Mike Byrnes Interview at Fan Expo 2018
Photo Credits:
HSL Photography, Bill Port Design, Bryan Pace (NY Daily News), Colin Douglas Gray (MTV), Anthony Mallari, Roxas Studios, Jason Laboy, Jack Teague, SuperHero Photos, Dallas Geek
Have you ever found yourself daydreaming about being your favorite superhero? Did that fantasy ever inspire you to make that dream a reality? For Michael Byrnes, that is exactly what has happened. He is a guy who thought it would be fun to cosplay as his favorite superhero, Superman, & ended up completely embodying the character that he loved. With 10 different versions of the high flying Kryptonian & counting, Mike has found his place in the cosplay community celebrating all sides of arguably the most well-known fictional character in history.
Starting with the Christopher Reeve Superman, Mike has been making a name for himself at conventions as one of the go-to Supermen to find thanks to coverage of his work by media outlets like MTV & the New York Daily News. It would be easy to say that this is all because he has made himself into a Superman that looks like he jumped straight from the pages of Action Comics, but speaking to him, it becomes clear why his popularity has continued to grow. He has so much passion for the character that he personifies that his enthusiasm quickly spreads to everyone around him. When we spoke to him on Saturday, he made a point to acknowledge that being one of the only two featured male cosplayers surrounded by many gorgeous women did make it difficult to be seen by the masses. However, that didn't stop his excitement just to be there & get recognized for his hard work at carving out his niche. While he wasn't getting Jessica Nigri sized lines, whose booth also happened to directly behind his, he did have a steady group of fans stopping by to say hi while we were there.
Although male cosplayers currently don't have nearly the same reach & name recognition as their female counterparts, it's guys like Michael Byrnes who have continued to prove that it can be done. If you are looking for a fantastic Superman to follow, he is, without question, the one you should check out!