Hundreds of attendees wore costumes to the three-day event from Friday to Sunday at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel in Glendale that depicted characters from such iconic horror films as “Friday the 13th,” “The Shining” and “Child’s Play.” Others dressed up in killer costumes inspired by anime, television shows and video games.
Even the extreme summertime heat, which caused temperatures of 111 degrees, didn’t detract cosplayers from donning bulky outfits. “It’s not that bad since it's air-conditioned inside the hotel,” said Ramon Martinez. who came to the event from San Antonio, Texas to dress as the ghastly Ryuk from the popular anime “Death Note.”
Here’s a look at the best costumes we encountered at Mad Monster Party Arizona 2024 in Glendale.
Mesa cosplayer Bitch Pudding dressed up as a demon for Mad Monster Party Arizona 2024.
Benjamin Leatherman
Several Mad Monster Party Arizona attendees wore costumes inspired by the "Five Nights at Freddy's" video game series, including Caleb Winger (left), Sophia Stinelli (center) and Dominic Winger.
Benjamin Leatherman
Jonathan Nguyen (left) and Brittany Rice of Phoenix as Chucky from the “Child’s Play” series.
Benjamin Leatherman
Local cosplayer Arizona Jack O’Lantern as the Headless Horseman from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
Benjamin Leatherman
Keelyn Cordell of San Tan Valley as Amanda Young in Jigsaw’s “reverse bear trap” from the original “Saw.”
Benjamin Leatherman
Mari DiLeone of Tucson as Luna Ghost from the 2002 live-action “Scooby-Doo” film.
Benjamin Leatherman
Robert Price of Phoenix as the Driller Killer from the 1987 slasher flick “Slumber Party Massacre II.”
Benjamin Leatherman
Luke Fryke (left) as Patrick Wisely and Hannah Nothnagel (right) as Velma from “Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.”
Benjamin Leatherman
The spooky cast of local haunted house Terror in Tolleson, which had a booth at Mad Monster Party 2024.
Benjamin Leatherman
Local special effects makeup artist Candice Domme created a frightening cosplay mashing up the monsters from 1986’s “The Fly” and 1982’s “The Thing.”
Benjamin Leatherman
Marsha Mallow of Kansas City, Missouri, as Mima from the 1997 anime “Perfect Blue.”
Benjamin Leatherman
Peoria cosplayer Leilani Wong as Yetch from the 1967 Rankin/Bass stop-motion animated musical comedy “Mad Monster Party?” The cult classic film also partially inspired the name for Mad Monster’s various events across the U.S.
Benjamin Leatherman
Amy Betts (left) of Phoenix and Alex T. of Tempe (right) dressed as female versions of Beetlejuice.
Benjamin Leatherman
Laveen resident and cosplayer Dollyface as Siren, an original character she created.
Benjamin Leatherman
Samantha Farmer (left) of Toledo, Ohio, and Diane Campisi (right) of Tucson as the Grady twins from “The Shining.”
Benjamin Leatherman
Mesa resident Christian Thomas created a frightening version of the Tooth Fairy for his cosplay.
Benjamin Leatherman
Scottsdale resident Geneva Brown (left) and her daughter Lilith (right) as female versions of Ooogie Boogie from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Benjamin Leatherman
Sapphire Nova of Phoenix posed for photos as Lady Death during all three days of Mad Monster Party Arizona.
Benjamin Leatherman
Alberto Vasquez of Phoenix came as this wicked-looking mashup of Leatherface and Mickey Mouse.
Benjamin Leatherman
Katarina Linn of Phoenix as Susanna "Suzy" Bannion, the protagonist of Dario Argento’s 1977 Italian horror flick “Suspiria.”
Benjamin Leatherman
Priscilla Gomez of Goodyear rolled into Mad Monster Party Arizona as the Jigsaw puppet from the “Saw” series.
Benjamin Leatherman
Claire Rivera of Tempe cosplayed as Shorty, one of the titular villains of 1988’s “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.”
Benjamin Leatherman
