AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2018 (APCC Manila) unveiled today its
first batch of celebrity headliners and guests as part of the fantastic fourth
year offering from the biggest and much-awaited pop culture convention in the
region that promises a whole new level of geek experience. APCC Manila is
slated to happen from July 27 to 29 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
"Every year, we promise a bigger and better AsiaPOP
Comicon Manila and we will never disappoint our fans who have supported us
since year one. We continue to bring unique talent and content to APCC Manila
2018, from superstars to artists who have made indelible impact on the pop
culture scene," said Abdulla Mahmood, Director, Marketing and International
Business, Al Ahli Holding Group, during a press briefing held today at the SMX.
"The Universal Events and Entertainment team are in
sync with the APCC audience to understand which TV shows, movies, talents,
artists, and resonate well in the region and continuously work to offer them a
memorable experience filled with surprises that put Manila on a global
pop-culture map with such an event," added Mahmood.
Leading the first batch of Hollywood actors to grace APCC
Manila 2018 is Finn Jones who is punching his way into Manila, as the titular
character in the popular Marvel series Iron Fist, a role he reprised in the Marvel
Universe series Luke Cage and The Defenders, Jones is set to be back for Iron
Fist's second season.
In addition to playing The Defenders, Jones 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 on-screen partner Jessica Henwick in
leading the APCC Manila 2018 lineup. The English actress, who plays the female
lead Colleen Wing in Marvel's Iron Fist is also well-known for her role of
Nymeria Sand in HBO's hits series Game of Thrones. Henwick was also seen in the
global blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
She is currently filming for the second season of Iron Fist
and has recently completed 20th Century Fox's Underwater, alongside Kristen
Stewart and T,J. Miller, which is set to be released later in 2018.
COSPLAY MADNESS
APCC Manila also revealed its initial lineup of Cosplay
Authority Global Challenge (The CAGE) judges including Canvass Cosplay and Leon
Chiro, which has Singer Philippines as one of its main sponsors, is the biggest
cosplay competition in the region with cash and other prizes worth around
$18,000.
Canvass Cosplay, whose real name is Philip Odango, is an
award-winning Filipino-American costume designer. He is bets known for his
cosplay of Maui from Disney's Moana, which was recognized by Disney's head of
animation as "The Real Maui."
Leon Chiro, an award-winning cosplayer from Italy, is
well-known for his videogame character cosplays that feature weapons and
handmade accessories. Chiro will be making his first appearance in Manila
through APCC.
GET CREATIVE WITH INTERATIONAL ARTISTS
Joining the pool of talented and creative artists who will
grace APCC Manila 2018 are Alex Sinclair, Lan Medina, Mike McKone, Phil Noto,
Brian Muir, Whilce Portacio, and Simone Legno who will showcase their talents
and works to thousands of pop culture enthusiasts from all over the region.
Mexican comic-book colorist Alex Sinclair 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 artist to win 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 for MERA, Queen of Atlantis, which
is a character from the pages of Aquaman.
Mike McKone's first published work was for 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 is known
for his works Jonah Hex, X-23, Uncanny X-Force, and Black Widow. His work with
Gerry Duggan, The Infinite Horizon, earned him as Eisner nomination for Best
New Series. Noto also had a ten-year stint with Disney as clean-up artist for
animated works such as The Lion King, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tarzan, Llilo &
Stitch, and Brother Bear.
As one of the most respected sculptors and a veteran artist
in the film industry, Brian Ian Muir has been working in 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.
Coming back for the fourth time are Filipino-American comic
book artist and writer Whilce Portacio and the creative director and co-founder
of Tokidoki, Simone Legno.
Portacio has done notable works which include the titles
Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, The Punisher, Heroes 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.
For his part, toy artist Simone Kegno 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 Lagerfield, LeSportsac, Onitsuka Tiger, Barbie, SEPHORA, Marvel,
and Hello Kitty, among others.
More exciting announcements of APCC's partnerships with Marvel,
Netflix, and other studios confirmed to return this year are expected to roll
out soon, which will definitely pump up the convention's main hall.
APCC Manila 2018 tickets are now available via SM Tickets
website, https://smticekts,com/, and at all SM Tickets outlets, with ticket
prices Php650 (one-day pass), Php950 (two-day pass), and Php1,150 (three-day
pass). All these will give the ticketholder access to 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.
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