If you’re a fan of the DC Universe, the upcoming Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay has you covered with a voice actor and four comic artists who have portrayed or illustrated the biggest characters in DC comics, movies, and animated series. Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay is a winter-themed comic convention is on December 10-11 at the Tampa Convention Center. And the event is going big with 20 guests and more than 50 hours of programming. Also tickets are affordable at $30 for a single day and $45 for a weekend pass.
DC Universe lineup features Batman, Green Lantern, Superman, Firestorm, JLA, The Flash, and Kid Flash
The event’s DC Universe lineup includes voice actor Jason Spisak and comic artists Alex Saviuk, Sam de la Rosa, Omar Francia, and Tom Nguyen. They have worked on characters like Batman, Green Lantern, Superman, Firestorm, and JLA as well as The Flash and Kid Flash.
Kid Flash
Wally West is Kid Flash, the apprentice of Barry Allen’s Flash and a founding member of Young Justice. Voice actor Spisak portrays the young speedster in the animated series Young Justice.
Kid Flash in Young Justice voice by Spisak
When Spisak went in to audition for the role, being a comic fan himself, he had the pre-existing familiarity with West as a speedster. Wally West begins as a primary comic relief character, but over the course of four seasons matures into a complex individual.
The Flash
There have been five different characters who have been The Flash, all of whom gained the power of “the Speed Force.”
- College athlete Jay Garrick (1940–1951, 1961–2011, 2017–present)
- Forensic scientist Barry Allen (1956–1985, 2008–present)
- Barry’s nephew Wally West (1986–2011, 2016–present)
- Barry’s grandson Bart Allen (2006–2007)
- Chinese-American Avery Ho (2017–present)
In addition, each incarnation of the Flash has been a key member of at least one of DC’s premier teams: the Justice Society of America, the Justice League, or the Teen Titans.
The Flash by Saviuk
Alex Saviuk, widely known for his work on Spider-Man, drew an issue of The Flash (Barry Allen) that was of particular importance to the DC Universe. The Flash #275 (July 1979) is the issue that Iris West Allen was killed. This makes Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay an opportunity to get this important comic book signed. Another interesting DC Comics fact about Saviuk: His first job as a comic artist was drawing Green Lantern, The Flash, and Superman. What a great first job!
Batman
Do you know what “DC” stands for? Detective Comics. It’s where it all started with The Batman. And there are four opportunities for Batman fans at Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay: Voice actor Spisak in an animated movie, and artists Nguyen, Rosa, and Francia, respectively, in the comic books.
The Joker in Batman: Hush by Spisak
The Joker is a role that has been played by many actors before and Jason Spisak was cautious when accepting the role. Spisak brought his own interpretation of who The Joker is to his performance in Batman: Hush and created a memorable experience for viewers everywhere.
Batman: Under the Hood by Nguyen
Comic artist Nguyen has many Batman credits, including his work on Batman: Under the Hood, which is notable for bringing long-dead Jason Todd back to life, and later reimagining him as a brutally violent antihero known as the Red Hood.
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight by Francia
Francia’s work on Batman includes “Batman Legends of the Dark Knight,” which focuses on the early years of Batman’s career that are referred to as “Year One” stories.
Catwoman: Hunted by Francia
Arguably Batman’s favorite villain, Catwoman recently reappeared in a new animated movie titled ‘Catwoman: Hunted.’ The cover for the animated movie was illustrated by Francia.
Green Lantern
Green Lantern is the name of many superheroes who are members of the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic law enforcement agency. And there are four opportunities for Green Lantern fans at Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay: One voice actor and three comic artists that includes Spisak, Saviuk, Rosa, and Francia, respectively.
Razer in Green Lantern: The Animated Series voiced by Spisak
Razer in Green Lantern: The Animated Series is a member of the Red Lantern Corps. He begins as an antagonist, but through his journey eventually joins Hal Jordan, aka Green Lantern, in his pursuit of good.
Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) in DC Superhero Girls by voiced by Spisak
Hal Jordan, or Green Lantern, in DC Superhero Girls is an attractive and powerful member of the Green Lantern Corps who is voiced by Spisak. He attends Metropolis High with the other heroes and is captain of the football team. These shorts are a kid-friendly introduction to the DC universe without all the graphic details of the classic comics.
Blackest Night graphic novels inked by Nguyen
Comic artist Nguyen has experience as an inker, artist, colorist, and penciller with Green Lantern. Below are two examples of his work with the graphic novel Blackest Night.
Green Lantern Green Arrow #100 by artist Saviuk
Green Lantern #100 (Jan. 1978 starring Green Arrow) was Saviuk’s first full work for DC Comics, a company where he also drew Superman, Aquaman, The Flash, and The Atom.
Green Lantern #160 by artist Rosa
Rosa illustrated Green Lantern #160. In the issue, Green Lantern is abducted by old foes old foes who have taken control of his ring.
Justice League of America
The Justice League of America has seen many versions from the TV cartoon Super Friends in the 1970s to the movie Justice League in 2017. And all of it started with the team’s first appearance in The Brave and the Bold #28 in 1960.
JLA by Nguyen
By the mid-1990s, a common element to the various Justice League spin-off books was low sales. So DC recreated the Justice League as a single team again — and disbanded the various spin-offs — under the title JLA that ran from January 1997 to April 2006. And Nguyen was one of the artists for the run.
Justice League Elite by Nguyen
Artist Nguyen worked on the Justice League Elite, which was formed for black ops — a don’t-ask-don’t-tell, covert operations unit — to hunt and eliminate extra-normal threats to the earth before the public realizes the danger.
Firestorm
Ronnie Raymond and Martin Stein fused together into one hero in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man #1 (March 1978). Firestorm became more known in The CW‘s Arrowverse, portrayed in Legends of Tomorrow.
Firestorm by Rosa
Rosa illustrated more than 20 of the comic issues, including a significant run from issues 66-85.
Superman
Superman is arguably the most well-known superhero of any universe. In fact, his origin story from Krypton may be better known than most English literature taught in high school.
Superman by Nguyen
Comic artist Nguyen is most known for his work on Superman: Man of Steel. In addition, the talented artist has worked on Superman graphic novels, too (below right is ‘Emperor Joker’)
Considering a DC cosplay for Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay?
If you want to cosplay the DC character Wonder Woman, PlexiCosplay is here to help you. She is one of the eight pro cosplayers at Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay. Check out her article on how to modify a Wonder Woman costume, taking a store-bought costume to the next level.
Meet the DC Universe voice actor and comic artists at Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay
You can meet the voice actors, comic artists and pro cosplayers at Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay, which is at the Tampa Convention Center on December 10-11 and spotlights anime, comics, science fiction, fantasy, and gaming as well as world-class cosplay. The new con is going big with 20 nationally known guests that include voice actors, comic creators, and pro cosplayers. And tickets are affordable at $30 for a single day and $45 for a weekend pass.
Holiday Cosplay Tampa Bay programming, contests, and holiday shopping
There also will be more than 50 hours of programming, ranging from cosplay contests and a TikTok Film Festival to back-to-back panels on topics only nerds can appreciate. (not to mention the best holiday shopping in the universe, and an enormous x-mas tree with a nerdy Santa for unique holiday photos).
