Joeyverse Costume Contest 2009 1st Place

Well, it's time. It's time to announce the 1st place winner of the year-long contest that has been the Joeyverse Costume Contest 2009. There were 12 entries this year (that's like... one a month!), which is way more than I expected, to be honestly honest with you. I was kind of expecting... two. Or maybe three. And that the most I would have to do to judge is rank three entries 1 through 3 and call it a day. But then it turns out that I have to actually pick winners, and I have to actually have Claire and Cassandra help me.

But, well, even then there was a problem and we really couldn't just pick one.

So... we picked two.

Joeyverse Costume Contest 2009
1st Place Winners


Kathryn and Megan as
Lizzy Siren and Noctorious Drake
Derelict Heaven
ALL LIZZY PHOTOS ALL NOCT PHOTOS

It was just a big impasse, really. These two costumes and photoshoots are completely different and completely went above and beyond the scope of the contest and I couldn't choose so I just said to hell with it, they're both winning. I'm going over them in alphabetical order, because I don't think it's really fair to lump them both into the same paragraph when I talk about why we chose these two as the winners.

Kay's interpretation of Lizzy Siren is brooding and dark, accurate in mood and feeling and color. I was so floored by the fact that all of the photos were taken a) by her own self and b) in her own house. The range of photos was impressive and I can just tell from all of them that Kathryn gets the character and that she had a distinct idea of what she was trying to get across when she took the photos. One of my favorite photos was actually not in the gallery, but on Facebook. I know the photo wasn't included in the costume gallery because you can hardly see the costume or Kathryn at all, but it really made me think for a second I was looking at a still from the Derelict Heaven movie. Your raw portrayal of Lizzy is completely solid, through and through. Congratulations seems an understatement.

Megan's Noctorious isn't really a photoshoot, but a lifestyle... Megan is, after all, the official living mascot for our most beloved flamboyant punk/goth EGL cardshark albino gypsy. It's really hard for me to imagine anyone embodying any of the Joeyverse denizens in a more accurate and effortless way. However, despite having everything she needed to do a getaway everyday Noct costume, Megan decided to go with a really obscure sketch I did of Noct as the White Rabbit from my upcoming joint collaboration, Alice in Winter Wonderland. This took me off-guard because I had actually forgotten I had put those sketches up, and then suddenly here's Noct being all steampunky with a ridiculous scarf and delightful socks. Attention to detail, again -- yes, that is a pink plaid vest peeking out of the jacket. Yes, that is exactly what kind of vest Noct would pick for this outfit. It was actually hard to judge this outfit along with the others because it seemed less like Megan-as-Noct and more like Noct-as-the White Rabbit. Regardless, you did an amazing job and captured it on film in exactly the way Noct would have liked, V-ictory bunny-ear-fingers and all!

SO! That is that! As for prizes, I guess you'll have to fight over them! Just kidding. I think it might be fair to offer both the 1st prize winners half of the accumulated jackpot money (That's $30 each! Not bad!) as well as a full colored commission. As well as the sketches, those are yours too.

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Thus that concludes the 2009 Joeyverse Costume Contest! I want to give a huge thanks, once again, to EVERYONE who participated and made this a jawsome event that, well, makes me want to throw a contest like this every year!

Remember to comment or email me with your prize request/info -- I will probably forget if you don't. And don't forget about Claire's pretty sweet offer about the photos. Both of these things are a pretty good deal. And also fun.

Also, if you have a minute, I would appreciate any comments and feedback about this contest! I.e. things that would have made it better, easier, more fun, or anything like that. I am planning on making this an annual event, and I would like to learn from this year to find out how to make it even better for next year. I'd love comments from people who participated as well as people who didn't -- actually, people who didn't? I'd really like to hear from you so I know how to properly wrangle you into participating next year... Feel free to comment here, or shoot me an email with your thoughts.

THANKS AGAIN, EVERYONE and CONGRATS TO THE WINNERS!