Carbon Costume Cosplay at Retro Con 2025
Retro Con 2025 in Philadelphia delivered a cosplay contest that was pure nostalgia and spectacle rolled into one. Fans packed the hall to cheer on an impressive lineup of contestants, each showcasing their passion through detailed craftsmanship and spot-on performances. From hand-stitched armor to perfectly styled wigs, the dedication was clear in every entrant who stepped on stage. The event’s celebrated fandom across generations.
What made this year’s contest stand out was the variety of characters represented. Retro classics like Transformers, Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and vintage Disney favorites shared the spotlight with contemporary icons from Deltarune and Five Nights at Freddy’s. The mash-up of eras and genres created a vibrant tapestry of pop culture, reminding everyone that creativity knows no time limit.
Read on for our roundup of the spectacular costumes that were on display. If you recognize yourself or a friend below, let us know and we’ll be sure to tag them. Now onto the costume contest!
We’ve got Spy vs. Spy with the springy bomb in a gift trick from Mad Magazine.
From Wicked, we have Elphaba and Glinda, who are sure to be popular costumes this Halloween.
Ultraman takes the stage.
What would Retro Con be without a Ghostbuster?
See all Ghostbusters costumes…
The fam is representing Barf, Princess Vespa, and the diminutive Yogurt from Spaceballs.
Here we have Blastoff, the Gen 1 Decepticon from Transformers.
See all Transformers costumes…
Ms. Frizzle from the Magic Schoolbus makes an appearance!
Here is Roxas from Kingdom Hearts.
See all Kingdom Hearts costumes…
Famed GI Joe and pro wrestler Sgt. Slaughter gets everyone in line by just jutting his jaw out.
From Deltarune, we have Kris.
Superman is back again, both at Retro Con and in the theaters with James Gunn’s take.
We have a trio of classic Disney villains with Malificent, Ursula, and Captain Hook. Which one is your favorite?
Another Transformer makes an appearance, this time the larger-than-life fan-favorite leader of the Dinobots, Grimlock.
After the Philadelphia Eagles’ win this week, this Dallas Cowboy (#8 Troy Aikman) isn’t looking himself.
Mario and Leonardo from Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles make an unlikely partnership.
See all Super Mario Bros. costumes…
This Video Game God is clad with game systems and peripherals from Atari, Nintendo, Playstation, and much more. And he’s only at 70% power.
The caterpillar and butterfly from Eric Carle’s classic book The Very Hungry Caterpillar melted the hearts of all attendees.
See all children’s book costumes…
Chica from Five Nights at Freddy’s gave everyone a fright.
See all Five Night’s at Freddy’s costumes…
Squirrel Girl is an ascendant hero from the Marvel universe, thanks to her presence in the game Marvel Rivals and a potential entrance into the MCEU.
This Lady Luigi costume from Luigi’s Mansion 3 is super-detailed, down to the tiny Boo getting sucked into the Poltergust G-00.
Naruto gets some representation at the costume contest.
This Chewbacca didn’t appreciate getting called a tall Ewok, not one bit.
When these mash-ups of Spider-Man and CHiPs revealed their striking 70s hairdos under their moto helmets but over their superhero masks.
See all Spider-Man costumes…
From Lego Ninjago, Jay and Lloyd stood front and center.
Another entry from the Star Wars, the Mandalorians showed up to keep Baby Yoda safe.
See all The Mandalorian costumes…
Xena the Warrior Princess let out a battle cry that shook the walls of the exhibition hall.
Another mash-up, this time a Horror Barbie. You won’t find this one on the shelves of Toys ‘R Us.
This Montgomery Gator costume from FNAF wowed the audience.
Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker showed their love for one another. Good job, Luke, putting a ring on it.
One of the all-time classic sitcom couples, who also showed glimpses of their love for one another, here’s Al and Peggy Bundy from Married with Children.
See all Married with Children costumes…
Last but not least, here’s off-duty Santa Claus, back from a vacation in the tropics. Enjoy it now, because Christmas is just around the corner.
A hearty thanks to all the contestants. And congrats to the cosplay contest winners: Video Game God, the Space Balls Family, and Chica from Five Nights at Freddy’s. We look forward to seeing what cosplays everyone will come up with at Retro Con 2025.
In case you missed it, check out our coverage of Retro Con 2024, Retro Con 2022, and all our other events.
About the Author
Tom
On television, film, music, and all the rest.
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