AsiaPOP Comicon Manila 2018 (APCC Manila) unveiled on Thursday its first batch of celebrity headliners and guest as part of its fourth year offering from the biggest pop-culture convention in the region.
Leading the first batch of Hollywood actor to grace APCC Manila 2018 is Finn Jones who is punching his way 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 Defender. Jones is set to be back for Iron Fist‘s second season.
In addition to playing the Defender, Jones in also well-known for his role as the Knight of Flowers, Loras Tyrell, in the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones.
Jones will be joined by on-screen partner Jessica Henwick in leading the APCC Manila 2018 line-up. 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 hit 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 Century Fox’s Underwater, alongside Kristen Stewart and T.J. Miller, which is set to be released later in 2018.
APCC Manila also revealed its initial lineup of Cosplay Authority Global Challenge (The CAGE) judges including Canvas Cosplay and Leon Chiro.
Canvas Cosplay, whose real name is Philip Odango, is an award-winning Filipino American costume designer. He is best known for his cosplay of Maui from Disney’s Moana.
Leon Chiro, an award-winning cosplayer from Italy, is well-known for his videogame character cosplays feature weapons and handmade accessories. Chiro will be making his first appearance in Manila through APCC.
Joining the pool of talented and artist who will grace APCC Manila 2018 are Alex Sinclair, Lan Medina, Mike McKone, Phil Noto, Brian Mulr, Whilce Portacio, and Simone Legno.
Mexican comic-book colorist Alex Sinclair is best known for his collaboration 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 Avenger 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 an Eisner nomination for Best New Series. Noto also has a ten-year stint with Disney as clean-up artist for animated works such as The Lion King, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tarzan, Lilo & Stitch, and Brother Bear.
As one of the most respected sculptors and a veteran artist in the film industry, Brian Ian Mulr has been working in film for over 48 years and is best-known for his on Star Wars that lead 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. Beside being the co-founder of the Image Comics, Portacio is curretly working independently for DC and Marvel.
For his part, toy artist 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 announcement of APCC’s partnership with Marvel, Netflix, and other studios confirmed to return this year are expected to roll out soon, which definitely pump up the convention’s main hall.
APCC Manila 2018 tickets are now available via SM Tickets website, and at all SM Tickets outlets, with ticket prices Php650 (one-day pass), Php950 (two-day pass), and Php1,150 (three-day pass). The event is free for children aged five years and below for all days.
APCC Manila 2018 is slated to happen from July 27 to 29 at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
For more information and event updates, visit AsiaPopComicon.com/manila, or follow their official Facebook page www.fb.com/apccmanila, Twitter account @AsiaPOPComicon, and Instagram account @AsiaPOPComicon.
