Costumed fans put a gender spin on classic characters | CNN

Every year, fans at Atlanta's <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/1018021">Dragon Con</a> take part in "cosplay" -- or costume play. A recent trend finds cosplayers putting their own twist on a character, such as <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1021644">Katrina Panzer</a>'s original creation of a female "Doctor Who." "I look beautiful and more than a little clever (in photos). The makeup I chose to go with the costume makes me look ageless in a way the Doctor should."

Dragon Con costumes with a twist —

Every year, fans at Atlanta's Dragon Con take part in "cosplay" -- or costume play. A recent trend finds cosplayers putting their own twist on a character, such as Katrina Panzer's original creation of a female "Doctor Who." "I look beautiful and more than a little clever (in photos). The makeup I chose to go with the costume makes me look ageless in a way the Doctor should."

courtesy katrina panzer/merv teo

<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1022072">Alyssa Carson</a> is attending her third Dragon Con as "Castiella," a female version of popular "Supernatural" character Castiel. "What's special about cosplay to me is that not only is it fun, but it's also training for my career. I'm an actor and cosplaying gives me practice at staying in character, no matter what happens."

'Supernatural's' 'Castiella' —

Alyssa Carson is attending her third Dragon Con as "Castiella," a female version of popular "Supernatural" character Castiel. "What's special about cosplay to me is that not only is it fun, but it's also training for my career. I'm an actor and cosplaying gives me practice at staying in character, no matter what happens."

courtesy alyssa carson/merv teo

Costume designer<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1019100"> Lauren Bregman</a> offers a feminine take on Marvel's Thor. "I've always been a history and mythology nerd, so when history and mythology mash up with comic books and Chris Hemsworth -- I'm sold!"

Lady Thor —

Costume designer Lauren Bregman offers a feminine take on Marvel's Thor. "I've always been a history and mythology nerd, so when history and mythology mash up with comic books and Chris Hemsworth -- I'm sold!"

courtesy Lauren Bregman/merv teo

Loki —

Often in the cosplaying world, women will portray "Avengers" villain Loki, and Ronni Katz is no exception. "I like Norse mythology and was drawn to the depth of character shown in the myths Loki was in. I was cosplaying the character long before he was popular. I brought five different Loki costumes to (Dragon Con), and four of them were based on the comic portrayal of the character."

courtesy ronni katz/merv teo

Cosplaying became a hobby for <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1019819">Shanon Connelly</a>, a 13-year Dragon Con veteran and military wife, as she moved from place to place. "This is a good hobby with a tangible end result that I can wear and display at conventions. I also like it when I have a costume that no one else has. Changing a character from a male to a female makes a costume even more unique and rare."

Female seampunk Captain America —

Cosplaying became a hobby for Shanon Connelly, a 13-year Dragon Con veteran and military wife, as she moved from place to place. "This is a good hobby with a tangible end result that I can wear and display at conventions. I also like it when I have a costume that no one else has. Changing a character from a male to a female makes a costume even more unique and rare."

courtesy Shanon Connelly/merv teo

<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1017931">Arielle Brents</a>, left, and her friend Caitlin Stewart portrayed female steampunk versions of "Supernatural's" Sam and Dean. "It was a lot of fun translating Sam and Dean into their female versions and then translating it even further into a steampunk version," Brents said. "Each costume used specific fabrics that reflect the personality of each character. They hunt demons and other supernatural creatures so that opened a whole range of steampunk weapons and accessories."

Female steampunk Sam and Dean —

Arielle Brents, left, and her friend Caitlin Stewart portrayed female steampunk versions of "Supernatural's" Sam and Dean. "It was a lot of fun translating Sam and Dean into their female versions and then translating it even further into a steampunk version," Brents said. "Each costume used specific fabrics that reflect the personality of each character. They hunt demons and other supernatural creatures so that opened a whole range of steampunk weapons and accessories."

courtesy arielle brents/merv teo

<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1027919">Lady Soliloque</a> of Concord, North Carolina, portrayed a female version of Mr. Clever, the Doctor's evil split personality on "Doctor Who," while her husband, "JJ,"<strong> </strong>interpreted Webley. "The sci-fi universe is vast so don't limit yourself because of your gender, funds, weight or race and don't worry about what other people think. It's all about involvement and fun."

Ms. Clever and Webley —

Lady Soliloque of Concord, North Carolina, portrayed a female version of Mr. Clever, the Doctor's evil split personality on "Doctor Who," while her husband, "JJ," interpreted Webley. "The sci-fi universe is vast so don't limit yourself because of your gender, funds, weight or race and don't worry about what other people think. It's all about involvement and fun."

courtesy Lady Soliloque/Merv Teo

<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1026989">Ellen Leroy-Reed's</a> husband, Fred Reed, turned heads at Dragon Con with his take on a steampunk Bender from "Futurama." "As his vision took shape, he added Bender's signature stogie and beer," Leroy-Reed said. "But why stop there? Bender's front hatch opens to reveal a bar with mixers and shot glasses. The bar is decorated in Victorian style complete with velvet curtain and embellished bar."

'Futurama's' steampunk Bender —

Ellen Leroy-Reed's husband, Fred Reed, turned heads at Dragon Con with his take on a steampunk Bender from "Futurama." "As his vision took shape, he added Bender's signature stogie and beer," Leroy-Reed said. "But why stop there? Bender's front hatch opens to reveal a bar with mixers and shot glasses. The bar is decorated in Victorian style complete with velvet curtain and embellished bar."

courtesy Ellen Leroy-Reed/Mike Edmundson/Merv Teo

Inspired by <a href="http://money.cnn.com/gallery/news/companies/2012/11/30/star-wars-disney-lucasfilm.fortune/index.html">Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm</a>, <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1027037">Sabrina Maizland</a> of Fairfax, Virginia, and her friends decided to portray "Disney Jedi princesses" (from left to right, Maizland as Sleeping Beauty, Stefanie Hackenburg as Maleficent and Caren Chancey as Cinderella). "I have lots of friends who cosplay and we have a wonderful time throwing sewing parties and sharing tips on how to get your costume just right. It is fun to find creative and artistic people who share your interests," Maizland said.

'Disney Jedi princesses' —

Inspired by Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm, Sabrina Maizland of Fairfax, Virginia, and her friends decided to portray "Disney Jedi princesses" (from left to right, Maizland as Sleeping Beauty, Stefanie Hackenburg as Maleficent and Caren Chancey as Cinderella). "I have lots of friends who cosplay and we have a wonderful time throwing sewing parties and sharing tips on how to get your costume just right. It is fun to find creative and artistic people who share your interests," Maizland said.

courtesy Sabrina Maizland/merv teo

The steampunk trend has been going strong at Dragon Con for several years, and <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1022251">Matthew Weitzel </a>considers Captain Nemo, the character from "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," the originator of steampunk. "Many other steampunk outfits are based on people being on land or in airships but rarely do you see a nautical-themed interpretation."

Steampunk Captain Nemo —

The steampunk trend has been going strong at Dragon Con for several years, and Matthew Weitzel considers Captain Nemo, the character from "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," the originator of steampunk. "Many other steampunk outfits are based on people being on land or in airships but rarely do you see a nautical-themed interpretation."

courtesy Matthew Weitzel/merv teo

<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1019401">Mary Ann Harpe </a>of Evans, Georgia, chose "The Emperor's New Groove" as part of a steampunk Disney villains' group. "I had been an exchange student ... (in) Lima, Peru, in the '70s and I knew I could use some of the items I got in Peru with the costume. I kept Yzma's main colors of purple and black."

'The Emperor's New Groove's' steampunk Yzma —

Mary Ann Harpe of Evans, Georgia, chose "The Emperor's New Groove" as part of a steampunk Disney villains' group. "I had been an exchange student ... (in) Lima, Peru, in the '70s and I knew I could use some of the items I got in Peru with the costume. I kept Yzma's main colors of purple and black."

courtesy mary ann harpe/merv teo

<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1020214">Eric Chester</a> of Memphis, Tennessee, put a Celtic twist on Batman. "'I have always loved the duality of Bruce Wayne/Batman. On one hand you have the rather flippant billionaire who seemingly only cares for himself; the other side shows a gruffer hardline individual who seeks out justice for those who cannot find it themselves."

Celtic Batman —

Eric Chester of Memphis, Tennessee, put a Celtic twist on Batman. "'I have always loved the duality of Bruce Wayne/Batman. On one hand you have the rather flippant billionaire who seemingly only cares for himself; the other side shows a gruffer hardline individual who seeks out justice for those who cannot find it themselves."

courtesy Eric Chester/Merv Teo

'TARDI5' —

Suzanne Najbrt's combination of "Doctor Who's" TARDIS and DJ Deadmau5 led to the nickname "TARDI5" by "Talking Dead" host Chris Hardwick. "Cosplay allows me to escape from my mundane suburban mom role and into anything I want to be. For those few hours, I'm just a girl in a costume having fun. No cares. No worries. And I make people smile."

courtesy Suzanne Najbrt/merv teo

Dragon Con costumes with a twist

Story highlights

"Cosplay" -- portraying a character -- grows in popularity at fan conventions

Dressing as a character of opposite sex is a trend in fan culture

It's more rare to see men than women participate in this crossplay

"I welcome all the change a female Doctor (Who) might bring," video editor says

CNN —

It’s a full-blown identity crisis but in a good way.

For fans of pop culture, the art of “cosplay” – portraying a character, usually at a fan convention – continues to grow in popularity.

You’re liable to run into a few constants (slave Leia, the Heath Ledger Joker, Marvel Comics’ Deadpool) when wandering the halls of any convention such as Atlanta’s Dragon Con, held last weekend, as well as works of stunning originality.

It’s certainly not unusual to see someone cosplaying Castiel, Misha Collins’ popular characters from TV’s “Supernatural.” What is out of the ordinary is to see a woman portraying the character.

Alyssa Carson took on “Castiella” at the convention, seeing it as an interesting challenge to translate a male into a female character.

“What I like about putting a twist on a character is that you can take your favorite character and add your own personal style or take on that character,” she said.