Carbon Costume

Johnny Cage (voiced by Andrew Bowen in Mortal Kombat 11) is an action movie star and martial artist.  He is one of the seven original characters from the Mortal Kombat game series.  Johnny is a bit of a showboat and an airhead, but that does not detract from his fighting prowess.  In Mortal Kombat 11, Johnny’s look is more military-like than in previous iterations.  He wears a tactical vest and pants, with a black long-sleeved shirt, combat boots, and sunglasses.  Unless you can DIY Johnny’s “CAGE” belt, it might be hard to find, so look for a large silver buckle to use as a stand-in.

Dr. Carla Radames (voiced by Courtenay Taylor) is the person responsible for the creation of the C-Virus in the Resident Evil video game franchise.  In Resident Evil 6, Dr. Radames undergoes a transformation as part of Derek Simmons’ Ada Project, which turns her into a doppelganger of Ada Wong.  In her new appearance, Dr. Radames has short black hair and wears a blue dress with red scarf and belt.  She also uses Ada’s signature Hookshot weapon.  When seeking a gun to replicate the one she uses in the game, look for something futuristic-looking and mostly silver in color.

Ada Wong (voiced by Courtenay Taylor in RE6) has gone through several different iterations (and outfits) since she was introduced to the Resident Evil franchise.  In RE6, she’s back with a slightly more practical look for her chosen profession.  To recreate her appearance in this version, you’ll need black leather gloves, pants, and stiletto boots, as well as a red button-down shirt left open, with the sleeves rolled and the collar popped.  A real crossbow is likely outside the budget for a costume, so stick with the pistol worn in her shoulder harness, or opt for a smaller, more toy-like version instead.

Sara (voiced by Emily Brundige) appears in episodes nine and ten of Over the Garden Wall.  Sara is a classmate of Wirt.  She serves as her school mascot and both Wirt and Jason have a crush on her.  Sara’s Halloween costume is an interesting mash-up.  She wears a Nasa bomber jacket over a clown jumpsuit and her face is painted to resemble a skull.  To recreate her look, you may need to get a little creative, as an exact replica of her jumpsuit is difficult to find.  If you’re willing to be flexible, a sleeveless jumpsuit might stand in place with the jacket and collar over it to disguise the change.  Otherwise, a dark-colored onesie might work instead, or you can DIY it a little with fabric paint and a plain, light-colored jumpsuit. If you don’t want to paint your face, a skull mask can work as well.  Many of the Nasa jackets available for purchase are much more flashy than Sara’s, so a plain jacket and a few patches may be a better fit for her look.  The patches can be attached by sewing, gluing, or even using double-sided wall tape.

Crimson Countess (played by Laurie Holden) was a member of the superhero group Payback on the Amazon series The Boys.  Also a singer, Crimson Countess’ superpower is Explosive Fireball Generation and her catchphrase is “she’s the countess you can count on.”  To recreate the Countess’ look, you’ll want to focus on darker tones of red than you normally see in superhero costumes.  While full cosplay sets do exist, they can be very pricey, so if you’re willing to put in a little more effort, you can certainly get close to her onscreen look with a few simple pieces layered together.  A burgundy bodysuit is your base, over which you’ll want to layer a body harness, forearm sleeves, and high boots.  Top off the look with a red wig, shiny mask, and a cape.

Linh Song is a character from Susan Messenger’s Keeper of the Lost Cities book series.  Linh is an elf with hydrokinetic powers and an ally of Sophie Foster.  She also has a twin brother named Tam.  When recreating Linh’s look, it’s important to remember you may not be able to find exact replicas of her costume.  Instead, focus on similar color palettes and silhouettes.  You can layer a turtleneck under a sleeveless piece, or opt for a darker color or shorter-sleeved tunic instead, depending on your preference and which you think is closest.  Pinning the wig’s bangs to the side will make it look more like Linh’s side-swept hair, or if you have long black hair already, you can dye the tips with temporary silver spray.  If you’re crafty, you might be able to replicate Linh’s crest-shaped brooch with a little DIY.  Otherwise, a pin with two wolves can serve in its place.

Pete Martino (played by Richie Moriarty) is the perpetually upbeat 80s scout master killed by a stray arrow on the CBS sitcom Ghosts.  Prior to his death, Pete was a dedicated family man and scout leader to a troop of girls, one of whom loosed the arrow that accidentally resulted in his demise.  To recreate his look from the show, you’ll need large-framed glasses, tall boot socks, green shorts, and a khaki shirt.  Adorn the shirt with as many patches as you want.  The easiest way to make it look like there’s an arrow through your throat is to use a gag headband turned sideways.  A neckerchief can double as part of the costume as well as a disguise for the headband while it helps hold it in place.

Gretel Grant-Gomez (voiced by Meli Povenmire) is the titular protagonist of the Disney Channel series Hamster & Gretel.  Gretel is an energetic, outgoing kid who moonlights as a superhero.  Gretel’s usual attire consists of an orange skirt, and a light teal blouse with sneakers to match.  When she transforms into a superhero, her costume consists almost exclusively of shades of pink.  You can add a “G” to the front of your shirt easily with some fabric paint; just make sure it has plenty of time to dry!  No matter which version of Gretel’s costume you choose to recreate, don’t forget the blonde bob, blue headband, tall white crew socks, and trusty hamster sidekick.