A King in Yellow

Not the King, but a King in Yellow. A costume inspired by Robert W. Chambers.

[marlequinncos]

Happy Halloween! Spooky day seems like the best time to post my costest of John Doe from the horror podcast Malevolent!

This was a super fun cosplay to make, especially since this is a character from an audio-based medium who has no corporeal form in the story to begin with. Design-wise, I took inspiration from both the cover of the 1865 edition of Robert W. Chambers’ novel “The King in Yellow”, as well as various fandom interpretations of the character.

I can't wait to debut him at Anime Frontier alongside a friend of mine who will be cosplaying Arthur!

[marlequinncos]

"I do remember my name, Arthur. I am the King in Yellow."

This photo shoot in particular was a really fun and interesting challenge for me, as I had to emote without any facial expressions due to the mask. I can in fact see through the eyeholes pretty well, since they're covered in black mesh, but I do lack peripheral vision when wearing it.

Photo by Allison the Photographer

Cosplay by me

[marlequinncos]

Thank you all for the love on the Malevolent photoshoot pictures! Due to the interest, I thought I'd give y'all a peek under the cloak for some details about my half of the cosplay!

This is essentially what I wear under the yellow cloak: long black turtleneck, black leggings, and 5-inch platform Demonias, as I'm quite short. For the photoshoot, I added a long black skirt for extra swishy movement in photos.

A question I get a lot is if I'm able to see out of the mask, and the answer is yes! As you can see here, the eye holes of the mask are covered in a black mesh fabric, which allows me to have vision through them while giving the illusion that there's nothing behind the mask. I don't have much peripheral vision, but I can see pretty much everything else. You'll also notice that I glued a chunk of a paper towel tube to the mouth area of the mask, which modulates my voice similar to how John sounds in the podcast.

Hope you enjoyed this little behind-the-scenes look at my John cosplay!

[airglowairi]

So, I had went to dragon con and cosplay John Doe from the malevolent podcast

I know it's not the best cosplay but I had really fun in the cosplay!!

[redhairedhobbit]

Arthur finally took John to the movies! Venom 3, no less.

Me as Arthur, @gardenprophet as John!

[cosmic-horror-statements]

Revamped my John cosplay recently for a Malevolent cosplay contest. Thought you all might enjoy.

(Yes, I did win best John and I can hardly believe it)

[mossy-rainfrog]

[ID in ALT text.]

full john at the impromptu renfaire post. featuring a chapel i had to ask a priest for permission to photograph in 💃💃

had an absolute BLAST frightening men and befriending drunk girls and winning the delighted, wide-eyed stares of 3 year olds. i have learned that dressing like a spooky freak is an absolute wonder to children and I think this would make john SO emotional. 10/10 thank you sherwood for a good time

[wondersmithcosplay]

Some details from the John costume I made for @gillytweed - I knew wrapping bandages over the black gloves would be a huge pain to put on and take off, so I stitched the strips of fabric onto a plain square of cotton as a base so I could make them into gloves with a zipper

[sladsceramics]

Songs that the Hyades shall sing,

Where flap the tatters of the King,

Must die unheard in

Dim Carcosa

Finished the beading on this mask this weekend - so excited for the last few pieces to arrive so I can call this done, dusted, and ready for ren fest season! 👑😈💫

[charnel-grounds]

Gary Gianni (b. 1954) - The King in Yellow, 2023

[clems-grove]

Characters who are yellow coded not as in joy and optimism but, rather, yellow as in the first color the human eye will notice, plastered over hazard signs and school buses. Yellow as in a light so bright it burns. Yellow as in illness and disease, just waiting to infect. Yellow as deception, a cover up for something with teeth and claws and malice. Can anyone hear me

[anarchautistic]

I've got this great play for y'all to see about the King of Carcosa

[tatteredmantle]

[tatteredmantle]

Wishing a happy birthday to Robert W. Chambers.

Born on this day, May 26, 1865.

So long, and thanks for all the fin de siècle.

Blessed are the pure in heart.

[tatteredmantle]

"It is done, it is done! Let the nations rise and look upon their King!"

Tried to sew the hat and boning to the inside of the hood, and sewed some boning inside the mantle, and then sewed the mantle to the cloak this morning, before going to the con.

You can't see it in this photo, but I am wearing the wings as well. It all works, pretty much, despite being clumsy to put on alone. Somewhat warm, limited visibility (of course), and a lot of friction while walking (because of the lining, I'm sure).

Not quite as tidy or accurate as I'd like it, but after 3 and a half years of 'development,' it has been accomplished.

[tatteredmantle]

Ran the robe and the hood through the wash this morning; both came out somewhat wrinkled. Frankly, I'd hoped that they would come out of the dryer looking a bit better than that, but hopefully merely hanging them up will help.

I think it's too late in the day and too hot to take this to the con and fool around, so it will have to be early tomorrow morning.

Ideally, I'd sew some boning into the mantle, and then Velcro it to the cloak at the back of the shoulders. And sew the cap + boning into the hood. And I also want to add a little painted 'distressing' / weathering to the cloak. And add some long feathers to the wings.

[tatteredmantle]

Hemmed bottom of robe and cut in some more scolloped tatters. Sewed Velcro to back of robe in four places for a closure. Sewed shoulder pads into lining.

Seems to fit OK. I have to do laundry tomorrow, and I'd like to be able to launder this thing again before I wear it.

Still needs a lot of work. Have to at least sew the hood to the hat, and sew the mantle to the body of the cloak.

Con starts tomorrow, and runs through Sunday.

[tatteredmantle]

Fabricated some shoulder pads from scratch. Sewed the lining to the outer fabric at the collar and along the back seam. Cut a dart into the top of the neck front, which I do not like the look of.

Not a lot of time available tonight, and not a lot accomplished. Not sure if any time will be available tomorrow night, either.