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Cosplay NYC and NJ Interviewing Harold B. Gibson

Geek culture review

By Roc RockersonPublished 7 years ago 2 min read
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N.Y.C #28daysofblackcosplay edition Documentary micro-interview with Harold B. Gibson i.g.@Harold B. Gibson Black Adam 

Harold B. Gibson Creator/Owner/Producer/Host at HB Gibson's The XONE, co-creator and co-host atH & R Movie Talk actor who studied drama at New Jersey School of the Dramatic Arts, Lives in Newark, New Jersey, and is a cosplay legend out of New Jersey. When not making his web series Body Jumpers or hanging out at his favorite comic shop, "Fortress of Solitude" in Newark, NJ, he is doing interviews for The XONE. You can check out Harold cosplaying at conventions, being a stuntman, and director. You can tune into hisfacebook pagefor inspirational talks and gaming reviews of older games, movies, and anything geek. He is a pillar in the east cost cosplay community, doing community outreach and awesome cosplay. He has a large group of friends and talented artists who join him in his geektastic lifestyle. While geek culture has been mainstream for the past few years, he has been in the community since 2015 as a cosplayer. However, if you check out his work, he is a life-long geek. His acting background and stunt work all add up to an A-list cosplayer, who is always working on his next cosplay. He has been everyone from Black Adam to Luke Cage, Nick Fury, Storm Shadow,an original take on Superman called Dark Star Superman, and Cyborg Superman, you could catch him as a Jedi in the morning, then a Sith at night. Such great cosplays as RedHood and much more to the delight of children and fans. The cosplay community has grown so much over the years and people like Harold and his friends are always bringing it to new heights. We got to ask Harold six questions, here is his take on cosplay.Roc Rockerson: What started you in cosplay?Harold Gibson: A long time friend took me to a few conventions. Comic conventions, horror, and collector cons. You name it, and everyone I went to, I saw lots of people walking around wearing amazing costumes. One day at New York Comic Con, I saw a guy dressed as Green Arrow and his lady was dressed as Black Canary. They looked like they practically stepped right out of the comics! I said to myself… “I wanna do that!!” so I put some things together (mind you I don't sew) and made my first cosplay, my little version of Nick Fury for East Coast Comic Con in 2015. It got a lot of attention so, I was like, let’s see what else I can do, and the rest is history.

Who are your idols in cosplay?

Wow! So many. I’ll give you my top 3: Soni Aralynn, Eric The Smoke Moran, and Fred Holt. Davaughn Thomas as MEGA Honorable mention!

What is your most proud moment about cosplay?

The day I bought my ticket to NYCC 2016, I went on a bodybuilding program to get in shape. I was doing one cosplay a day: Nick Fury on Friday, Luke Cage on Saturday and Riddick on Sunday… I was most worried about Riddick because I love the character so much and I was concerned about how it would be received. I even had a makeup artist come to my house to cover the tattoos on my arm. Not only was my Riddick cosplay a hit, Douglas Shawn Williams took a photo of me as Riddick and it made it to Cosplayzine magazine December 2016 issue! So I would say Riddick was my proudest cosplay moment.

Tell us about your work in the community?

I’m always excited whenever I’m called to an event with kids. I’ve done a few “Free Comic Book Day” events at Fortress of Solitude and met with the kids there as well as a recent kids drawing event with Ivan Valez (who worked with Milestone DC on Blood Syndicate) at the Bronx Art Museum! It was there when I debuted Darkstar Superman and I told them the origin of the character. The kids are very talented and drew fantastic pics of me. And I got kinda misty eyed because this little girl walked up to me and hugged me after the event was over.

Tell us about your acting career?

I’ve been acting off and on between 9-5’s for almost 8 years. My first role in and actually play on an actual stage was, The Lenox Avenue Christmas Carol, at Symphony Hall Newark NJ. I’ve been in many short films and went on tour in a play with Christopher Williams called Tell Hell I Ain’t Comin’. After that, I ended up working with Alex Fernandez on the web series Body Jumpers for the past 3 years. On The show I play Agent Darius, an alien intergalactic law enforcement officer sent to guide a female human, Nova (played by Jeanna Lue) in her journey to becoming a hero after she finds a nano-bio battle suit from my world. I do some of the fight choreography on the show as well.

If you could change one thing about cosplay what would it be?

I would rotate the Judges at the cosplay contests. Give other capable people a chance to judge. They may not even have to even be cosplayers. Maybe actors, indie comic book artists, or even fans who are just nerds/geeks!! I wish I could fix people of other races bullying cosplayers of color… what's most sad is when our own black people bully us. But you can’t change the minds and attitudes of people... they have to do that.

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About the Creator

Roc Rockerson

A gamer since the age of 12, I work at and am the creator of artzeal.org part of the art zeal community, I am also a trained chef and foodie. Photo and video editing, writing creatively, art is my passion.

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