Work Hard Cosplay

17/10/2026

"You have both killed so many people, I could not be more proud of you! Your ledgers must be dripping, gushing red"

Couldn't be prouder of my girls!

15/10/2026

Never underestimate a cosplayer's subconscious… or the amount of absolute CRAP we keep lying around because “that might come in handy for a future build!” 😂

Today's breakthrough? A HAT! 🎩

Needed the perfect shape for my hero neckshield, and after a bit of creative thinking, I found the perfect template. Even better? The plastic hat former inside it meant I could trace the shape without accidentally turning my lines into a Picasso masterpiece! 🤣

✂️ THEN CAME THE MOMENT OF TRUTH… THE CUTTING!

And here it is, comrades! The neckshield is taking shape! 🔥

Still need to fit some tiny magnets to the ear sections so the visor's ear guards snap into place nicely, but that's a job for another day.

WHO NEEDS EXPENSIVE PROPS WHEN YOU HAVE A £10 BUDGET, (£5 glasses and £5 wetsuit hoodie)
A SHED FULL OF RANDOM RUBBISH, AND A QUESTIONABLE AMOUNT OF CONFIDENCE?! 😂

14/10/2026

🚨 RED GUARDIAN'S NEXT MISSION: FROM MOTHER RUSSIA TO THE MUTANT REVOLUTION! 🚨

🇷🇺 The Red Guardian has completed his mission. For now. 🇷🇺

With Avengers: Doomsday still waiting on the horizon, there is only one thing left to do with the red suit...

HANG IT UP AND GET BACK IN THE WORKSHOP, COMRADES! 🛠️😂

But here's the thing about hardworking cosplayers: WE DON'T DO IDLE HANDS!

While other people relax, watch TV, and enjoy a peaceful evening, we're busy covering the kitchen table in foam, glue, paint, and questionable life choices. Our bank accounts are crying, our families are questioning our sanity, and we wouldn't have it any other way! 🤣

So, what's the next project?

Well, my friends, I've always enjoyed walking that fine line between creative genius and being an absolute cheapskate. 💸😂

Why spend a small fortune on expensive superhero accessories when you can look at something completely unrelated and think...

"I can probably turn that into something ridiculous!"

🕶️ EXHIBIT A: THE £5 SCI-FI GLASSES!

That's right. Five British pounds. Described by the seller as "sci-fi glasses." What more scientific evidence do you need? 😂

🛡️ EXHIBIT B: THE HERO NECKSHIELD!

You know the one! That iconic neck guard worn by comic book legends like Gambit and the classic '90s version of Cyclops, plus countless other heroes and villains.

Now, you COULD buy a professionally made one for a price that makes your wallet scream for the X-Men...

Or...

You could purchase a 3mm neoprene wetsuit hood, get busy with the scissors, shape it to fit, and hit it with some blue flexible paint! 🔵✂️🎨

Is it conventional? No.

Is it budget-friendly? Absolutely.

Will it work? Well, that's what we're about to find out! 🤣

If you haven't already guessed what's coming next, then I'm afraid your mutant-detection abilities need recalibrating...

⚡ INTRODUCING THE NEXT BUILD... ⚡

CYCLOPS! 🔴⚡

The plan? A classic '90s-inspired Cyclops look, with that unmistakable blue-and-yellow aesthetic, iconic neckshield, and, of course, the visor that makes laser eye surgery look like a particularly dangerous career choice! 😂

And with the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday excitement building, this seems like the perfect time to bring everyone's favourite optic-blasting Boy Scout to life.

All you just need is imagination, determination, a pair of scissors, and absolutely no fear of explaining to your family why there's a wetsuit hood drying in the garage. 😂

What do you think? Can a £5 pair of glasses and a modified wetsuit hood become the foundations of a convincing Cyclops cosplay?

Let me know in the comments! And fellow budget cosplayers, share your favourite "I made this out of WHAT?!" creations below!

WORK HARD. BUILD SMART. COSPLAY HARDER. 💪

14/10/2026

🇷🇺 The Red Guardian has completed his mission. For now. 🇷🇺

With Avengers: Doomsday still waiting on the horizon, there is only one thing left to do with the red suit...

HANG IT UP AND GET BACK IN THE WORKSHOP, COMRADES! 🛠️😂

But here's the thing about hardworking cosplayers: WE DON'T DO IDLE HANDS!

While other people relax, watch TV, and enjoy a peaceful evening, we're busy covering the kitchen table in foam, glue, paint, and questionable life choices. Our bank accounts are crying, our families are questioning our sanity, and we wouldn't have it any other way! 🤣

So, what's the next project?

Well, my friends, I've always enjoyed walking that fine line between creative genius and being an absolute cheapskate. 💸😂

Why spend a small fortune on expensive superhero accessories when you can look at something completely unrelated and think...

"I can probably turn that into something ridiculous!"

🕶️ EXHIBIT A: THE £5 SCI-FI GLASSES!

That's right. Five British pounds. Described by the seller as "sci-fi glasses." What more scientific evidence do you need? 😂

🛡️ EXHIBIT B: THE HERO NECKSHIELD!

You know the one! That iconic neck guard worn by comic book legends like Gambit and the classic '90s version of Cyclops, plus countless other heroes and villains.

Now, you COULD buy a professionally made one for a price that makes your wallet scream for the X-Men...

Or...

You could purchase a 3mm neoprene wetsuit hood, get busy with the scissors, shape it to fit, and hit it with some blue flexible paint! 🔵✂️🎨

Is it conventional? No.

Is it budget-friendly? Absolutely.

Will it work? Well, that's what we're about to find out! 🤣

If you haven't already guessed what's coming next, then I'm afraid your mutant-detection abilities need recalibrating...

⚡ INTRODUCING THE NEXT BUILD... ⚡

CYCLOPS! 🔴⚡

The plan? A classic '90s-inspired Cyclops look, with that unmistakable blue-and-yellow aesthetic, iconic neckshield, and, of course, the visor that makes laser eye surgery look like a particularly dangerous career choice! 😂

13/10/2026

Welcome to The Harbour-Verse, my friends!
Let us be your guides to all things David 🤣

13/10/2026

12/10/2026

🚨🇷🇺 MISSION REPORT: LIVERPOOL COMICON — RED GUARDIAN MEETS THE REAL DEAL! 🇷🇺🚨

COMRADES! WHAT A WEEKEND! 💪🔴

I, ALEXEI SHOSTAKOV — THE RED GUARDIAN! THE GREATEST AVENGER RUSSIA HAS EVER PRODUCED! (Captain America, please stop crying into your little American flag 🇺🇸😂) — travelled to Liverpool for Monopoly Events' Liverpool Comic Con!

And what happened?

💥 I MET DAVID HARBOUR HIMSELF! 💥

YES! THE ACTOR WHO PLAYS ME!

Well… technically, he plays me in the movies. But between you and me, comrades, I think we can all agree that I bring a certain extra level of Russian excellence to the role. 😏🇷🇺

Meeting the man behind Red Guardian was an absolutely incredible experience. One Alexei in the room is already a lot to handle. TWO? Frankly, the building should have been evacuated. 😂💪

📸 THE PHOTOGRAPHERS!

I was also fortunate enough to have some photographs taken by some genuinely world-class photographers. They captured the suit, the character, and hopefully the magnificent physical presence of a man who is clearly built like a Soviet refrigerator.

A refrigerator that punches through walls.

A refrigerator that drinks vodka.

A refrigerator that occasionally needs help getting into his costume.

A VERY HANDSOME REFRIGERATOR. 🥶😂
❤️ BUT THE BEST PART?

Among all the superheroes, cameras, costumes, and glorious comic book madness, I also got to spend some proper quality time with my other half in the beautiful city of Liverpool.

Because even a legendary Avenger needs somebody to keep him grounded.

Somebody to share the adventure with.

Somebody to remind him that he cannot, in fact, challenge every person he meets to an arm-wrestling competition.

And somebody to tell him to stop posing in shop windows.

…Although I maintain that the shop windows were asking for it. 😎

Comic conventions are about so much more than costumes. They're about the incredible people you meet, the memories you make, the talented creatives who bring your characters to life, and the people who support you while you pursue the things that make you happy.

11/10/2026

So this just happened!
He loved the costume, loved the fact I came storming in greeting him as "COMRAD!", Didn't shake his hand but grabbed his forearm as russians do. The smile on his face eyeing the suit up and down made the journey so worth it 😁

23/09/2026

🚨 MISSION: SAVE THE BOX OFFICE! 🚨

The gang and I heard that Avengers: Endgame was trying to dethrone Avatar… so naturally, we did what any responsible superheroes would do…

WE WENT TO THE CINEMA. 🍿💥

The Thunderbolts* — sorry, THE NEW AVENGERS — assembled for one very important mission:

🎯 Protect the box office
💪 Look ridiculously cool
🍿 Consume an irresponsible amount of cinema snacks
💥 Cause maximum superhero chaos
🏆 And help Avengers: Endgame claim its rightful place at the top!

Was this what Marvel meant when they said the New Avengers were going to save the world?

Probably not.

Did we take the mission seriously?

ABSOLUTELY NOT. 😂

From Bucky to Yelena, Red Guardian, Ghost, U.S. Agent and the rest of this beautifully dysfunctional collection of heroes…

THE GANG WAS READY.

If you see a group of heavily armed superheroes wandering around your local cinema, don't panic.

We're just here for the popcorn.

THUNDERBOLTS… ASSEMBLE!* 🇷🇺💥

10/09/2026

🚨🚨🚨 STOP SCROLLING, WESTERN SPIES. 🚨🚨🚨

🇷🇺 RED GUARDIAN HAS RECEIVED NEW UNIFORM.

Yes.

I HAVE BEEN BUSY.

While Marvel has been giving us approximately three crumbs of information and one suspicious piece of concept art, Red Guardian has been doing what any responsible international superhero would do…

I HAVE BEEN MAKING COSTUME. 💪🇷🇺

🛑 MISSION: DOOMSDAY 🛑

For months I have been studying the intelligence.

Rumours.

Leaked information.

Concept artwork.

Tiny details hidden in shadows.

And the magnificent work of Andy Park.

You think I am just looking at picture?

NO.

I AM RED GUARDIAN.

I LOOK AT PICTURE UNTIL PICTURE CONFESSES. 🧐

And something VERY interesting appears to be happening with Alexei's armour…

👀 THE STAR.

My glorious Soviet chest star.

The symbol that says:

“I am Russian superhero and I have absolutely no reason to be subtle.”

It may be disappearing.

But what could possibly replace it?

Well…

If you look closely at the Avengers: Doomsday concept artwork…

There appears to be something hiding there.

Something familiar.

Something belonging to the team Alexei has somehow found himself part of.

THE NEW AVENGERS.

🇷🇺❤️🇺🇸

Now, I know what you are thinking.

“Alexei, surely you are not suggesting that Red Guardian has abandoned his iconic Soviet star for the New Avengers symbol?”

COMRADES…

I am suggesting nothing.

I am merely presenting evidence.

Like very handsome Russian detective.

🕵️‍♂️

BUT I HAVE ALSO UPDATED THE SUIT.

Because if Marvel is going to give us tiny clues…

I am going to give YOU tiny clues.

This is not just another costume upgrade.

This is Alexei after Thunderbolts.

Older.

Wiser.

Possibly more emotionally mature.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

No.

Still Alexei.

But maybe now he has something he didn't have before.

A FAMILY.