Mark your calendars for ComicCon Asia 2018!

18 January 2018

If you're interested in comics, movies, series, manga, anime, toys, gaming, and cosplay, then mark March 24 and 25 on your calendars because all of these will come together in a massive arena of fandom explosion at the ComicCon Asia 2018 happening at the SMX Convention Center!

ComicCon Asia's first run is jam-packed with exciting highlights (as it should, being its first run and all) centered on delivering unique and entertaining experiences for fans and con-goers of the region, including, get this: a meet-and-greet with the iconic superhero mastermind Stan Lee!


We attended the presscon held at the Grand Ballroom of The Heritage Hotel last night and boy, was it exciting to hear their plans for this convention from the organizers themselves!


The organizers (backed by the combined expertise of PSL Entertainment and Nam Entertainment Group) certainly didn't spend time being idle from the time the first presscon was held to yesterday's grand announcement.

ComicCon Asia event producer Pauline Sofia Laping shares that Stan Lee, along with the convention's roster of industry luminaries, are meant to ''show fans what the industry behind creating a story looks like,'' a major draw for budding artists, creators, storytellers, and superhero fanatics alike.

Joining Stan Lee is NBA superstar Ray Allen, who celebrates the 20th year anniversary of the release of his movie He Got Game at ComicCon Asia, unveiling exclusive memorabilia and meeting up with basketball fans all over the region.

Walter Jones, the original Black Ranger from hit TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is also coming in to say hi to fans of the massive teen franchise. Furthermore, set to shed light on the industry aspect of the creative trade are ComicCon Asia's list of master creators in the world of cosp1ay, gaming, comics, illustration, photography, and more.

Here are some of the other confirmed guests we can expect to see come March 24 and 25:
  • Renowned artist and cosplayer Chad Hoku aka Hoku Props will help fans discover tips and tricks forged in the armor cosplay trade
  • Award-winning international cosplayer Linda Le aka Vampy Bit Me is set to help cosplayers level up their crafting skills with a workshop on stunning fabric costumes
  • Austrian cosplay chameleon Nana Kuronoma will be unraveling secrets to embodying characters through a Cosplay Posing and Facial Expression workshop
  • Cosplay photographer Jay Tablante together with special guest Anna Redei aka Enji Night will be giving con-goers tips on capturing cosplay through the lens
  • DC/ Marvel homegrown comic book artist Harvey Tolibao is set to unlock trade secrets in the comic book industry as he leads a workshop for aspiring artists
  • Carlo Pagulayan will be giving expert comic book illustration techniques designed to help beginners turn to pros
  • Walt Disney's Visual Development Artist Armand Serrano will share his experience in bringing to life well-loved characters from award-winning films like Mulan, Lilo and Stitch, and Big Hero 6
  • Award-winning toy customizer and creator of the commercially and critically successful Forest of Sorrows and Arcane Divination sets Jesse Yu aka J*RYU will teach con-goers how to become an expert craftsman in toy design through a master class 
  • Spongecola front man Yael Yuzon will share his experience in harnessing creativity to expand his artistic journey as well as unveiling his latest mini comics Watership and Joy
  • Carlo Caliman of StartUp Village and Jay Tablante will also lead an industry workshop where creative hopefuls can learn about what it takes to be a successful creative entrepreneur
  • Temple University's Dr. John Lent, publisher and creator of the International Journal of Comic Art, will hold a round-table discussion on the span of the comic industry in Asia and the role of comics in the progressive growth of Asian comic culture and its significance on a global scale. Part of his panel are: Toni Masdiono, a lecturer for the Indonesian School of Design and comic artist for popular album Ganesha Bobo and the Komunikasi magazine; Vietnamese comic pioneer Nguyen Thang Phong, popularized by his regime-defying artwork; Jerry Hinds, president of The Association of Comic Artists Singapore and creator of comic series SupaCross; and Malaysia's Adi Nazri, founer of the Komic Kapalooza and former president of the Malaysia Comics Enthusiast Organization
They said negotiations with other possible guests are still on-going so watch out for more announcements!

I think my favorite thing about ComicCon Asia is how it touts itself as the place for local creators to sneak an exclusive peek into the exciting world of creative productions with their roster of talented and globally-recognized creative industry pros to host informative talks, workshops, and panel discussions. I like that ComicCon Asia is giving Filipino creators the chance to be part of a creative discourse designed to give them the exposure and guidance they need.

Meanwhile, ComicCon Asia is also the place to witness cosplayers bring their best cosplay to the frontlines as they compete for the ultimate Cosplay Match-Up. A one-on-one duke out for cosplay victory, Cosplay Match-Up is where bonafide dungeon warlords, space princesses, and manga maniacs can bring home the ultimate cosplay champ title under the Anime, Gaming, and Western/ Filipino categories.

Aside from Cosplay Match-Up, ComicCon Asia will also be home to signature and co-located competitions made to empower and showcase the talent of the local creative landscape. They recently announced the finalists of the Great Filipino Graphic Novel Contest and will announce the winners on the event itself. We can also expect a new breed of Filipino champions as ComicCon Asia, together with DV Tech Media, launches Project X: The Search for the New Pinoy Superheroes. ComicCon Asia also partners with The StartUp Village, the Animation Council of the Philippines (ACP ), and the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), for One Shot, the search for the next big video game and animation idea.

Lastly, hardcore collectors can either place their bid on the rarest memorabilia at the Auction Hero, or head to the Trading Guild to exchange limited edition collectibles.

IT'S GOING TO BE MASSIVE! It's going to make history and you wouldn't want to miss this!

ComicCon Asia 2018 tickets are set to drop by January 25 and will be available via the ComicCon Asia website with ticket prices of PhP8OO for the one-day pass and PhP1300 for the two­-day pass. Follow their Facebook Page for more updates as the dates draw near!

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