Instead of Superheroes: Disney Mash-Ups

As much as I love a well-dressed Clark Kent with the Superman T-shirt peeking out from underneath his white button down, we've all seen it before. And sadly, the Watchmen idea is a little played out by now as well. I'm sorry, but the 1,000 Rorschach comic con cosplayers pretty much solidified Rorschach's status as this year's Joker costume. So mix it up, literally. Be a Disney Marvel Mashup like Mickey Venom here. It's clever, timely and most likely the most original costume you'll see all night.

Instead of Sexy Princess/Sexy Beloved Childhood Icons: Undead/Evil Princesses And Villains

Another Halloween, another batch of slutty Disney Princesses and beloved childhood characters getting sexified by the masses. Look, just because they make the costume, doesn't mean you have to wear it. Sexy Snow White and Rainbow Brite are TIRED. We suggest that if you're going to sexify a cartoon princess, do it with edge, twisted princess style — like this overhauled evil Alice get up from horrorland. You could even flip it around and be the baddie, we're actually kind of excited about sexy Maleficent, at least we haven't seen her around the block as many times as Snow White.

Instead of The Joker: Cesar's Joker

We get it, you really, really, really liked Dark Knight's Joker. Well so did millions of other people, which is why the streets are perpetually flooded with Jokers every year, The Office even poked fun at the Joker masses. This year if you must don the old purple suit, at least go retro Cesar Romero style. Don't forget the pencil-thin mustache.

Instead of Bloody Doctor: A Real Science Experiment Gone Wrong, District 9 Style

Every year one of my friends in the medical profession always half asses it with an old pair of scrubs and some fake blood. This is not scary, nor is it interesting. Put a timely spin on this look with a "Prawn" hand! Slap on a "property of MNU" and this amazing arm extension and BAM you're Wikus from District 9. Just remember to say "fook" a lot. Alien hand available on ebay.

Instead of Sexy Cat: Sexy Avatar Cat

Throngs of unwashed, mewing "sexy cats" prowl paws first through our city street every year. But this year, we beg of you, update your kitty ears and tails into a James Cameron approved sexy cat, an Avatar Na'vi. Plus 1,000 points if you wrap it in with Arrested Development's "never nude" shorts.

Instead of Darth Vader: Sexy Vader

While we all love a good Chewy and Han here and there, I'm a little tired of seeing poorly constructed Vaders. Give the old costume a whirl this year and throw a pair of heels on the Dark Lord.

Instead of Leia: Zombie Leia

Same thing that applies to Vader also applies to the tons of Leia costumes, switch it up, take her from beauty to undead lovely with a zombie twist!

Madolan posted this ultra-cute picture of Number Six and Number Two (with Rover!) from The Prisoner.

And Idyll's Snake Eyes from GI Joe is about to take down Agent Mulder, which is a plot line I would like to see.

More of the cuteness with Dollar Bin's shot of himself in 1977, dressed as R2D2 with Pete the Vampire. He notes that the hat is made of a colander, and the front of the R2D2 outfit contained a TV dinner tray. Nice.

You can submit your own photos to the io9 Halloween Scifi Costume Show Flickr pool, and we might feature them on the site during Halloween frenzy next week! Be sure to only submit pictures of yourself in scifi-style gear.

Shaun of the Dead Lego Man
Give yourself a weekend to assemble a peg head which involves cutting some Styrofoam, gluing it accordingly, and spray-painting the whole deal. Pair that with slacks, a short-sleeved button-up, and a tie. Short on time? Screw the head and just spatter some blood on your shirt and invest in one of those fratboy paddles.

Everyday Zombie
Get a posse of the walking dead to follow Shaun around. All this requires is a steady hand for make-up application and the willingness to destroy a few articles of your clothing.

Dr. Horrible
We know what you’re thinking: a wimp-out. Perhaps. But your resemblance will be unmistakable and timely, especially if you have to whip up an outfit on the fly. Keep this one in your back pocket in case of emergency.

Space Suit
Like the work of a bespoke tailor on London’s Saville Row, this will never go out of style.

Iron Man
Once you’ve got the Arc Reactor assembled (a bit intimidating—but press on, grasshopper!), you can just throw on a tank top and pants. Optional accessory: muscle mass, which will exponentially enhance this look.

Darth Vader
It’s important to pay homage to the classics. Note: time-consuming and expensive. But what price villainy?

Ghostbuster
If you’re the type that likes to go all out, then this is a project for you. Our advice: Start now!

Tron Dude
Not nearly as intense and complicated as The Tron Guy’s get-up, but this should easily do the trick nonetheless.

Member of Devo
…or a nostalgic alternative to the omnipresent alien costume. Build the gradated red hat, then dress like a beatnik from the shoulders down. Are we not men?

Steampunker
Say, have you heard about this newfangled steampunk fashion? Start here if you want to give a shout-out to the omnipresent resurgent subculture-of-the-moment. Then save your get-up for Comic-Con.

"I'm a Cylon" image courtesy of comeonworkitout and steampunk courtesy of hmschronabelle