SDCC 2014: Cosplay A Great Way To Meet People, Fall In Love

I’ve never been a cosplay guy, despite the urging of some friends who swear by it. Yet I feel confident enough to speak for the people who love it to say that most people probably don’t dress as their favorite fictional characters for anything other than the sheer love of the hobby and an opportunity to show off their passion and skills at shows like Comic-Con International and New York Comic Con.

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Meeting like-minded people is part of it too, but how about stumbling into the love of your life? According to a survey of random Comic-Con attendees by the research firm VGMarket, it happens more often than you might suspect. The survey found that 57 percent of the respondents know someone who met their spouse or partner at Comic-Con, with 30 percent of married people saying they met their significant other at the show. Since 78 percent of all respondents said they went in costume at least once, maybe the idea of finding true love while dressed up in full super hero regalia isn’t crazy after all.

And when those con relationships lead to procreation, the children often end up with names that reflect their parents’ shared interests. At least that’s the takeaway from 71 percent of the respondents saying they knew someone who named a child after their favorite fictional character. I didn’t take the survey, but this seems like a relevant place to add that one of my childhood friends has a son named after a prominent figure from Lord of the Rings (no, not Gollum).

“Comic-Con is the mecca for future fantasy families,” Michael Gluck, Founder and President of VGMarket, said in a press release. “We knew attendees loved comics and characters; what we learned is that they have really integrated that fandom into their everyday lives. From dating to committed relationships to naming children after favorite heroes and villains, the cosplay lifestyle is no longer under wraps.”

So go to SDCC, dress up and have a blast. Just don’t be shocked if you wind up with a new more-than-a-friend when you leave San Diego.