One of the best comicon conventions that has ever grace the Philippine Shores. AsiaPOP Comicon has been running for four (4) years now since the year 2015, and now this year, they have unveiled the first batch of celebrity headliners and guest for this year’s AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2018. APCC Manila will happen from July 27 to 29 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Last May 17, 2018, they have revealed the first wave of guests that will be joining us in APCC Manila 2018. Every year they promise a bigger and better AsiaPOP Comicon manila and they never disappoint the fans. Let’s us now discuss the first wave of guests.
Hollywood Celebrities:
Leading the first batch of awesome Hollywood celebrities to grace APCC Manila 2018 is Finn Jones who is punching his way into Manila. Jones is best known for his portrayal of Marvel’s Iron Fist, a role he reprised in the Marvel Universe series Luke Cage and The Defenders. In addition to playing the Defender, he is also well-known for his role as the Knight of Flowers, Loras Tyrell, in the sweeping HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones.
Jones will be joined by his on-screen partner Jessica Henwick in leading the APCC Manila 2018 lineup. Henwick plays the female lead Colleen Wing in Marvel’s Iron Fist is also well-known for her role of Nymeria Sand in HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones. She is also seen in the global blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Cosplay Madness:
Every year cosplayers all around the Philippines are getting ready for this competition which is the Cosplay Authority Global Challenge (the CAGE) which has Singer Philippines as one of its main sponsors, it’s the biggest cosplay competition in the region with cash and other prizes worth $18,000.
Joining the lineup international guests are Canvas Cosplay and Leon Chiro.
Canvas Cosplay whose real name is Philip Odango, is an award-winning Filipino American costume designer. He best known for his cosplay of Maui from the Disney’s Moana which was recognized by Disney’s head of animation as “The Real Maui”. He also cosplayed Ursula the Sea Witch from Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Doctor Strange from the Marvel’s movie, Dr. Strange.
Leon Chiro an award-winning cosplayer from Italy, is well-known for his videogame character cosplays that feature weapon and handmade accessories. Chiro will be making his first appearance here in the Philippines. His current cosplay is Gladio from Final Fantasy XV. He also had a photo with Jason Momoa shared in his Instagram page.
Creativity Corner with International Artists:
Who would forget comics, APCC Manila brings in amazing talented and creative artists who will showcase their talents and works to thousands of pop culture enthusiasts from all over the region.
Alex Sinclair is a Mexican comic-book colorist and is best known for his collaborations with comic artists Jim Lee and Scott Williams. He has previously worked on Astro City, Alan Moore’s Top 10, Harley Quinn, Batman: Hush, Superman and WildCATS, among others.
Multi-awarded comic book illustrator Lan Medina is the first Filipino artists to won the prestigious Will Eisner Comic Industry Award for his work Fables (for Best Serialized Story/Vertigo-DC Comics) and is well-known for his work on Marvel Comics such as Venom Carnage, Cable / Deadpool, Silver Surfer, and the Punisher. He is also known for his work on DC Comics that includes his creation of a solo comic book of MERA, Queen of Atlantis, which is a character from the pages of Aquaman.
Mike Mckone’s first published work was from DC Comics’ Justice League of America and Marvel Comics’ Punisher series. He has also worked on Teen Titans, Amazing Spider-Man, and Fantastic Four. His recent projects include Avengers graphic novel: Endless Wartime and Justice League United.
American painter and comic book artist Phil Noto
began his career as an intern at Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida. fter two more years of illustration study, he returned to Disney Animation as a clean-up artist. His credits there include The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mulan, and Lilo and Stitch. In 2001, Phil started his comic career as the cover artist for DC Comics’ Birds of Prey. Since then he has worked on numerous comic projects such as Black Bull’s Beautiful Killer, two Danger Girl specials, Jonah Hex, Superman/Supergirl: Maelstrom, Batgirl, and Avengers: Origin along with a variety of covers for different publishers. An early proponent of digital art, Phil now creates all his comic work digitally on a Mac with a Wacom Cintiq. He also does large format traditional painting and has had many one-man gallery shows.
Brian Ian Muir, As one of the most respected sculptors and a veteran artist in the film industry. He has been working in the film for over 48 years and is best-known for his work on Star Wars that led to his well-received autobiography In The Shadow of Vader.
Whilce Protacio is coming back once again to the Philippines. His notable works includes the titles Uncanny X-men, X-Factor, The Punisher, Heros Reborn: Iron Man, Wetworks and Spawn, among others. Besides being the co-founder of the Image Comics, Portacio is currently working independently for DC and Marvel.
And last but not the least, Simone Legno of Tokidoki is all set to bring the brand’s crazy-kawaii cool style to the event. Legno is the world-famous artist and graphic illustrator best known for being one of the brains behind art giant Tokidoki, through which he has collaborated with names such as Karl Lagerfeld, LeSportsac, Onitsuka Tiger, Barbie, SEPHORA, Marvel and Hello Kitty among others.
More exciting announcements of APCC’s partnerships with Marvel, Netflic, and other studios confirmed to return this year are expected to roll out soon, which will definitely pump up the conventions’s main hall.
APCC Manila 2018 tickets are now available via SM Tickets website, https://smtickets.com/, and all SM Tickets outlet. Prices are ranging from Php650 (One-day pass), Php 950(Two-day pass), and Php1,150(Three-day pass). All these will give the ticketholder access to the stage activities, performances, and the main exhibition floor. The event is free for children aged five years and below for all days, but a valid identification is required for verification purposes before entering the show floor.
For more information and event updates, please visit asiapopcomicon.com/manila, or follow their official Facebook Page www.facebook.com/apccmanila, Twitter account @AsiaPOPComicon, and Instagram account @asiapopcomicon. Official hastags of Appc Manila 2018 are #APCCPH2018 #AsiaPOPComicon.
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