Member Spotlight: An Interview with Ahmed Al-Rashid, Our Marvel Expert

Absolutely, and thank you for this opportunity! I actually got into cosplay quite by accident. I was attending a comic convention as a fan, just going to panels and buying collectibles, when I saw a group of cosplayers doing a photo shoot. There was something magical about seeing these characters come to life – not just the costumes, but the way the cosplayers embodied the characters’ personalities. It sparked something in me.

As for Marvel specifically, I’ve been a fan since I was a kid. My older brother used to bring home Marvel comics from the local bookstore, and I was immediately drawn to the complexity of the characters. They weren’t just heroes and villains – they were people with flaws, struggles, and moral dilemmas. That human element made them feel real to me, and I think that’s what draws me to recreate them in cosplay. Each character has a story that goes beyond their powers or costumes.

That’s a tough question because each build presents its own unique challenges, but I’d have to say my Doctor Strange costume was probably the most technically demanding. The biggest challenge wasn’t the costume itself, which was relatively straightforward, but the Eye of Agamotto pendant and the portal effects.

For the Eye of Agamotto, I spent months perfecting the translucent amber effect with the intricate script inside. I ended up using a combination of 3D printing for the outer shell and hand-blown glass techniques for the inner amber piece. The script was laser-etched at a microscopic level, which required special equipment and a lot of trial and error.

But the real challenge was the portal effects. I wanted to create something that could convincingly simulate the magical portals Doctor Strange uses. I ended up building a wearable rig with LED strips, fiber optic cables, and a custom Arduino controller that could create the swirling, kaleidoscopic effects. The programming alone took weeks to perfect, and I had to completely redesign the power system three times to make it portable and safe.

Let me talk about my Mark 85 Iron Man armor, which was probably my most ambitious electronics project. The entire build took about six months from concept to completion, with around 400 hours of work spread across design, fabrication, and programming.

For materials, I used a combination of EVA foam for the main armor pieces, Worbla for the detailed sections, and fiberglass for structural elements that needed extra strength. The gold and red paint scheme required careful color matching to the film versions, which involved multiple test coats and adjustments.

The electronics were the real star of this build. I incorporated an Arduino-based system that controlled:

• LED strips throughout the armor that could simulate the arc reactor and repulsor effects
• Sound modules that played authentic Iron Man audio clips triggered by specific gestures
• A helmet HUD system with OLED displays that showed scrolling text and targeting information
• Motion sensors that activated different effects based on movement

The most challenging part was making everything work reliably while keeping the armor wearable for extended periods. I had to carefully manage power consumption, heat dissipation, and weight distribution. The final system ran on a combination of lithium polymer batteries distributed throughout the armor to maintain balance.

My biggest piece of advice is to start small and focus on enjoying the process rather than achieving perfection immediately. I see a lot of newcomers get overwhelmed by trying to recreate a complex character right out of the gate. Instead, I’d recommend starting with something simpler – maybe a civilian outfit from a Marvel movie or a basic superhero costume without complex armor.

Here are my top three specific tips:

1. Research is everything: Before you buy a single material, spend time studying reference images from multiple angles. Look at behind-the-scenes content, toy designs, and even fan recreations to understand how the costume is constructed. This will save you countless hours of corrections later.
2. Join the community: Don’t try to go it alone. Our community, online forums, and social media groups are full of people who have made the mistakes you’re about to make and can help you avoid them. Plus, the friendships you’ll form are one of the best parts of this hobby.
3. Invest in good tools, but don’t overthink materials: Quality tools will last you years and make your work easier and safer. But for materials, start with what’s accessible and affordable. You don’t need expensive cosplay-specific materials to create something amazing – creativity and technique matter more than price tags.

Most importantly, remember that every expert was once a beginner. Don’t get discouraged by early attempts that don’t turn out perfectly. Each project teaches you something new, and improvement comes with practice.

I’m actually working on something I’m really excited about – a Ms. Marvel costume with working light-up elements that simulate her embiggened powers. Kamala Khan is such an important character, and I want to do justice to both the visual design and the character’s significance.

Beyond that, I’m collaborating with a few other community members on a group project where we’re recreating the entire X-Men team from the 90s animated series. It’s ambitious, but we have some incredible artists in our group who are handling the more complex characters like Morph and Bishop.

I’m also planning to start teaching some workshops on electronics integration for costumes. Based on the questions I get from other members, I think there’s a real need for practical guidance on incorporating lights, sounds, and movement into cosplay without requiring an engineering degree!