Cosplay's popularity surged in the '90s, when Japanese anime and manga gained popularity in the US. Cosplay is so popular now that there's even a television show about it. CCosplay
At conventions, cosplayers can show off their costumes in front of fans who will actually recognize the characters (even the obscure ones) they're portraying, Deadpool Costume as opposed to drawing the blank stares they might receive at their neighborhood rec center or TGI Friday's.
