With Great Cosplay Comes Great Responsibility:

Walk into any convention in the Rocky Mountain region, and you’re bound to run into the vibrant, high-energy collective known as the Mile High Multiverse. They are a cornerstone of the Colorado community, bringing a distinct sense of family, creativity, and boundless enthusiasm to the floor. And right at the center of that energy, you will often find Dominic McBride.

To his peers and thousands of fans online, Dominic is known as SpiderBro.

With seven years of fabrication and costuming under his belt, Dominic has carved out a reputation for bringing an undeniable, magnetic life to characters like the enigmatic Red X or the haunting Frank the Rabbit from Donnie Darko. But it’s his deep, lifelong connection to a certain web-slinger that truly defines his presence in the community. As part of our Cozzers of Color segment, we sat down with Dominic to unmask the man behind the mask and talk about identity, representation, and the pure joy of the craft.

For Dominic, who proudly shares an African American and Hispanic heritage, the decision to step into the world of cosplay wasn't just about showing off a cool suit. It was sparked by a dual engine: the encouragement of a tight-knit circle of friends, and a deep-seated desire to inspire the next generation.

When you ask him about the characters that resonate most with his audience, the answer comes without hesitation: Spider-Man.

In a hobby where creators of color occasionally face unsolicited internet commentary or the unspoken pressure to justify why they chose a certain character, Dominic looks straight past the noise, anchoring his passion in the core values of the hero himself.

"Spider-Man has always been a hero for me," Dominic explains, his admiration for the character evident. "The way he never gave up always wanted me to teach others not to as well."

That resilience isn't just a comic book plot point—it’s the exact philosophy Dominic channels when he meets young fans of color at events. For him, standing on the convention floor in full costume is a powerful, silent message to every kid looking up at him. "It's about being different and unique," he reflects. "Never being afraid to stand out in a crowd."

There is an ongoing conversation within the community about how creators of color navigate their identity through their art. Some choose to heavily alter a character’s design to visibly honor their cultural roots, while others find freedom in standard interpretation. For Dominic, the magic lies in letting his own inner spirit fill the suit.

"I like to embody myself as a character versus making the character into me," Dominic says candidly. "Race has nothing to do with being a character. We can all have fun!"

That doesn't mean his personal identity doesn't shine through. While he hasn't executed a full cultural mashup costume just yet—noting with a grin that "it does sound like a cool idea"—he has injected his direct personality into the lore by creating his very own official Spider-Man variant, the aptly named SpiderBro. The suit acts as a perfect canvas for his specific brand of charisma, style, and warmth.

Of course, the seven-year journey hasn't been entirely devoid of hurdles. Like any seasoned creator, Dominic has had to navigate the occasional undercurrents of community drama, casual gossip, and the exhausting illusion of competition that can sometimes plague the scene. But by anchoring himself within the supportive ranks of the Mile High Multiverse, he’s been able to rise above the static.

"Keep doing your dreams. You’re awesome!"

Looking ahead to the coming years, Dominic’s goals for the SpiderBro brand remain beautifully selfless. He isn't chasing clout or algorithmic metrics; he is chasing impact. He wants his craft to stand as a continuous reminder to anyone watching that creativity has no barriers, and that the ultimate superpower is authenticity.

"My goal is to inspire others to want to be creative, and to not be afraid to go out and just be yourself," he says.

As we wrapped up our conversation, Dominic left the readers of COZ Magazine with a short, punchy, and powerful call to action that echoes the very heroism of the characters he portrays: "Keep doing your dreams. You’re awesome! Can’t wait to see you guys at the events. Thank you for all the support."

The feeling, SpiderBro, is entirely mutual. We’ll see you on the floor.