About Town | Gear Up For An Action Packed ComicCon Weekend
The best of the region's comics, movies, series, manga, anime, toys, gaming, and cosplay all
come together in the massive arena of fandom explosion that is ComicCon Asia 2018. Featuring
five distinct zones—Manga & Anime, Comics & Literature, Toys & Gaming, Movies, Series &
Animation, and Cosplay--ComicCon Asia’s first run is jam-packed with exciting highlights
centered on delivering unique and entertaining experiences for fans and con-goers of the
region.
Backed by the combined expertise of PSL Entertainment and Nam Entertainment Group,
ComicCon Asia came from industry experts in staging premier entertainment experiences and
developing content for a global audience.
Headlining ComicCon Asia’s celebrity line-up is original Black Ranger Walter Jones, basketball
superstar Stephen Marbury, Teen Wolf’s own Lydia Martin Holland Roden, and Hawkins' resident
jock Dacre Montgomery of Stranger Things. Aside from these stars, cosplay masters Hoku Props,
Vampy Bit Me, Nana Kuronoma, and Enji Knight are also here to give autographs, pose for pics,
and lead cosplay workshops.
A Cosplay Celebration
Renowned artist Chad Hoku aka Hoku Props, a master in creating crowd-pleasing armor
showstoppers, is helping fans discover tips and tricks forged in the armor cosplay trade with his
own workshop. Meanwhile, award-winning international cosplayer Linda Le aka Vampy Bit Me is
helping cosplayers level up their crafting skills with a workshop on stunning fabric costumes.
Cosplay chameleon Nana Kuronoma will unravel secrets to embodying characters from their
gestures and quips down to their very last quirks in “OMG YOU LOOK JUST LIKE THEM!,” her own
cosplay posing & facial expression workshop, Meanwhile, 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.
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 bone fide dungeon warlords, space princesses, and manga
maniacs can bring home the ultimate cosplay champ title under the Anime, Gaming, and
Western/Filipino categories.
Creative Industry Immersion
Event producer Pauline Sofia Laping shares that more than the celebrity sightings and
whole industry behind creating a story looks like, whether it be in toys, in gaming, or in comics” —
a major draw for budding artists, creators, storytellers, and superhero fanatics alike.
Shedding light on various aspects of the creative trade are ComicCon Asia’s list of master
creators in the world of cosplay, gaming, comics, illustration, photography, and more.
Join the creative discourse as Temple University’s Dr. John Lent, publisher and creator of the
International Journal of Comic Art, holds a roundtable 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. Joining him in the panel are special guests Toni Masdiono,
Nguyen Thang Phong, Jerry Hinds, and Adi Nazri.
A lecturer for the Indonesian School of Design and comic artist for popular album Ganesha,
Bobo and the Komunikasi magazine, Toni Masdiono holds a basic figure drawing workshop
entitled “Let’s Draw Action with Stick and Bubble Figures!”
Vietnamese comic pioneer Nguyen Thang Phong, who was popularized by his regime-defying
artwork, will on the hand be teaching how to combine traditional and digital methods in
graphic novel creation. Jerry Hinds, president of The Association of Comic Artists Singapore and
creator of comic series SupaCross will hold a workshop on designing superheroes while
Malaysia’s Adi Nazri, founder of the Komic Kapalooza and former president of the Malaysia
Comics Enthusiast Organization, will lecture on comic scriptwriting and storytelling.
Get inspired by a celebrated animator’s career journey as Ricky Nierva takes you on his Journey
to Pixar. Learn how to become an expert craftsman in toy design through a master class led by
Jesse Yu aka J*RYU, an award-winning toy customizer, Kidrobot flagship, and the creator of the
commercially and critically successful “Forest of Sorrows” and “Arcane Divination” sets. Fans can
also catch LEGO’s Ian Sta. Maria, as he gives out futuristic character design tips and tricks while
sharing his own creative process—complete with on-screen demos.
DC/Marvel homegrown comic book artist Harvey Tolibao is set to unlock trade secrets in the
comic book industry in a workshop called ‘Creating Comic Book Covers and Illustrations, while
Carlo Pagulayan, gives out expert comic book illustration techniques in his own workshop titled
‘Storytelling in Comics: Methods involved in Translating the Script to Sequential Art’.
ROBOTPENCIL’s Anthony Jones, BLIZZARD’s Robert Sevilla, and freelance artist William Lim holds
an Art Tutorial Workshop that lets attendees harness the ability to create digital art like an
unstoppable machine, while Ernest Chan talks about how to maximize your educational
experience and grow your career in the animation industry.
Those interested in video game art can look for Adelle Bueno and Eduardo Mosena of Square
Enix as the two will give out advice on conceptualizing immersive environments and
constructing video game characters. John Paul Bonoan and Ricky Orellana will then talk about
the wonders of stop-motion animation. In addition, Transformers comic artist Alex Milne holds a
workshop on designing transformers and mega robots out of practically any item you can hand
him.
Honing one’s Creative Potential
Additional ComicCon Asia workshops include ones that allow fans to discover the secret to
maximizing their creative potential thru discussions that tackle the business of creativity.
Take your creativity to the next level with Armand Serrano, Walt Disney’s Visual Development
Artist, as he shares his experience in bringing to life well-loved characters from award-winning
films like Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and Big Hero 6. Sharing their knowledge about the inner workings of
2D and 3D and merging those dimensions together are Peter Brown and AJ Siytangco, artists
who worked with industry giants Walt Disney and Lucasfilms.
Spongecola front man Yael Yuzon will be sharing his experience in harnessing creativity to
expand his artistic journey as well as unveiling his latest mini comics "Watership & Joy". Moreover,
creative hopefuls can learn about what it takes to be a successful creative entrepreneur in an
industry workshop led by Carlo Calimon of StartUp Village and Jay Tablante.
Iconic comedian, actor, impersonator, singer Michael V. will also talk about his experience not
only as the award-winning comic and producer we know him to be but as the artist, painter,
sketch hobbyist, and creator that he is. Last but not the least, Airbrush makeup legend Robbie
Miller is coming over to ComicCon Asia to hold a 2-hour live demo workshop on glam pop art
techniques.
Clash of the ComicCon
Creatives
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.
Watch as we reveal the next Filipino creator who gets inaugurated into the local graphic novel
hall of fame with the finals of ComicCon Asia’s Great Filipino Graphic Novel Contest. Get ready
for 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 and the Game Developers Association of
the Philippines (GDAP), for One Shot, the search for the next big video game idea. Lastly,
hardcore collectors can either place their bid on the rarest memorabilia at our very own Auction
Hero, or head to the Trading Guild to exchange limited edition collectibles.
“What makes ComicCon Asia different, aside from it being a regional convention participated
by attendees and exhibitors from all over Asia, is the way we put a premium on the local artistic
potential,” Pauline adds. “More than an avenue for bringing home world class entertainment,
ComicCon Asia serves as a platform for growing our creators’ industry and taking it to brand
new heights.”
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Giving con-goers entertainment beyond the usual fan experience, ComicCon Asia2018 features
an iconic lineup of fandom stars along with industry talks led by renowned creators from around
the world, making it a regional industry convention geared at giving Filipino creators global
exposure, support, and guidance. For more information on ComicCon Asia 2018, please visit
www.comiccon.asia or like follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ComicConAsia.
