A little ‘smile therapy’

This time a year ago, I bought a hairbrush, put on a wig and wielded a mighty hammer.

This year, I’ll be doing it again, but I’ll also be doing something different.

This year, I’ll be sporting a helmet, full armor and a jetpack as I take on Paz Vizsla, the heavy infantry Mandalorian featured in the new Star Wars shows The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

Why you ask? I’m a giant nerd. If I’m not king of the nerds, I’m at least an earl — or maybe a duke. The Duke of Earl? No. That’s taken.

At any rate, for the past several years, I’ve been a member of Heroes for Kids, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that uses cosplay and pop culture as a means to raise money for various organizations such as children’s hospitals and veterans organizations, while also working to introduce children to those the group considers to be real heroes — first responders, law enforcement and military service members.

Up until last year, I’d always worked behind the scenes, helping with media relations, promotions and the occasional bit of graphic design. I also sometimes served as a lifter of heavy things.

Last year marked a big first for me, as I did something I hadn’t done before — I wore my pajama pants in public.

I also had on a bright red hoodie, a blue flannel robe, fingerless gloves and what seemed like 10 pounds of hair, including a fake beard that reached my chest.

That day marked my first official foray into cosplay with Heroes for Kids, and the debut of my own version of “Bro Thor” — some people call him “Fat Thor,” but we won’t judge — from the beginning of the Avengers: Endgame movie.

It was magical! Once I hit the floor in full-Thor mode — “Greetings, Midgardians! Welcome to the fair!” — with my newly acquired hair flying, my robe flapping and magical hammer in hand, I could feel the positive energy washing over me in a flood of smiles, laughs, compliments and requests for photos.

It came from all sides, but the best part was the reactions from the little kids, most of whom seemed excited to meet one of their big-screen heroes. A few were a bit shy at first — I’m a big man, made even bigger by the fleece, flannel and hair — but that was easily solved by letting them hold my hammer, Mjolnir, while we posed for photos. You can’t tell because of my beard and mask, but I’m beaming in each and every one of them.

Looking back, it was the same feeling I used to get onstage acting in school musicals. That’s right. In addition to being a huge nerd and band geek, I’m also a theater kid at heart.

At any rate, it was just what I needed. I might need it again.

Oct. 15 will mark the two-year anniversary of my mother’s death from COVID-19 and I need something to get me out of my head. Getting the chance to play a character last year — a loud, boisterous one at that — did just that.

Which is one of the reasons why I chose Bro Thor as my first cosplay. First off, it was relatively easy to pull together. Second, this one of only two times from the movies I could pull off playing Thor and thirdly, most importantly, I felt I understood what the character was going through.

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe know what I’m talking about. Thor was in a deep depression after the events of the previous movie, when the majority of his people were killed and he blamed himself for failing to stop Thanos, the movie’s big bad, from wiping out half of all life in the universe.

As a result, his normal boisterous attitude was severely muted and his chiseled physique expanded as he ate and drank himself to distraction. Later in the movie, with the help of his fellow Avengers, he broke free of his depression and reached a realization that no matter what had happened, he was still worthy.

That’s how I felt last year. Despite the losses I’ve suffered in the past several years — my wife and my mother — and the grief I still feel, I’m still worthy.

All it took was giving a gaggle of little kids — and myself — a reason to smile. Let’s call it what it is — “smile therapy.”

This year, I’ll be beaming behind the faceplate of a big, blue Mandalorian helmet — and loving every minute of it.

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Robert Cox is associate editor for Carroll County News. He email address is RCox@cherryroad.com.