No Comic-Con this year, but here are some of the most awesome costumes ever

Every year, tens of thousands of people – many in elaborate costumes – convene in San Diego for a pop culture extravaganza. Hollywood studios peddle their upcoming blockbusters, stars talk their latest comic, sci-fi, fantasy or horror projects and fans browse and buy an array of comic books and memorabilia.

But not this year. Comic-Con is moving to an online edition, but it’s unlikely any webcam can do the cosplay (costume play) justice.

Downtown San Diego may be a lot less colorful this week, when the 51st Comic-Con was scheduled to be held. But that doesn’t mean the tights, zombie makeup and capes are forgotten.

Associated Press photo editors curated some of the best costume pictures taken at Comic-Con in recent years. It’s a visual feast of caped crusaders (and villains, with some four-legged and child sidekicks in the mix) in costume. See the video above.