Returning Guests for STGCC 2018 and Lego Area for the Harry Potter & Voltron Fans!

The Singapore Toy, Games and Comic Convention (STGCC) must be rather lucrative for comic book artists. Their booths are usually swarmed with fans from Red Dot Island as well as those who check in from countries around the region, where it is difficult to meet well-known comic creators face to face.

Coming back to this year's convention are last year's guests Frank Cho, Arthur Adams and Joyce Chin, as well as Agnes Garbowska! Fans who missed meeting them in previous shows, can have another chance to get their comics signed or request for commissions and sketches.

It was in 2015 when fan favourite Agnes Garbowska was a guest at the convetion. Her whimsical, uber-cute drawings were a hit, especially with the younger folks, and the lines at her booth were mostly 20 people deep most of the time! Her style of art shines in titles like "DC Super Hero Girls" (DC Comics), "My Little Pony" (IDW Publishing) and "Grumpy Cat" (Dynamite).

When we last met Frank Cho, he had just kicked off a new fantasy series called "Skybourne" with BOOM! Studios. The 5-issue comic series wrapped up in February this year. He is currently working on several other creator-owned projects, including "Guns & Dinos" with Image Comics and "War Witch" with novelist Tom Sniegoski for Big Wow Publications.

Veteran comic book artist Arthur Adams will be meeting fans again, bringing with him his knowledge of the industry and art that spans across various publishing houses, like Marvel, DC Comics, Image and Dark Horse. He also founded a creator-owned comics imprint called Legend together with Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, John Byrne. The imprint was published through Dark Horse Comics before it ceased in 1998. His creator-owned "Monkeyman and O'Brien" from the Legend days still exists in various crossovers.

Joyce Chin is like a senpai to aspiring women artists who want to enter into the field of comic book art. She has been drawing for comics since 1995 and has worked for several titles like DC Comics, Marvel, Top Cow and Dynamite, like Vampirella, Red Sonja, Spider-man, Witchblade and Wynonna Earp, which is based on the supernatural Western horror TV series.

Included in this second wave of guest announcement is voice actress Kana Ueda (JAP), who has performed voice work for popular anime series such as Rin Tohsaka (Fate Series) and Hayate Yagami (Nanoha Series). This will be the first time the veteran voice talent will be in Red Dot Island.

Arranger, pianist, mixer, producer and also the founder of the famous doujin circle “Tokyo Active NEET”, AkaiRyusei, will be meeting fans at the convention. Yet again, Japanese anime and game music violin player TAM, will be back at the convention with his familiar soundbytes.

LEGO ZONE - To Get Your Harry Potter and Voltron Fix!

There will be a Lego Zone at this year's STGCC, and it is going to be a spellbinding, mecha-driven one.

Potterheads can visit the Hogwarts campus constructed entirely from LEGO bricks. Red Dot Diva bets this is going to be an Instagram moment.

Those who love the Brickheadz series would enjoy this little challenge on site. Construct your own versions of Harry Potter and his companions by using Brickheadz materials and then take a pic of your creations at the official Harry Potter backdrop. You can also take home a hard copy of the photo.

To add on to your LEGO collection, there is the 6,020-piece LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle set, which officially launches on 1st September. LEGO and Harry Potter fans can grab a set at the convention floor. This is the second largest set ever produced by LEGO. You have to be fast, if this is your dream set to buy. A limited quantity is available at STGCC!

Here's something that might thrill Voltron fans. Unveiling at the STGCC Lego Zone are 5 interactive Voltron-themed lion figurines from "Voltron: Defender of the Universe", which will transform into robotic lions. To add on to the immersive experience, episodes of the Netflix series "Voltron: Defender of the Universe" will be streamed on large screens in the area.

There will also be a Speed-building challenge for LEGO masterbuilders. The full-size LEGO Voltron model must be assembled within a specified time limit. Owner of the quickest mind and fingers wins a limited-edition autographed LEGO Voltron set.

Leandro Tayag, the designer of Voltron - Defender Of The Universe, will also be making a special appearance. He will be signing Voltron merchandise for fans.


GOOD GAME EXPERIENCE (GGXP) ZONE

For those who prefer to game to their hearts' content, the GGXP is where you should be.


World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) and local esports initiative Singapore’s Cybersports & Online Gaming Association (SCOGA) is working with SEA organiser Agri Mind to host its Singapore qualifier at GGXP. Gamers can battle it out on titles like Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, Dota 2, Starcraft II and Vainglory.

As for tabletop gamers, you can pit your skills against others at Team Yankee, TANKS!, Warhammer and X-Wing: Miniatures.


STGCC is held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo on 8 - 9 September, so if you haven't got your tickets yet, do get them soon!