This article was originally posted in October 2007.
The use of the word “epic” in the title could mean any of its uses, possibly “awesome,” could be “larger than life,” or it could mean “it’s a long story” as it pertains to these Halloween costumes.
Chris Miller made his own Bender costume. The eyes moved by a servo controlled by his hands! He was a finalist in a costume contest, but I can’t imagine what costume could beat this.
Dr. Octopus is the superbad villain from Spiderman. It’s not a simple costume to pull off, but Rob at Cockeyed did it in 2004 and posted the complete story of building and using the contraption. He didn’t win the costume contest, but no doubt enjoyed more internet fame than the winners.
Have you ever looked at a broken umbrella and thought about how it resembles a flailing bat? I have, since most of my umbrella break pretty quickly. Lenore at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories made this Umbrella Bat costume out of one umbrella and a hoodie, and posted instructions so you can do the same.
This Trash Can costume is also a prank!
When I was a kid there was a guy in our neighborhood that used to jump out of the bushes in a gorilla suit and scare the bejeezus out of us. It was one of my fondest memories of halloween. Last year I decided to be that guy.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any bushes. An alternative would be to build a trash barrel disguise. I built the disguise below and then sat in it right on the front lawn. Not one single kid realized that It wasn’t a trash can and I scared so many of them that I lost count.
You might not recognize the name Caterpillar Power Loader J-5000, but surely you remember the mechanical power suit Sigourney Weaver used to fight the alien queen in Aliens. Ben Hallert built this one for Halloween last year. Read his story with links to photos and a video. Hallert previously made an APU costume from The Matrix, and a Mech Warrior costume.
Flickr user mcredis built a Rubik’s Cube costume and posted the process in photographs. He wore it to a costume parade in New York, and heard “Can I solve you?” all night long.
The Flaming Carrot is one of the more bizarre comic book characters you’ll ever encounter, but it’s the look that makes a great costume, rather than the backstory. RoG posted details on how he contructed this one.
Transformer costumes may be hot for this year, but Mark has been making and selling them for years. These costumes will actually transform into vehicles, but it may take a bit of practice on the wearer’s part.
Jay Maynard, the Tron Guy, shows you step-by-step how he made the costume that made him an internet legend.
Honus at Instructables has already finished two Ghostbusters costumes for this year (and will possibly have a third). He also posted instructions for making your own, complete with goggles and weapons. The backpack really makes this; I hope it isn’t as heavy as it looks!
See also: 10 Awesome Homemade Halloween Costumes
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Comments (12)
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You guys are getting lazy, this article has been posted for 3 straight years now. There are MILLIONS of “homemade” halloween costumes out there. I’m sure you can dig up some info on some different ones.
Please don’t become a recycled content website, we have enough of those already.
posted by Adam on 10-13-2009 at 11:33 am
Lazy, maybe. Sick, definitely. I’ve had the flu for days. Watch this space Thursday for Halloween costumes you haven’t seen. If I can shake this fever.
posted by Miss Cellania on 10-13-2009 at 11:40 am
Jeez, people are whiny today!
I’m relatively new here, so this one was new to me. Thanks for posting. Feel better, Miss C!
posted by Gene on 10-13-2009 at 11:42 am
Gene beat me to it. Lighten up, Adam. I’ve been reading the Floss for a long time, back to the ‘Fact of the Day’ days, and they’ve been posting oodles of new stuff daily for years. Good luck shaking the fever, Miss Cellania!
posted by caren on 10-13-2009 at 11:48 am
When I have a feva’ the only prescription is more… well you know.
posted by Admiral Byrd on 10-13-2009 at 12:03 pm
Hope you feel better, Miss Cellania!
The best Halloween costume I’ve ever seen was at my wedding. My husband and I got married on Halloween and had everyone (including us) wear a costume. My brother came as Jesus. He grew out his hair and beard for months, and looked EXACTLY like him.
posted by Christina on 10-13-2009 at 2:25 pm
Ha!! How about NOT having to wear a costume and ALMOST winning!! That happened to my son.. Tommy this past year!!! He looks like a young Harry Potter (really.. he does. we hear it all the time). And last year, we were at a convention (sorry.. it wasn’t Halloween, but for geeks.. every convention IS Halloween!!). There were TONS of folks in loads of great costumes.. and Tommy was just dressed in his normal clothes..everyone was stopping him and saying “hey..Harry!”.. he even met Colin Baker (the 6th Doctor) and he looked straight at him and said.. “Well Hello there.. Mr Potter!”. He was noted by the convention for “best lookalike”.
posted by Mindy on 10-13-2009 at 2:31 pm
Get to feeling bettah! The fever was the hardest thing for my daughter to break, too…
posted by Helenann on 10-13-2009 at 3:09 pm
Just keep this piece of philosophy in mind, Miss Cellania…your fever will only last a few days at the most, but some people’s jerkiness lasts a lifetime. Hope you get to feeling better soon!
posted by Jamie on 10-13-2009 at 4:00 pm
Lighten up, Francis – I mean, Adam! Even though it’s an old article, some of us still like the costumes. Hope you feel better, Miss Cellania!
posted by Steve from San Diego on 10-13-2009 at 4:35 pm
Well, it’s new content to me. Love your column, and hope you feel better soon.
posted by Pam on 10-13-2009 at 7:23 pm
Thank you, everyone. A couple days later, I am on the mend. Get a flu shot if you get the chance, because you DON’T want what I just went through!
posted by Miss Cellania on 10-15-2009 at 8:20 am