Spc. Evo Gambino is living proof that not every soldier is Superman.
At least one of them is Deadpool.
Gambino, a member of the Texas Army National Guard, became a local celebrity late last month when photos of him on a motorcycle in full Deadpool costume posted on the social-sharing site Reddit were picked up by Chron.com, leading to Gambino's appearance on the local ABC-TV affiliate.
Is he angling for stuntman work in the sequel to the R-rated, Ryan Reynolds-helmed action comedy starring Marvel Comics' "Merc with a Mouth"? Is he part of a secret Army program? Did he lose a bet?
According to Gambino, it's much simpler than all that.
"Just like in the military. Unit morale is key. If the unit is all sloppy and nobody’s happy, the mission’s not going to get completed. … If everybody’s alert and happy, and they’re not worried about stuff they shouldn’t be worried about, and it’s not that big a deal, you know, everything goes great."
Gambino, 29, wasn't always decked out in red and black, he said, having previously donned both the Red and Blue Power Ranger outfits. When the Deadpool movie hit in February and costume shops began offering custom-made outfits, he was on board almost immediately. He says the name change came after a conversation with a friend and fellow Deapool fan — the ultimate trump card to show who was the anti-hero's bigger booster.
The costume doesn't hurt, either: The custom holsters for his real katana and his real Desert Eagle .50-caliber handgun, plus the form-fitting outfit and mask, set him back about $800, he said. That doesn't include the weapons themselves, or the Deadpool-inspired wallet he carries.
"As far as the violence, I mean, you look at X-Men, Wolverine, he’s freakin’ jabbing people with his claws all the time. Nobody bats an eye," said Gambino, who deployed to Iraq in 2009-10. "But when you put a mouth behind it and you put a lot of sexual innuendos in there, that’s what puts it over the top."
Recent headlines have put Gambino on the radar of some local groups that do cosplay-based charity work. He’s already made some connections, but hopes to spread the goodwill beyond its typical locations.
"I want to talk to them first, before I show up in full costume."
Costume tips from Spc. Deadpool
Thinking about your own take on a superhero? Planning ahead for Halloween? Here's four quick pieces of advice from Gambino.
1. Fit is it.
Sure, the tights might look fine in the mirror, or when you flex those biceps, but Gambino has seen fellow superheroes struggle when it comes to riding a motorcycle or performing other, more complicated acts in costume. Give the gear a good wear test: "Just because you’re doing those cute little selfie poses doesn’t mean the costume fits."
2. Two kinds of comfort.
If the costume fits but the personality doesn't, you're wasting your time. "If you’re not happy doing it, obviously the character is going to come out wrong. … If you’re not comfortable doing it, people are going to see that."
3. Know your role.
Superheroes might be above the law, but you're not: Check to ensure any weapons you're carrying with your cosplay are within local regulations.
4. Don't pursue perfection.
Total accuracy is impossible (and expensive), so don't let nitpickers take you out of the moment. When you're told "That's not in the movie," Gambino said, simply shoot back, "Well, I’m not in the movie, so it doesn’t matter."
Kevin Lilley is the features editor of Military Times.
