The Mass Effect trilogy was a critical success for a number of reasons, notable among them the amazing cast of diverse characters. From the increasingly grizzled Turian security operative Garrus to the brilliant Asari Liara who slowly loses her innocence while using her biotic abilities to control others, each character feels fully developed and has their own narrative arc.
Of all the characters introduced in Mass Effect 2, few are as unapologetically tough and visually interesting as Jack. She’s a woman with a traumatic past, trust issues, some awesome tattoos, and a power set that makes her one of the strongest characters in the franchise. It’s no wonder fans love to cosplay her. Here are ten Jack cosplays that look just as badass as the game.
10 St.alumin
This first example comes from St.alumin on Instagram and there is so much to love here. Let’s start with the shaved head. This is one facet of Jack’s look that both gives her a tough punk aesthetic reminiscent of her take-no-shit personality, but also nods to her having been experimented on as a child, as the shaved head visually echoes the concentration camps of the 20th Century with their medical experiments.
Beyond this, there are little details which bring the look to life, like the orange prison jumpsuit, the huge futuristic rifle, and all those chest tattoos. But it’s the personal touch of the eye makeup and lipstick which really sell the punk look that inspired Jack.
9 Tabby_Cosplay
The next entry on this list is from tabby_cosplay on Instagram, who takes a very different approach to Jack. The iconic tattoos are there on the chest and arms, but the attire is more focused on the bandages, allowing for more skin (and therefore more tattoos) to be shown off.
The decision to leave her hair long actually lets tabby_cosplay emulate Jack’s appearance from Mass Effect 3 without having to shave her head. The posture of how she’s sitting in that narrow hall is also an interesting choice as it suggests that even when trying to be at ease, Jack is trapped in a confined space.
8 Fiercefemmesonline
Here is a great example of a team cosplay. Samara is one of two badass asari women introduced in Mass Effect 2. She is a justicar, and like Jack, has powerful biotic abilities. Naturally, it makes sense that these two would be cosplayed together.
Just look at how the poses showcase the biotics skills and marksmanship of both characters, while the headpieces of the cosplay emphasizes each character’s distinct look.
7 Redchaoscosplay And Friends
This is another group cosplay posted by RedChaosCosplay on Instagram (she is the one dressed as Commander Shepard and unfortunately does not name or tag her fellow cosplayers).
Four strong women standing together really showcases the awesome diverse cast of the Mass Effect games. Beyond Shepard in that awesome N7 armor, Jack looks fierce as ever, biotic implants and tattoos on display as she’s ready to throw down with Miranda. Meanwhile, Tali is perfectly hilarious, standing to the side and trying to smell a flower through her airtight suit.
6 Baka_pretzel
Here is a really interesting take on using clothing to emulate skin. Jack is a character for whom clothing is almost an afterthought. She has tattoos, and wants to show them off, so why bother wasting time getting dressed. Plus, Jack is a character very much in control of her own sexuality.
Of course, not everyone is comfortable or able to show off that much skin. But that doesn’t make Jack any less appealing to people wanting to cosplay her. Instagrammer Baka_Pretzel really gets the essence of Jack’s look by drawing Jack’s tattoos onto her shirt while replicating the badass hair perfectly.
5 Karinolava
This selfie of Karinolava cosplaying Jack is hilariously true to character. As anyone whose played the Mass Effect games knows, asari are aliens who can have kids with other species, regardless of the sex, gender, or species of their partner. Of course, asari always have more asari, all of whom appear female within the sexual dimorphism understood by humans.
Jack is many things, but a maternal caregiver is not one. This picture of her awkwardly holding what is presumably her daughter is just hilariously on-the nose.
4 Radicalcosplay
This image by Radicalcosplay does a lot of what other cosplayers got right, but it goes a step further by adding in a touch of CGI to give some extra details that bring the piece to life by putting it right in the world of the games.
The tattoos, shaved head, and prison jumpsuit hanging down from her waist all bring the character to life, but look at the muzzle flash on the gun! That detail, along with the spaceship background and blue biotic energy ball, make Radicalcosplay’s Jack look like something right out of the game.
3 Girl_blunder
This is another great team-up cosplay, featuring Miranda and Jack coming together despite their differences. These cosplayers go by Girl_Blunder, but they definitely made no blunders when executing this badass look about Mass Effect’s coolest girls.
The outfit for Jack’s skin is a bodysuit, but what sells this as truly awesome is the smirk. She’s wrapped in bandages, her gun holstered, her back toward a frenemy, and she just stares at the camera with confident contempt.
2 Rinikurobara
Rinikurobara took her own much more personal spin on cosplaying Jack. What is so awesome about this look is that Rinikurobara is herself tatted along her arms with some beautiful ink. Rather than hide these, she incorporates them into the cosplay, showing off her ink. It’s something Jack would also do.
The hair, makeup, and outfit all have noticeable deviations from Jack’s look in the games, but still, this is unmistakeably Jack. The fact that Rinikurobara made this her own in every way yet fully embodies the character is truly impressive.
1 Escapethevault
The last entry on this list is from Escapethevault. The haircut and jacket are both taken from Jack’s look in Mass Effect 3. The tattoos on the body suit are fairly standard compared to others, but the choice to cut holes in the thighs of the pants to show off more ink is a bold move that distinguishes this look.
What makes this final entry fun is how she holds up the sign for the Atlanta Fashion Police, her smile looking a lot friendlier and more hospitable than others on this list. Excapethevault is apparently a friendlier person than Jack, but she still kills this look.
NEXT: Mass Effect: 10 Cosplay Of Liara T’Soni That Look Just Like The Games
