Although cosplay has been present for decades within the comics, anime, and sci-fi/fantasy fandoms, social media has played an integral role in the thriving community of costuming that exists today. Between the cosplay communities such as Cosplay.com and the Superhero Costuming Forum, the flurry of "photo parades" that accompany virtually every comics or genre convention article, and the countless galleries provided by cosplayers and cosplay photographers alike, we are bound to encounter real-life interpretations of our favorite heroes and villains.

In honor of the many fans who've displayed excellence in the mastery of homemade disguise, craftsmanship, and sartorial superheroics, ComicsAlliance has created Best Cosplay Ever (This Week), a weekly collection of some of the most impeccable, creative, and clever costumes that we've discovered and assembled into our own super-showcase of pure fan-devoted talent. With the release of X-Men: First Class this Friday (June 3rd), let's launch our first Best Cosplay Ever (This Week) with the X-Men!

Professor Charles Xavier, cosplayed by SoScandalous1

Age of Apocalypse Magneto, photographed by Judith Stephens

Emma Frost, cosplayed by Kirja Parcell, photographed by Jay Tablante

Beast, cosplayed by Centaure

Mystique, cosplayed by Kearstin Nicholson

Banshee, photographed by excalipoor

Havok, cosplayed by The Philippines' X-MEN Cosplay Team

Steampunk Professor X, cosplayed by Daniel "Smeeon" Valdez

Magneto, cosplayed by FishyBob

Emma Frost, cosplayed by Meiriel

Beast, by darkbhudda

Mystique, photographed by Carlo Caponi

Banshee, cosplayed by The Philippines' X-MEN Cosplay Team

Polaris & Havok, cosplayed by Miracole Burns and Steve Burns

Magneto, cosplayed/photographed by unknown

Emma Frost, by Kudrel

Mystique, by BelleChere

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