Cosplay began as something gloriously handmade: fans turning up in costumes because they loved a story enough to carry it into the room.
But somewhere between the early science fiction masquerades, Star Wars armour builds, convention photo galleries, viral cosplay, professional creators and the rise of organisations like the 501st Legion, something shifted.
The costume was no longer just a costume.
It became proof that a franchise mattered.
In this episode of Geekstorians, Dave looks at how cosplay grew from fan-made performance into one of the most visible forms of franchise culture, and how the work fans do for love became increasingly useful to the companies standing nearby.
Not because anyone sent a memo.
Because fandom built something too powerful to ignore.
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