Sungod By Day, Daywalker By Night:

From classic martial arts cinema to the ink-and-paint pages of comic history, some characters carry an undeniable swagger and authority. When you combine that legacy with a decade of dedication to the craft, you get a creator who commands every room he enters.

Meet Colorado Springs' own Reginald Shelton, known across the convention floor as Ra Sungod.

A ten-year cosplay veteran and active member of the community organization 3C Causeplay, Reginald has spent a decade turning heads with his fierce, razor-sharp portrayals—most notably as Marvel’s premier vampire hunter, Blade, and the rebellious multiverse rocker Spider-Punk. For our September Cozzers of Color feature, we sat down with Reginald to discuss his comic book roots, the supportive nature of the Colorado cosplay scene, and why every creative spark deserves to burn bright.

Stepping into conventions as a Black cosplayer, Reginald takes pride in what his presence offers to the next generation of fans walking the aisle.

"I represent an opportunity for young fans of color to see and dress as their favorite characters," he reflects.

While discussions around prejudice in fandom remain common, Reginald speaks warmly of the inclusive environment cultivated in his home state. "We have a large cosplay community here in Colorado, filled with every level and color of cosplayer."

Through his work with 3C Causeplay, Reginald uses his craft to give back, bringing iconic comic characters to life for charitable functions, youth events, and regional conventions.

"Don't listen to the haters. Let the haters let you know that you've got that shine, and use that as fuel to burn brighter."

Looking toward the future, Reginald is ready to level up his skill set. After a decade of assembling and perfecting his builds, his next big goal is to design and fabricate a complex cosplay completely from scratch.

For aspiring creators of color contemplating their very first build, Reginald offers a simple, powerful blueprint:

• Start Small: "Just do it. Start small, start easy. Grow, learn, and get better with every build."

• Ignore the Noise: "Don't listen to the haters. Let them let you know that you've got that shine, and use that criticism as fuel to burn brighter."

Reginald leaves the readers of COZ Magazine with a message of guidance for their own creative journeys: "Feed that spark. You never know when it'll become a light to lead others along the way."

Inspiration flows across the community. Reginald wants to give a major shout-out to a legendary creator who continues to inspire his path:

• Knightmage (Find him across all social media platforms and Imgur)