registered here because Dee told me I had to and her peer pressure is a truly powerful thing. Plus? I had to come and agree with the sentiment that she is awesome. Because woman DEFINITELY has her moments. ;-) And she rocks the cosplay. I've told her a million times that if I had the mad sewing skillz and the body to work it, I would be rocking Canary's costume every damn day of my life. Con or no con.

ANWAY. That's the situation. Dee is bad ass and makes me do things like post to message boards. But while I'm here, I thought I'd share my thoughts on this:

<< I don't know what I did to deserve people like this, like the posters here, and the readers at conventions. >>

I'm not saying this to be ass-kissy or precious and maybe it's been said a million times before and I'm just feeling particularly sappy at the moment. But whatever the reason, I feel the need to say it.

Gail. The reason why you have fans like this is because you've EARNED them. Your love for comics and the characters you write is evident in every page. You've become (as the lovely dcwomenkickingass on tumblr said today) THE comic book writer for many, many people. And not just because you are a woman writing comics. But because you are a woman writing fucking KICK ASS comics and showing the industry what's possible when you have the skill, and the dedication, and the awareness to not just rehash the same tired bullshit. We need more people like you in the industry and I think you'd agree with that. It's also, imo, why people are SO passionate about what went down in BOP2. You're more than just another comic writer to a lot of people, and BOP is more than just another series. You've raised the bar and that leaves you open to intense emotions from people who look to you to be better than the rest. Maybe it's not fair, but it's what is.

In any case, that's how I feel about it. You have the fans you have because you deserve them.

Now, I just need to figure out how to get you to an East Coast con in the near future so I can fangirl you properly. ;-)


Ceebee, you are awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I thought you were Dee the first couple days at Tumblr (anyone here will tell you I am STUPID bad at names). But first, any friend of Dee's is a friend of mine, and any cool poster is more than welcome here.

Hope you stick around, feel free to put your feet up and make fun of the rest of us, that's what we do!

And thank you for the very kind words. It's very sweet of you.

I WILL be at NYCC in October, come by and say hello!

[Gail Simone]

You should see us when we go out. Now that's stylish.

And our plan has never been to kidnap Gail. Ever.

>.>

<.<

>.>

REALLY. Welcome Cee. You're awesome yourself and way too nice to me. Also, I hardly twisted your arm ;p

~Dee


Neat!

Wait. That sounds suspicious.

[Pseudicide]

Neat!

Wait. That sounds suspicious.

It shouldn't. We're sweetness and light, Harley and I.

Just eat the timtams and all will be well :D

[Free-Man]

It shouldn't. We're sweetness and light, Harley and I.

Just eat the timtams and all will be well :D

Watch out Gail! They might poison the timtams!

[Pseudicide]

Watch out Gail! They might poison the timtams!

No! NEVER! Would we do that? /innocent

[ceebee_eebee]

Thanks for the welcome, people. I appreciate it muchly!

Dee - That just goes to prove how powerful your methods are. You barely even realized you were using them. :-P

Gail - NYCC?! EEEEEE! This pleases me. This pleases the HELL out of me. And as for confusing me with Deense? I take is as a compliment. <3

[Free-Man]

Thanks for the welcome, people. I appreciate it muchly!


Just watch out for Cam. He drinks and gets punchy.:tongue:

[clownyprincess]

tee hee hee.

I don't know what to say! Gail, you really kinda made my year with this. It's exceptionally kind of you and sure got this fangirl to squee! ^_^ Thank you! I feel all awkward cos I'm sure I don't deserve it, but one of my favourite things about you is definitely the time you are willing to give to the fans, in so many ways and so many amazing gestures. It makes all the difference.

Dee and I simply can't wait to have you out here and deluge you in timtams! XD

Thanks again, Gail. It's a pleasure to support you.

Oh hey - I will also be at SDCC next month, for anyone going! :D

[Gail Simone]

I will be there!


This is awesome, cool new weirdos!

[clownyprincess]

Yay Gail! Hopefully you will have some time for a chat! :D