The Bronx, The Captain, and The King

In 1970s Manhattan, before "cons" were a global phenomenon and before "cosplay" was even a word in the cultural lexicon, a young boy from the Bronx took a train into the city. He was dressed as Captain America—the shield, the stripes, the whole heroic works. But in an era where the heroes on the page rarely mirrored the faces in the neighborhood, his presence was met with a harsh, narrow-minded refrain: "You can't be Captain America. He's white."

For 57-year-old Terrence Trotman, that moment could have been the end of a hobby. Instead, it became a commission. From the crowd, a legendary voice intervened. "He can be anyone he wants to be," the voice said, adding that a Black Captain America had indeed graced the pages of Marvel.

That voice belonged to Stan Lee. And for Terrence, the shield has stayed up ever since.

With over 40 years of experience, Terrence is a veteran in the truest sense of the word. A mobility bus driver by trade and a "Blerd" (Black Nerd) icon by choice, he has navigated what he calls the "dark days" of the community—a time when Black cosplayers were treated as outsiders not just by the mainstream, but sometimes by their own communities.

"I look at myself as an emissary," Terrence tells us. "An ambassador for the Black cosplayers who suffered for years being treated as outcasts."

What sets Terrence apart isn't just his longevity; it's his narrative depth. He doesn't just put on a costume; he builds a legacy. While he is most recognized today as Indiana Jones, he isn't playing Henry Jones Jr. He has created an entirely new persona: Seattle Shanklin.

"He was a student of Dr. Jones and became an archaeologist like his predecessor," Terrence explains. "But he searches for relics of lost African history."

By weaving real-world heritage into fictional universes, Terrence elevates the craft from simple mimicry to cultural storytelling. It’s a creative flair he applies to every character in his repertoire, from the feral intensity of Wolverine to the stoic mystery of Boba Fett.

After decades of flying solo or with groups like Black Don’t Crack Cosplayers, 2025 marked a massive shift for Terrence. Not only did he quadruple his convention appearances—hitting everything from Blerdcon to AwesomeCon—but he finally embarked on the ultimate "side-quest": couples cosplay.

"This year, I finally got the chance to do a couples cosplay with my girl," he says warmly. "This is the start of a brand new adventure for the both of us."

For Terrence, the journey is far from over. He’s currently working on an original build inspired by the "territorial" days of old-school professional wrestling, proving that at 57, the creative well is deeper than ever. His advice to the next generation is born from four decades of resilience: represent the character, but always represent yourself first.

As he prepares for the next "Trotman Cosplay Thang," Terrence remains a testament to the power of staying the course. From the Bronx to the DMV, he is a reminder that the most important thing a hero can carry isn't a shield or a whip—it’s the courage to be exactly who they want to be.