We’re nearing the end of October and I can already smell the cavities growing in children’s mouths. (That’s disgusting.)(Shut up.) Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. As a kid, I ate myself into a candy-coma. As a teen, I didn’t have to squeeze into a room with my extended family, unlike other holidays. As a college student, I got drunk and made snow angels. Encompassing everything though, as a nerd, I got to create a costume or pay a detailed tribute to pop culture. I truly love dressing up for Halloween and I’m sure I’m not alone.

This post is just me gushing about my love of Halloween costumes. Continue on to hear stories of myself, a talented Node member, and strangers. Who knows, maybe you’ll be inspired by something and share it on The Node with us.

Halloween is the one time of the year that creative nerds get to meticulously comb over details and build, getting flattering compliments from strangers normally alienated by our ways. Myself, I make a game out of it. I take on the role of a character – not just in look, but also in spirit. For example, a few years ago, two of my friends and I dressed up as the three members of Stella, complete with fake mustaches. Dressing up wasn’t enough. We lived as Stella that night. We memorized gags and never broke character. I was Michael Showalter. While nearly everyone was confused by our behavior, being obviously unfamiliar with the show, they loved us. As hard as people tried to get a real conversation out of us, we wouldn’t give it to them. We had escaped into other bodies – the true fun of Halloween.

Sometimes this backfires. Two years ago, much to the chagrin of the girl I was seeing at the time, I went to a party dedicated to the character of Casey Tatum, the repulsive character from Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show Great Job! Everyone avoided me. Understandable I guess. I did spit on myself when anyone worked up the nerve to talk to me.

Some people dedicate themselves in a more normal fashion – through a painstaking process of accuracy for the sake of replicating awesomeness. I present you with an AMAZING example by Node member and friend of mine, Harmony Ellington.

Harmony took what I’m sure was many hours in many days to build an incredible Conky costume. While not pictured, I assume there is a Chinese factory sweatshop manager off camera, cracking her with a whip to finish the job. Harmony and her friends may have well jumped right out of Pee Wee’s Playhouse to make us all jealous of their costumes. I’m always thoroughly impressed by a group of nerds coming together to form a Voltron-esque Holloween costume.

I leave you with a creation by Alex The Movie Geek I came across on Gizmodo. For roughly $20, Alex built an impressive, and highly functional despite not transforming, Optimus Prime. Watch this video to see how he made it over 5 days.

Spread the love! I’ve opened the discussion Share Your Halloween Costumes! on The Node for posting. Not a Node member? Show everyone here.

I apologize for not having more pictures of my costumes. Use your imagination. Follow me on Twitter and hopefully I’ll remember to tweet pictures of my friend and I dressed as Mark and Mike from American Movie.