STGCC 2013 - Jerry Teo

Conventions are about the artists and the fans, not just the products, merchandising and consumerism. As a lead up to STGCC 013, we hear from the people who will be there.

Jerry Teo is an artist.

1. What's the big deal about this year's STGCC?
COSPLAYERS!! Joe Madureira is here too....but COSPLAYERS!! Ok let's not forget the Artist's Alley where you can find more indie stuff that may be of interest to popular culture fans and collectors.

2. I don't read comics. Why should I attend?
The interesting thing for STGCC is that it is not restricted simply to comics. But also the other subcultures that spawned from comics. This means there's a wide range of things to participate in, to look at. Its all very vibrant and fun. Not too shabby for boring Singapore.

3. What is there to buy from you?
Putting out a limited run of my own interpretation of Aesop's fables that I drew during last year's 24 Hour Comics Day held at the Bukit Merah library. 3 short tales compiled into a little book, minimal dialog, great for kids. :D Also introducing a new character I've been working on called Rex. He's a T-Rex and he gets into all sorts of shenanigans which he later regrets. Hopefully he is entertaining enough for everyone.

4. Okay, I am sold. When and where I can find you?
I'm at booth G45 hawking my wares with Ray Toh.

5. What's the future of comics?
Using pictures to tell stories will always be around. Maybe the technology will change and people's tastes for presentation will change, but it is always an interesting way of communicating a tale. It is gonna be around for a while. It used to be cave paintings, now we have interactive comics on portable media devices, who knows what's next?

This?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQetrrlg1jk&feature=share

STGCC 2013 - Ray Toh

Conventions are about the artists and the fans, not just the products, merchandising and consumerism. As a lead up to STGCC 013, we hear from the people who will be there.

Ray Toh is an artist.

1. What's the big deal about this year's STGCC?
- I’ll be promoting a new business that I have just created. www.fantasticfox.org It’s a platform created for comics artists and creators. They can source for funding by pitching ideas they may be developing or they can use our ebook store to sell their ebooks on Fantastic Fox. It’s purely comics and illustrations ebook focus.

2. I don't read comics. Why should I attend?
- There’s a lot more events and things going on at STGCC. Getting to meet the artists and talking to them can be an enlightening experience by itself if you are gearing yourself toward the entertainment line. Not just comics. So drop by and talk to people. You wouldn’t know who will be hanging around the corner.

3. What is there to buy from you?
- I’ll be selling my Ray Toh Ideabook 2011, original framed artwork, A1 posters and A3 Art prints.

4. Okay, I am sold. When and where I can find you?
- I’ll be at Booth G45 throughout the whole event.

5. What's the future of comics?
- Self-Publication. With the acceptance of buyers willing to buy digital content, artists can spend time to do their own original content instead of being hired to do work based on existing characters. They can approach print per demand online book store or they could sell the digital copy online. And with 3D printing technology growing, an artist can do their own line of merchandise. There will be a lot more creative content which will spice up the market. Hopefully Fantastic Fox.org can be a part of that movement and a place for local artist to explore their own content too.

Fantastic Fox: www.fantasticfox.org, https://www.facebook.com/Fantasticfoxorg
Ray Toh: www.raytoh.com, http://torei.blogspot.sg/

STGCC 2013 - Sonny Liew

Conventions are about the artists and the fans, not just the products, merchandising and consumerism. As a lead up to STGCC 013, we hear from the people who will be there.

Sonny Liew is a comic artist.

1. What's the big deal about this year's STGCC?
Its the closest thing we have to the San Diego Comic Con. Artist Alley is a great chance to catch up with what Singapore-based creators have been up to.

2. I don't read comics. Why should I attend?
There's also Toys and Games :p And who knows, you might find a comic that catches your eye, and start on the long road to perdition.


3. What is there to buy from you?
A Pinocchio figurine, possibly an Astroboy bust, postcards, original art and maybe some comics

4. Okay, I am sold. When and where I can find you?
Booth G30

5. What's the future of comics?
Possibly digital, though that complicates the whole static image and page-as-the-basic-unit aspects of the art form.

STGCC 2013 - Andie Tong

Conventions are about the artists and the fans, not just the products, merchandising and consumerism. As a lead up to STGCC 013, we hear from the people who will be there.

Andie Tong is a comic artist originally from Malaysia, studied/worked in Australia, worked some more in the UK and finally he is here in Singapore.


1. What's the big deal about this year's STGCC?

For me, One of my biggest idols, Joe Madureira will be attending. Even though I really liked comic art early on, he was one of the few artists that made me take notice and made me realise comic art was something I wanted to do.

2. I don't read comics. Why should I attend?

Plenty of other entertainment that you might enjoy and partake. There's cosplaying if you like dressing up in your favourite fictional character (Doesn't have to be comics); there's games if you enjoy a bit of console playing on your free time; there's movies related booths; there's artists showing and teaching art if you're an aspiring artist or someone who simply enjoys art. There's a little bit for everyone. It all comes down to simply having fun and enjoying a little bit of pop culture entertainment.

3. What is there to buy from you?

I'll have my sketchbook, along with pinups and I'm available for commissions.

4. Okay, I am sold. When and where I can find you?

I'll be at booth F45. Just look for the Andie Tong sign.

5. What's the future of comics?

With movies now going hand in hand, the future of comics can only keep growing, bigger and badder! It's an exciting time right now to be in this medium.

STGCC 2013 - Lefty and Eng Huat

Conventions are about the artists and the fans, not just the products, merchandising and consumerism. As a lead up to STGCC 013, we hear from the people who will be there.

Lefty and Eng Huat are comic artists from Malaysia.

1. What's the big deal about this year's STGCC?
STGCC is the closest we could get to as a decent comic culture convention in the Singapore/Malaysia region.

2. I don't read comics. Why should I attend?
You don't need to be a comic book reader to experience the exciting world of comics. Comics culture are no longer being restricted in comic books, it is in the movies, fashion, games and many other pop culture format. Come to this event to meet some of the people who are behind this culture (like me =P). This is the event to get a substantial dose of condensed comic cultural fun.

3. What is there to buy from you?
Tan Eng Huat & I m releasing a new graphic novel, "Zero Hero: Giant Killer", under our Gilamon banner. Gilamon is an independent group that publishes creator own books in limited form. "Zero Hero: Giant Killer" is a signed & numbered limited edition, and we are only printing 100 copies. There is a full story by myself (with fabulous colour by Swa33) and an extensive gallery of Tan Eng Huat's beautiful drawings. There will also be an exclusive convention pack which comes with a beautiful acrylic print and our personal sketches. We have only 20 sets up for grab. Glad to say that the response from pre-orders are very encouraging.

4. Okay, I am sold. When and where I can find you?
Our books will be available at Diamond Comic Distributors(B3) and Banshee(F44, Artist Alley) booths. We will be running around mainly between these two place so do come over and say hi if you see us (even if you don't buy our book LOL).

5. What's the future of comics? (bonus question)
IMHO comics will still be around for a very long time but the big question is, in what form? I think we are very fortunate to be in an exciting time as we seems to be in the state of transformation. The obvious form that most publishers are going into is digital, however very few managed to monetize from such venture. It is still too early to tell. We are really at a try-out stage, I would love to find out from what the readers think, perhaps you could leave your opinion at the comment area below.

STGCC 2013 - Peow Yeong

Conventions are about the artists and the fans, not just the products, merchandising and consumerism. As a lead up to STGCC 013, we hear from the people who will be there.

Peow Yeong is a civil servant/fan.

1. What's the big deal about this year's STGCC?

It is the largest pop culture event this side of the world and been an annual affair since late 2000's. Where else would you be able to gather so many pros and fans in one event in Singapore?

2. I don't read comics. Why should I attend?

To find out what the fuss is about and get a good education. Besides, there's something for everyone... Games, toys, art, cosplay, collectibles.

3. What is there to buy? How does it compare to other cons you have attended?

Exclusive launches of toys, sketchbooks, comics, prints, art... The other conventions I've attended include NYCC (also organised by ReedPOP), MOCCAFest, Brooklyn Book fest. NYCC is by far the largest event I've attended. They all target different types of readers and collectors. STGCC has the best representation of both Asian and American pop culture across various platforms of comics, books, toys, games and art.

4. What's the future of comics?

I'm optimistic and pessimistic about comics' future at the same time. Optimistic because there is greater awareness of comics thanks to Hollywood adaptations of comics stories...a wider range of stories to choose from and hence wider appeal to a broader audience. Yet, the number of retailers have been dwindling and seem to be filled with middle-aged men. I am not sure if there is a pipeline of new readers and sales figures have dwindled to mere thousands for the best-selling comics. Superhero comics seem to be written for a mature and older audience rather than kids which is a demographic they be targeting if it is not to become a sunset industry.

For more of Peow's passions, go to ultimate-collector.blogspot.com

STGCC 2013 - Carlo Jose San Juan

Conventions are about the artists and the fans, not just the products, merchandising and consumerism. As a lead up to STGCC 013, we hear from the people who will be there.

Carlo Jose San Juan is a medical doctor/cartoonist from the Philippines who took a booth at STGCC last year. He studied for a few years in Singapore when he was younger. We also met at Komikon in April in Manila this year.

1. What's the big deal about this year's STGCC?

I believe this year's event will be the biggest STGCC so far as there is a lot of participation of exhibitors and guests from various countries in our region and beyond.

2. I don't read comics. Why should I attend?

STGCC is a pop culture event. While comics are a big part of that and more mainstream than many believe, there are many other things to enjoy. As the name implies, Singapore Toy Game and Comic Convention also involves participation from the toy and game industries. All those also involve movies and TV series, so seeing such media in the event wouldn't be a surprise. There's also the possibility that you'll find a comic you'd enjoy!

3. What is there to buy from you?

My comic strip series, "Callous", features a physician named Dr. Rianne Nicah who happens to have a Guardian Duck, Cal Duck, and their lighthearted everyday adventures in the medical world and beyond. I'll have four of my self-published, fun-filled "Callous" comic books for sale in STGCC 2013. Two of which, "Chocolate Chip Wishes and Caffeine Dreams" and "Take Two Spoonfuls of the Sunny Side", compile gag-a-day strips such as those I submit to and are published by the Manila Bulletin. The other two, "The Land of the Guardians" and "On Lighter Dreams" are of the adventure/fantasy fare involving the same characters. "Webcomics: What's Cooking?", a collaborative charity comic book/cookbook project of many of the top webcomic producers in the world for the benefit of North American food banks, will also be available in my booth. I'll also have related merchandise such as coffee mugs, prints, posters, and button pins available.

4. Okay, I am sold. When and where I can find you?

I'll be at STGCC on August 31 - September 1, 2013 in the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre in booth F37! You can also find my comic strip, "Callous", in the Manila Bulletin and at callouscomics.com!

5. What's the future of comics?

The sky is the proverbial limit for comics right now with the relatively new avenues of webcomics and digital comics to explore. The comic reading experience may go beyond just looking at drawings and reading words in speech bubbles with the possibility of animated panels and accompanying speech, sound effects, and soundtracks. Creativity in comics is looking at a new frontier and it is a very exciting time to be a part of the industry right now. But there is also the fondness of the tactile experience in printed comic books that I believe can't and won't go away. There's still a lot of creativity that can be explored there.

ICDS 2013

We get the lowdown on ICDS 2013, happening this Sunday at *Scape, from cosplayer Tessie Tan.

1. What is ICDS all about?

ICDS is short for International Cosplay Day Singapore. It is a day where fans celebrate their love for pop culture. This is the 2nd year that Neo Tokyo Project is organizing this. Last year the event was held at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. This year we've moved closer to town, to *Scape.

2. I don't cosplay. Why should I attend?

As long as you are a fan of pop culture, both East and West, you should attend. Not only will there be cosplayers for you to take photos with, there will also be booths set up by local artists selling their works, and performances by local singers and dance groups, and panels with invited guests. This year's event also included a segment known as ConQuest to inject more interactivity in the activities. One of the main highlight of the event is a 2hour stage show known as "Cosplay Chess", where characters from the factions of Science and Magic will battle it out. This year, con-goers who take part in the ConQuest mini-missions, can actually influence the outcome of the chess match.

3. Who will be there?

We have invited Alodia Gosiengfiao, a cosplayer, actress, model and now a recording artist in Tokyo as part of the Jpop idol group called Super Dolls. We have also invited the photographer Jay Tablante, who have worked with Marvel and D.C. Jay will also be holding a photography panel to share with the audience about his experience. Locally, we also have our own share of stars. Invited as a guest and also as a performer in CosChess, we have Yuanie, a cosplayer who have represented Singapore in an international competition known as the World Cosplay Summit. We also have Clive Lee, who is known both locally and internationally as a renowned mecha and armour cosplayer. He is also on the advisory panel for various cosplay conventions, such as the upcoming Singapore Toys, Games and Comics Convention at the end of this month.

Personally, I will be changing into 3 costumes on Sunday - 1 for the Blizzard Cosplay Runway, and 2 for the CosChess performance. Let's see if you can spot me in all 3 of my costumes!

4. What is there to buy?

Fan art, fan products, handcrafted jewellery etc. For a small country, we have some amazing artists here in Singapore, and quite a lot of them are going to be at the Artisan's Alley at ICDS. Not only do you get to bring home fan products inspired by your current favourite anime series (Shingeki no Kyojin, Free!, etc) you also get to support the local art scene!! (Despite the fact that most things there are not expensive, I end up buying enough to amount to a small fortune anyway.)

5. Okay, I am sold. When and where is it?

It will be held this Sunday, 25 August, at *Scape Warehouse, from 10 am to 8 pm. For more information, please check out the website here http://neotokyoproject.com/icds/

https://www.facebook.com/events/529113820480917/?ref=br_tf