Over the past few years, the Virginia Comicon has seen a surge of cosplayers in attendence, partially due to its costume contests and offering of free admission to cosplayers. The convention has also run special photo shoots and focused on top cosplayers as guests.

The conventions show on November 22-23 will feature top cosplayers such as Ivy Doomkitty, Abby Normal and Patrick Ian Moore, and cosplay groups like The Clowns of Crime.The show will also have cosplay programming and $1,000 in cash prizes across a variety of costume categories for Sunday’s costume contest.

As well cosplayer Eddie Newsome kicking off the brand new book project he’s co-authoring, The Overstreet Guide To Cosplay, with the amazing opportunity to be featured in a photo shoot for this new book.

Additionally, White Tiger Filmz will be on hand to document cosplay at the show for Viva La Cosplay, their new web series about the ins and outs, ups and downs of cosplaying. The locally-based crew will be following a number of cosplayers, including last year’s Virginia Comicon Grand Prize winner, as they prepare for the show and participate in it. The first episode is already online. The filmmakers will also be cosplaying Ghostbusters Saturday at the event.

The Overstreet Guide To Cosplay, with Newsome and co-writer Geppi’s Entertainment Museum President Melissa Bowersox heading up a team of contributors, is slated for a November 2015 release. Along with tons of photos, it will feature the ins and outs of designing, making and taking care of costumes. It will also address many of the issues facing cosplayers as the phenomenon continues to grow.

The book will join Gemstone Publishing’s growing “How To” series, which includes The Overstreet Guide To Collecting Comics and The Overstreet Guide To Collecting Comic & Animation Art, with The Overstreet Guide To Grading Comics due this November. Members of the Gemstone Publishing team, including Vice-President of Publishing J.C. Vaughn and Creative Director Mark Huesman will be in attendance, as will Geppi’s Entertainment Museum’s Michael Solof and Kevin Brennan.

A large number of cosplayers will be pictured in this first-of-its-kind Overstreet volume, but only a limited number of cosplayers will selected to be interviewed and extensively featured in the book. Full rules for entering the photo shoot will be posted soon on the Virginia Comicon’s website. No purchase is required to appear, but participants are urged to make a $5 donation to The Hero Initiative, which will also be at the show.

Wolverine co-creator and veteran Incredible Hulk artist Herb Trimpe, longtime G.I. Joe writer-artist Larry Hama, and Nexus co-creator and artist Steve Rude head up a guest roster that also includes (in alphabetical order) Steve Bird, Brian Clevinger, Sam Ellis, Dan Fogel, Danielle Frazetta, Randy Green, Rick Ketcham, Tom King, Dan Nokes, Dan Parent, Alex Saviuk, Brian Shearer, Matt Slay, Louis Small, Jr., Rick Spears, Billy Tucci, and John “Waki” Wycough. Additional guests will be added soon.

The Virginia Comicon’s two-day show will be held Saturday and Sunday, November 22-23, 2014 at the Richmond International Raceway, 602 E Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA 23222.