Calgarian Alana Waffles lands on Marvel comic book cover posing as superhero Gwenpool

Self-described "nerd girl" Alana Waffles recently landed adreamgig posing as one of herfavouritesuperheroeson a comic book cover.

The cosplaying Calgarian will appearon the cover of the October issueofMarvel Comics as Gwenpool one of the newest and most popular superheroes in the franchise.

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In the world ofcosplaycostumed role-playing gaining this kind of fame would be like your favourite fantasy world becoming a welcome reality.

Gwenpool is a new addition to the comic book character lineup, and oneWaffles has adopted wholeheartedly as part of hercostume-playhobby.

Gwenpool's persona began as a mash-upofGwen Stacy, Spiderman's dead girlfriend and the blockbuster superhero movie, Deadpool, Waffles explained to the Calgary Eyeopener.

Now Gwenpool is asuperhero somebody.

"She was so popularthat they made her own comic and now it's been established that she's her complete own person and she happens to be named Gwenpool."

Superheroin the know

She's a force to be reckoned with inher baby pink and white leotard, adorned with belts and pouches, sabres, gloves, pink running shoes and a platinum blonde wig.

The costume which Waffles made herself, minus the wig and shoes belies the fact that Gwenpool is really a badasswho fights evil-doersnot with superpowers, but with knowledge.

"So she has the one-up that she knows everyone's a comic book character,she knows everyone's secret identity,she knows everyone's powers, so she kind of plays with that 'I know everything.'

In reality, though, Waffles says,"She's just a nerd girl ... who knows things people don't know how she can possibly know."

Nerd gets noticed

Waffles says she relates totheGwenpool character.

"I'm a huge nerd of everything. And Gwenpool is like a nerd from our reality. She's really into comic books and video games and she's thrown into this reality that she's been reading about her whole life."

Waffles believesshe came to the attention of Marvel, which contacted her by email,because of her 45,000-plus followerson Instagram. She consistently posts fun photo shoots in a variety of costumed other-worldly characters.

But Gwenpool was the ticket for Waffles.

Of her new-found fame she says, "It's so crazy. It's kind of validating this hobby that I've had for six, seven years and it's just lots of fun. It's your favourite thing asking you to participate.

"I'm so excited that Marvel kind of noticed me."

With files from Calgary Eyeopener