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Review of “Costume-Play Maker Magazine”:

The first cosplay magazine to enter our collection, that we found at a small mom-and-pop Japanese bookstore.  One of the best cosplay magazine made, due to the slick photography, cosplayer interviews and event reports.  A thickly bound magazine, full of glossy photos.  Unfortunately, this magazine had a short publication run, with only two issues printed in 1997.  Volume 1 features celebrity cosplayer Aki and other pretty idols wearing the latest cosplay fashions.  Standout costumes in this volume are Chun-Li, Gin Rei and Honey.  Includes a "Maker Super Team Interview" with lovely twins Luke and Michiru.  Special Last Bronx cosplay photo shoot.  Volume 2 features celebrity cosplayers Luke and Michiru, including a special photo shoot depicting adult situations.  Images of Barbie Tukino, Kaie Tada and friends as Macross VF-X idol singers inside as well.  Similar to a fashion magazine, Costume-Play Maker features cosplay makeovers, with detailed hair and makeup information.  These magazines also contain reviews of cosplay events throughout Japan, manga, shopping directories and "Event Data Expless" listings.  In the "Maker Report" section, most of the cosplayers (both men and women) are photographed in flattering full-length poses, so one can see the costumes.  The emphasis is video game cosplay, however, we found many anime and manga characters from Sailor Moon, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Ah! My Goddess, Magic Knight Rayearth, Nausicaa and The Dirty Pair.  We strongly recommend "Costume-Play Maker Magazine" as an excellent resource to understand the vibrant world of Japanese cosplay.

Before "COSMO", this cool magazine set the standard on cosplay photography and reports.