What It Says On the Tin

Diablo III‘s Kickass Character Models: A Tribute in Cosplay

by Susana Polo | 12:31 pm, May 16th, 2012

Yesterday, after twelve years of waiting, fans of the Diablo series of clicky, bloody, magic-y, hack and slash video games were finally able to get their fingers and eyeballs on the retail release of the latest game in the series: Diablo III. Diablo… well, it’s just one of those games. Superlatively popular, addictive and memorable to a generation of players. Our own Becky Chambers has said that while the restrictions of the previous two games on gender (each class had only one accompanying avatar, rather than giving players a choice of gender) were the some of the first times she felt pressured into a mode of gameplay because of her gender, as games the Diablo series was still a huge and treasured milestone in her hobby experience. And while at this point we can’t tell you much about the game’s plot or themes, what we can say is that 1) for the first time, choosing a class in Diablo and choosing your character’s gender aren’t the same decision, and 2) the character models for the women of those classes are really pretty great.

So great, in fact, that there’s already been a ton of cosplay for them in the four years that Diablo III has been in official development. We’d like to pay tribute to some of those cosplayers in this post. And lets face it, even if you managed to get yesterday off to play the game, now you’re probably back at work and need that sweet, sweet Diablo III fix.

The Wizard

Svetlana Quindt is a master cosplayer who loves to do cosplaying tutorials and workshops, and she’s obviously a huge fan of Blizzard games based on her past exploits at BlizzCon. Her Wizard cosplay is clearly based on this piece of concept art.

Here she is with her “cosplay partner Selina” as Diablo III‘s Barbarian.

Which brings us nicely to:

The Barbarian

TAGS: Diablo III

Anonymous

These are amazing!
Anonymous

Try this one:)
http://paperlace.se/post/23100690714/my-diablo-3-witch-doctor-cosplay
Life Lessons

OMG this is fabulous!!! Well done!!!! Thanks for sharing the picture and HUZZAH to paperlace!!!
Life Lessons

First: LOVE these pictures! So great! I am hoping to see some at Gen Con in August!

Second: Thanks for not showing “black face”. It just bothers me. Too many racist undertones. That said I LOVE the Witchdoctor and if I were cosplaying one I would not change my skin color.
Deena Taylor

You missed the Witch doctors! Alice and Mario of Arms, Armor and Awesome did an awesome pair. http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/data/602/medium/wd-f-rampaging-coconut1.jpg
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=684001845 Carissa Creveling

Thank you so much for featuring my lady barb in such a kick-ass article, Susana! The Blizzard cosplay community is wonderful, and the Diablo sect is no exception.
Much love,
A not-so-angry-IRL Lefthanded Ginger <3
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=21004419 Halina Adams

Just beautiful. These people are so incredibly talented.
Francesca M

I had been blown away by the monk, but OMFG the demon hunter.
http://twitter.com/ImAMavrick Endymion

You should post the witch doctor and any other good cosplayer regardless of race. Because by the same logic you used then only black cosplayers can only be black characters.
Anonymous

Well, no, by the same logic people should cosplay regardless of character to cosplayer race similarity or difference, and not change the color of their skin with makeup because that’s a practice that is very, very charged with racial insensitivity within our culture.

(And because costuming as a race different than your own is so charged, it should go without saying that is is different than costuming as a different fictional species.)
http://twitter.com/FroWillis Sarah

There is a difference between painting oneself blue and painting oneself to have a darker skin tone. Blue body paint doesn’t have the same historical connotations as blackface does. Minstrel shows aren’t done in modern day for a reason. Now, if there had been witchdoctor cosplays that didn’t feature body paint to change race, that would be more than acceptable.
http://twitter.com/FroWillis Sarah

You did a FANTASTIC job! So fierce.
Anonymous

Wow, awesome.
http://profile.yahoo.com/R7IV63B2HAPAOYUQNVEPYFNFOQ Veronica

I understand why the editor commented on why black-face on witch doctors would be controversial (Black stereotypes and whatnot)… but am I the only one upset and confused about the lack of racial diversity within the Diablo III avatars? As a multiracial female, I am very pleased with the awesomeness of the female avatars, but am saddened that my avatar doesn’t represent me or many of the other women of ethnic backgrounds who play these games. I suppose being radical in more than one area would be asking for too much, right, Blizzard?
Anonymous

Minstrels were witchdoctors?
http://twitter.com/FroWillis Sarah

Minstrel show were comedy acts primarily in the 1800s that featured white actors in black face playing off of stereotypes. The point being, using paint to portray a darker skin race has historical racist connotation. especially in America. Even if it is done without racist intentions, there is too much bad history behind it.
Anonymous

But as you say Minstrels were inherently racist. There is surely nothing inherently racist with blacking-up for Witchdoctor cosplay?

I mean, shooting a black man for buying sweets is racist. Shooting a black man because he is beating your face in is not.