Wellington Armageddon Cosplay 2011

Wellington Armageddon Expo: Steampunk, Anime, and Sci-Fi Legends

Actress Katee Sackhoff posing with a fan dressed in a Stormtrooper cosplay at a comic convention — Ms. Sackhoff and a friend in Imperial armor.

So, Sydney had its cosplay turn, and now it is Wellington's turn to host the beloved Armageddon Expo. For those unfamiliar, Armageddon is New Zealand's premier pulp-culture, sci-fi, and gaming convention, bringing massive fandom energy to the bottom of the globe.

How did it do? Well, for a nation that occasionally loves to cut down its tall poppies, I think the local community did incredibly well. While some of us were stuck out house-hunting, these dedicated cosplayers braved the notoriously fierce Wellington wind to head to the Queens Wharf Event Centre.

Sci-Fi Royalty on the Wharf

The guest lineup was fantastic. Fans lined up to meet Katee Sackhoff. At the time, she was widely revered for her legendary run as the hotshot pilot Starbuck in the masterful reboot of Battlestar Galactica (and of course, she would later cement her sci-fi legacy by bringing Bo-Katan Kryze to life in Star Wars).

Also in attendance were classic Doctor Who alumni and the incredibly awesome John Rhys-Davies. Most modern fans know him as the battle-hardened dwarf Gimli from Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy (which was filmed right there in Wellington!). However, true genre fans will always love him as Sallah from the Indiana Jones movies.

The Local Cosplay Scene

Conventions are nothing without the fans who spend hundreds of hours stitching, crafting, and painting to bring their favorite characters to life. Here are some excellent pictures of the local Kiwi crew and their cosplay endeavors.

Group of friends in detailed anime and gaming cosplay standing outside at the Wellington Armageddon Expo — All the right cosplay friends gathering at Queens Wharf.

Cosplayer with bright green hair throwing up a peace sign alongside another attendee — Peace, and Live Long and Prosper.

Two anime cosplayers posing with props at the convention center — Japanese anime cosplayers showcasing their intricate outfits.

Three female cosplayers posing playfully in casual anime-inspired streetwear — Girls just want to have cosplay fun!

A cosplayer in a Japanese schoolgirl sailor uniform posing next to a person in a suit wearing a large carved pumpkin head — Mr. Pumpkin Head and his sailor-girl friend. Classic convention randomness.

Embracing the Dark Side and Steampunk Aesthetic

It wouldn't be a proper convention without the forces of darkness showing up. The Star Wars presence is always strong, with fans putting deep creative spins on traditional Sith lore. Additionally, the Steampunk community always arrives in force, showcasing intricate leatherwork, brass goggles, and incredibly detailed Victorian-futurist engineering.