Singapore Comic Con 2025 Ramps Up With Comic Book Guests Including Joe Rubinstein, Adi Granov, Sean Phillips, Rian Gonzales and more!

Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) is all set to host a geek party again this year, and Red Dot Diva has already begun her countdown. The region's premier pop culture convention will held at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 6 and 7 December 2025. The convention will span two levels (Level 1 and B2) with three halls at Level 1, providing more comics, booths and pop-culture fun for everyone. What is even more special is that for the first time ever, SGCC will have a Preview Night held on 5 December 2025 (6 PM to 10 PM) for VIP ticket holders, media, and invited guests.

Attendees of Preview Night can expect to have exclusive access to selected guests, watch a curated segments on stage and a first-hand view of the showfloor. Check out the SGCC's Ultimate Preview Night programme below:



For the comic book fans, SGCC has already rolled out the list of international guests, which includes several veteran and emerging comic book creators. Amongst them are returning A-listers like Eisner Award-winning artist Joe Rubinstein as well as artist and conceptual designer Adi Granov. Glenn Fabry, Martin Simmonds, Kael Ngu, Mico Suayan, Stephen Segovia and power couple Carla Cohen and Lucio Parrillo will also be back for the event.

Joining them are British artists Sean Phillips and Jacob Phillips. Due to a conflict in their schedule, the father and son duo had to miss the show last yeas, so dear fans, you can rejoice! They will be able to make it to Red Dot Island this time around. Sean Phillips' illustrious and award-winning career spans five decades, with his works found in books by all of the major comic book publishers. Sean has drawn for Hellblazer, Batman, X-Men, Marvel Zombies, and Stephen King’s The Dark Tower. Currently, he is drawing for the long-running Criminal series written by Ed Brubaker and coloured by Jacob Phillips.

Fans would also have the chance to meet many other comic book guests like:
* Rian Gonzales - whose art is riot of colours and infused with chibi-ness,
* Italian artist Giulia Pellegrini who also loves LARPing,
* Indonesia-based Rudy Ao who is known for his photorealistic art pieces,
* Eisner Award-winning Simon Bisley who is best known for his work for DC Comics' Lobo, and
* South Korean artist JeeHyung Lee who has worked with both DC and Marvel, as well as being the writer and illustrator of the supernatural thriller comic GUMAA.

Power Ranger fans can get to meet two celebrities this year - red ranger Jason Flaunt, and for her very first time ever to SGCC - pink ranger Erin Cahill. Erin is also known as the voice of Chloe "Karma" Lynch in Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Her appearance is specially brought to you by Retro Experience. To nab ticket packages for the meet and greet with Erin, head to the link at Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/power-rangers-time-force-sgcc-2025-tickets-1124358098339?. Fans who want to meet Jason Flaunt can head to SGCC's website to get their tickets.



For the full SGCC 2025 guest list, click on this link: https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/guest


TICKETING INFORMATION

There is a range of tickets options for SGCC 2025, including Preview Night, early access to the shows and merchandise bundles. 1-day tickets are priced at SGD 38 per person, while the 2-day access is priced at SGD 68 per person.

To check out the details and purchase tickets to SGCC 2025, click on this link: https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/sgcctickets

SGCC also has a special perk for families. Kids under 8 can enter the show for free (maximum of two kids under 8 per ticket)! So, you can have a kick start in nurturing your kids' love for all things pop culture.

This year's SGCC limited edition merchandise includes a colourful SGCC x Artgerm T-shirt and Bomber Jacket by the popular Stanley "Artgerm" Lau. If you are a huge fan of Artgerm, this is something not to be missed!



SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2025
Where: Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Date: 6 & 7 December 2025 (Sat and Sun) with special Preview Night on 5 December 2025 (Fri)
Time: 10 AM to 8 PM on 6 & 7 December 2025
Admission: Refer to details at SISTIC - https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/sgcomic1224

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SG ToyCon 2024 - Toy and Collectors Show Returns To Leisure Park Kallang from 13 to 15 December 2024

The eclectic SG Toy Con, is back at Leisure Park Kallang from 13 to 15 December 2024 (Friday to Sunday). The event organised by respected local brand Masterpiece Collectibles, focuses mainly on exhibitors who deal with mainly miniature toy models. Last year, the show expanded to included global toy licensee Yolopark, Hong Kong toy company threezero, and indie booths dealing in designer toys, Gundam model kits, and other kinds of toy collectibles.

It is a delightful collectibles market to visit especially if you are in need to getting that last minute festive gift for a loved one or friend. Expect to throw your hard-earned SG dollars at these exhibitors at the upcoming SG Toy Con 2024:



* Masterpiece Collectibles - the hobby company specialises in creating Singapore scale models, like our beloved buses and MRTs, as well as fire engines and police cars. They also make accompanying miniature replica figurines of fire fighters and bus captains to accompany these miniature vehicles. Their limited edition pieces sell out super quickly, so don't miss out the news on their releases at SG Toy Con 2024!

* Automodels - diecast model retailer and distributor offering a range of products like cool designs of cars, military vehicles, buses and more! You can check out the 1/72 scale F-15SG Eagle model which was made to commemorate 55 years of RSAF.



* Dream Customs - a company specialising in 1/64 scale custom desktop diorama mats like Singapore roads, bus interchanges and carpark mats. There also offer diorama mats of Japanese carparks, and display cases that emulate places like the HK Cross-Harbour tunnel. For this year's show, Dream Customs will be introducing their 1:1110 scale SG Bus Stop #1.

* She Love Cars - the official distributor for Pop Race returns to this year's show. They will also be offering other brands of diecast models, including Hot Wheels.

* Finute - leading local metaverse company who is sponsoring the virtual roleplay game on Roblox, Singverse. Players in the game can drive the virtual replica of the SG Toycon 2024 bus!

* Jiezuo Model Toy Company - the popular online retailer on Taobao will be at this year's show showing off their toy products.



* Happibox - blind boxes galore for those who love collecting variants of cute figurines and designer toys. Yes, they have the popular Monday Bruce rabbit collectibles too!

* Project Blue Beyond - calling Gundam collectors out there. This is the booth to look out for at the convention if you are looking for more toys to add to your collection.

* Zack Studio - You may know them because of their fantastic 3D prints. This year, Zack Studio is offering even more goodies. if you want a mini bus collectible with your very own unique and customised advertisements added to the body, go look for these folks!

One thing to note for fans who have attended the show in the past, there will be no VIP passes or goodie bags this year. However, the event remains free to attend.

The organisers have also planned for 2 lucky draws each day at 2 PM and 6 PM on stage. Check out the information below on the eligibility and prizes for the draw.

Don't miss more information about SG Toy Con 2024, as announcements are currently being rolled out till doors open this Friday. Follow SG Toy Con on Facebook and Instagram.

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Artist Highlight - Marvel At Rudy Ao's Photo Realistic Artwork (L1-AA218, Fat Snake Comics)

If you are not familiar with Indonesian artist Rudy Nurdiawan's (aka Rudy Ao) portfolio, you might think that his photo realistic pieces of superheroes and movie characters are AI-generated. You can rest assured that Rudy Ao is the real deal. He draws and paints his portraits by hand using different oils, acrylic paints, copic airbrush markers and pencils.

In the 2010s, when Rudy was living in Singapore, Red Dot Diva would bump into him at various comic book fan meet ups and art shows. It was hypnotising just to watch him draw his amazingly detailed sketches and commissions on site. You will have the chance to see him work too at Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) 2024. Rudy is a guest of the pop-culture convention, and will be hosted by Pink Ponk Comics/ Fat Snake Comics.

As Red Dot Diva was preparing for this pre-SGCC interview with Rudy, she found an older article of a Q&A with the artist circa 2011. Click here to read more about Rudy's artistic background. She also reminisced about the time Rudy drew for her a commission of naked Wolverine in Hugh Jackman form. Hahaha. The art print still sits right beside her work desk for mental stimulation.

Rudy, Red Dot Diva and Nekkid Wolverine

Before Red Dot Diva and her friends get to reunite with Rudy Ao this weekend, here is a new interview with the man himself:

Red Dot Diva: Hey Rudy! It has been so long (over a decade?) since you have returned to Singapore as a guest for an event. We miss you! I know it’s been many years, but what have you been doing since you returned to Bali? And, what do you miss most about Singapore?
Rudy: Yes! It has been a long long time! I miss hanging out with so many of you. I went back to Bali in 2012, I worked in architectural company while continuing to do comic covers and commissions. I quit that job in 2013, and decided to be a full time professional artist. What I miss most about Singapore is the food! And somehow, strangely enough, I miss Orchard Road too.

Red Dot Diva: Your artwork and portraits are so life-like and detailed, what does it take for someone to be able to pick up the nuances and unique features of each individual’s faces and their attitude?
Rudy: First of all, you must love and enjoy drawing faces and bodies. Everyone has their unique physical features, especially their faces, and I found this aspect the most interesting about people. Since I was young, I loved drawing portraits of my family and friends. Drew Struzan, who is well known for his photo realism art style, is one of my main artistic inspirations. Throughout my career, I continue to practise and drawing different subjects, especially comic book characters based on the movies or TV shows, so that I can nail their characteristic looks. But, as I said, you really really have to love drawing portraits!

Red Dot Diva: Having been a professional artist for many years, how do you keep the craft emotionally and creatively interesting to yourself?
Rudy: You always have to keep practising and finding new ideas. This is the era of the internet, and you can easily find a treasure of information online. Before the internet, I will frequent bookstores to browse and buy various artbooks. It wasn't easy to physically find a good artbook as reference. Now, it is so much easier to find them on the internet, and these references continue to inspire me to try new things on my artwork.

Red Dot Diva: Name one or two movies that are still your top favourites.
Rudy: I love Marvel's The Avengers movies. It was amazing to see your favourite characters that you have been drawing and seeing on paper come alive in the live action movies. And, any Batman movie. After watching a Batman movie, I am always inspired to draw more of him. He is so iconic and cool, and with his trademark costume, he looks dynamic in most poses.

Red Dot Diva: Going into the business side of things, as an artist, how do you continue being successful financially?
Rudy: Try to do the best that you can do, that is giving your best effort. When you are going full time in this field, it is also good to have a manager to help with the business side of things and helping you get more opportunities. There are always going to be different kinds of opportunities, and you would have to accept the projects after weight the pros and cons, as well as how you might enjoy doing it

Red Dot Diva: What are some practical advice you can offer to young aspiring artists who are just getting started in the "real world"?
Rudy: I am a believer that you have to truly love what you do. It's the start of the journey. After that, you have to continue to be curious... to keep learning and be open to new ideas and techniques. And to never stop practising!

Red Dot Diva: What are some of the first things you will be doing when you touch down in Singapore?
Rudy: I am really craving for fish soup noodles with milk! I have been dreaming of the taste of that dish.

Red Dot Diva: What can we expect from your booth at SGCC 2024?
Rudy: I am happy that Pink Ponk Comics/ Fat Snake Comics invited me to be at their booth. I am open and ready for any commission, signings, sketches. And I will also be showcasing how I use draw portraits with oils and acrylic. So, come look for me!
Red Dot Diva: It'd be so lovely to see you draw live again, Rudy. I still have the precious art print of nekkid Wolverine right by my study desk that I got from you back in 2014. See you soon!


Visit Pink Ponk Comics/ Fat Snake Comics' SGCC 2024 booth and marvel at Rudy Ao's photorealistic art pieces of your favourite comic book and pop culture characters. You can find him at Booth L1-AA218.

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Meet The Monster Bunnies By Raven Collectibles (L1-AA201)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Genforcer Is All Ready to Protecc You! ( L1-AA180-181)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Merthewiz and Rhinomee Return With New Merchandise (L1-AA174)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Delight In Rachel Tan-Hwee's (RattanHwee) Colourful and Whimsical Art (L1-AA95)

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Delight In Rachel Tan-Hwee's (RattanHwee) Colourful and Whimsical Art (L1-AA95)

While doing research on the long list of exhibitors at this year's Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) 2024, Red Dot Diva was attracted to the delightful visual compositions by local artist Rachel Tan-Hwee aka Rattanhwee. Her colourful art pieces and craft work are like a breath of fresh air; they all carry a sense of cheerfulness and optimism. Her art style is also the reason why she was chosen to be the illustrator for a children's book series called Butternut by author, illustrator and award-winning filmmaker Jill Dana.

Rachel's current obsession is painting a series of Plein-air works featuring Japan titled "ケシキ (Keshiki; Sceneries)". She also does whimsical art between paintings for fun, and to placate her inner child as well. Curious to know more about Rachel's artistic journey, Red Dot Diva sat her down for a quick interview:

Red Dot Diva: When was the “aha” moment you knew that you wanted to become an artist as a profession?
Rachel: I started drawing as a kid and just never stopped. I guess I never really had an 'Aha' moment because it just felt like it was a natural progression.

Red Dot Diva: In most Asian cultures, people tend to want their children to join careers in more practical roles, e.g. doctors, jobs in business, IT. Did you receive a lot of parental support and encouragement when you knew you wanted to become an artist?
Rachel: I had supportive parents! (even though I know deep inside they would rather I be a doctor or lawyer haha. I mean which Asian parent wouldn't want a scholarly child?) I would definitely not have been able to pursue this line of work had it not been for their support. Studying and practicing art can be costly because of art materials needed, etc. so their investment, both financial and emotional, is something that I really appreciate.

Red Dot Diva: I noticed that you have ventured into diverse artistic forms to create your work, like animation, illustrations, graphic design, crafts, live sketches, etc... Is there an art form that you have yet to try but really want to?
Rachel: I'd love to do more large format traditional paintings and pottery! It's something that's been on my to-do list for a long time!

Red Dot Diva: How did you get to work with Jill Dana for the Butternut children’s book series, published by Marshall Cavendish? For the benefit of tose who are not familiar with the books, tell us a bit about Butternut. 
Rachel: Marshall Cavendish reached out to me and introduced me to Jill as well as Butternut! Butternut is about a little Butternut Squash learning about himself and navigating his new life in a Supermarket. It's full of puns (which I LOVE) and is full of heartwarming moments. The Butternut characters are something I hold close to my heart because they were developed at a tumultuous time in my life and represent a dream of mine to illustrate a children's picture book. I'm honoured to have been given the opportunity to fulfill this dream!

Red Dot Diva: What are the most fulfilling aspects of being an artist?
Rachel: I think art forms of all kinds are so important to the human soul. It gives us a language to express ourselves in a way that's not possible verbally or in writing. For my Keshiki series of paintings, I've had people come up to me to say that it reminds them of home or of their travels to those places. It's lovely that in this whole wide world we're all connected by invisible threads of experiences and memories.

Red Dot Diva: What do you think makes a successful booth experience at an event? Any practical tips for boothing newbies?
Rachel: I'd say it really depends on what you want to get out of an event. Are you just starting out and just want to get your name out there? Boothing helps! Want to make art your bread and butter? Boothing is an avenue for that too! My tip would be to visit events of all kinds before settling on one to booth at. Look at what the crowds gravitate to at each event! Is the demand more for indie artwork or character and fan art? Homework is SO IMPORTANT. Each booth application is an investment of your money and time, so you have to use your resources wisely!

Red Dot Diva: What can we expect from your booth at SGCC 2024?
Rachel: I've got new paintings that I'm excited to share with everyone! There are also going to be bundle deals (by popular demand) and STICKERS. LOTS OF NEW STICKERS.
Red Dot Diva: YAY, STICKERS! A superb reason to visit your booth at the show!

Do say hello to Rattanhwee and check out her imaginative works of art at SGCC 2024, Booth L1-AA95.

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Meet The Monster Bunnies By Raven Collectibles (L1-AA201)

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Merthewiz and Rhinomee Return With New Merchandise (L1-AA174)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Artist Highlight - Marvel At Rudy Ao's Photo Realistic Artwork (L1-AA218, Fat Snake Comics)

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If you enjoy Red Dot Diva's content, feel free to help her efforts going by showing your support through ko-fi. Thank you!

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Merthewiz and Rhinomee Return With New Merchandise (L1-AA174)

Some of the more memorable experiences that Red Dot Diva gets from attending Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) are the new connections made with artists and creators exhibiting on the showfloor. At last year's SGCC, her friend Jessica Emmett was invited to share booth space with two other toy maker, and that was how Red Dot Diva got to meet the convention's most lovable duo Merthewiz and Rhinomee. They were so warm and welcoming, and made her laugh a lot when she visited their booth.

Young Merick Chong is the face behind the brand name, Merthewiz. Merick loves collecting designer toys, as well as toy and pop-culture vintage items, for example, a PokeDex from Pokemon, old Simpsons VCR tapes, and Batman Hot Wheels. Despite being relatively new to the designer toy industry, Merick's figurines are incredibly detailed and well made. Not to mention that his original character named Beefy Boi, which essentially is a very buff cow, is udderly amoosing. (Sorry, can't help it with the puns!)

Mr.Xianffy, a native Sarawakian and the creator of the adorable Rhinomee, is a production graphic designer, and has been working locally in this industry for 10 years. Hobby craft is a kind of therapy for him whenever he needs to take my mind off work. He enjoys experimenting with different types of materials to design and craft his art pieces. Currently, Mr.Xianffy depicts his favourite subject Rhinomee mostly in the form of a one-shot Instagram pictorial journal.

As they say in Red Dot Island - “good things must share!”, so here is a pre-SGCC 2024 interview for you to get to know the creators behind Merthewiz and Rhinomee:

Merthewiz and Rhinomee at SGCC 2023

Red Dot Diva: When I met the both of you at last year's SGCC, I could sense that you had a special kind of synergy and worked really well together. How did you two meet?
Merick: I met the lovely talented MrXianffy through mutual friends. These friends noticed that we are both creatives and then after speaking to each other, we gelled really well and thought of pursuing our toy making career together, like including each other on local and some oversea events.
Mr.Xianffy: We were linked up by our mutual church friends when they found out that we are toy makers. Since then, we have shared and exchange our resources in toy making, as well as sharing our trials and errors regarding boothing experiences to source our market.

Red Dot Diva: How and why did you embark on the toy designer journey?
Merick: I got into toy making by working under a skill share at an art gallery. It was where I discovered my passion for sculpting and collecting, and thought it would be nice to fuse the two interests together and sculpt something that I would personally collect.
Mr.Xianffy: Some time back, I encountered difficulties in making my graduation project. Then, I met Taiwanese animal sculptor Mr. Lu unexpectedly through Facebook. I gradually became interested in simulation sculptures due to his posts sharing about his works. While exploring different types of materials, I met two prototype designers from Taiwan Dreamworkers, who specialise in model prototyping and manufacturing. At the time, I only explored the craft through online sharing via Facebook. Later, I slowly started to practise based on theoretical knowledge acquired from the designers, and in 2017, I completed my first 1:1 common kingfisher model. Since then, I have been constantly trying to practise different themes and communicate with different creators on sculpture techniques. When I was at Singapore Toy Games and Comic Convention, I met a group of Malaysian toy designers such as Sean Studio, Littlegoodthing, Tekxtoy, and MY Toy Hoard. Thanks to the patience and encouragement from everyone in the group, I took the step to join the designer toy community, and started participating actively in exhibitions.

Red Dot Diva: I am curious about the ideas and story behind your main IP/ design. Tell me more about their origins.

Ox-idised Beefy Boi by Merthewiz

Merick: Why did I decide on the design of a buff cow? It was because I simply like cows (and their meat). I find them adorable, plus I also love to lift weights. Beefy Boi is not only my original character, but also somewhat of a motivation.

Mr.Xianffy: Rhinomee was inspired by the rhinoceros hornbill, a bird species native species to the island of Borneo. It is also the state bird of Sarawak, Malaysia. Rhinomee takes after a running joke. There are a lot of people who assume that the rhinoceros hornbill is a rhinoceros. So, birdwatchers have brought the hornbill around the world to explore different cultural and emotional stories. The rhinoceros hornbill is not just my hometown national bird, it is also a threatened bird species. I feel connected to this bird species, and decided to develop it as one of my main character design.

Red Dot Diva: Will Beefy Boi and Rhinomee go on an adventure together in the future?
Merick: 100% we are teasing some adventures as of right now, but in the future, I think people will see the physical form soon. And it probably wouldn’t be just one, but multiple adventures in different environments and contexts. For my personal adventures, Merthewiz might go for more overseas adventures in the future, and BEEFY BOI might make some friends in the process, making this his own Beefy-Universe.
Mr.Xianffy: Will my Rhinomee and Beefy Boi adventure together in future? I guess probably yes. We both try different styles, and hopefully, one day in future, we will be able to collaborate and present a unique visual experience for everyone.

Red Dot Diva: How long was it before you felt confident enough to show off your designs and toys in public, for sale?
Merick: It was about less than a year after much building and refining of the character. But selling them in the market was a different matter. I only felt confident that it could work as a marketable collectible after my participation at my first event, Pop Toy Show 2023.

Mr.Xianffy's Roly-Poly toys

Mr.Xianffy: I took a very long time with many, many baby steps. Due to my corporate workload, I was unable to commit fully, and could only indulge in some hobby work when I took breaks from the day job. It was 7 years of self-learning with considerable doses of self doubt. I lacked confidence and kept going around in circles. Then, when Covid-19 hit, I told myself I should be bold and launch my Roly-Poly toys. These were my toy creations before the creation of Rhinomee.
Red Dot Diva: I really admire your tenacity, Mr.Xianffy! To those fledging toy designers out there, don't give up!

Red Dot Diva: Do you think the designer toy market is too saturated?
Merick: Yes and No. It could seem saturated with the more experienced toy makers in Singapore as they have been networking and gaining experience longer. However, there are still new people who are dabbling and making their own figures and collectibles, and pushing it more and more publicly, which is very exciting for the designer toy market.
Mr.Xianffy: Hmm... I don't think so. People tend to compare our hard work with big brands, like blind-box toys, but I don’t think the designer toy market is saturated. Every artist has their own unique art sense that attracts a specific type of collector, and usually the interaction between the indie artist & the collector is a more personal relationship. This is unlike blindbox brands, or others huge toy manufacturers, where you can only interact with the artist during special occasions for that few minutes, or only on a TV screen.

Beefcake by Kayotoyco x Merthewiz

Red Dot Diva: What can designers do to make their toy stand out amongst all the competition?
Merick: They could start marketing more frequently and publicly either on social media, or at local and international events. Another suggestions is also to collaborate with other artists to build that connection with people in the designer toy scene. That also helps to increase the awareness of your brand in each other’s audience.
Mr.Xianffy: Unfortunately, I don’t have a 100% true and tried way. I am still learning along the way too, and making changes to my ideas and processes from time to time. It is not easy for sure. If the subject decide to go for is unique, there would be little or no reference for you to get a satisfying result quickly. It really also depends on timing, geography, people and the trends.

Red Dot Diva: What are some practical tips you can share to those who are thinking about launching their own designer toy products?
Merick: Start small, if it’s too intimidating. Some cost friendly alternatives could be with air-dry clay, or digital sculpting with some free websites. If you have an iPad, I highly recommend, Nomad Sculpt, as it’s a one time payment app, has a low barrier entry, is able to render to higher realism, and can export to 3D print ready files.
Mr.Xianffy: Begin by doing research on the subject you are passionate about. You can start from brainstorming to sketching, and sharing those on the social media platforms. Do remember to protect your copyright, no matter how small or worthless you think your pencil sketch is. It may not be suitable now, but you might never know if your old sketches may become popular one day!

Red Dot Diva: What are the things you learnt about the attendees' buying preferences from your booth experience at last year's SGCC?
Merick: I noticed that it would be better to have a range of different items at different prices, as people have different budgets. Another point would be to have more pop culture and game references for your products because the event is a comic con, so having those kind of items would interest a larger audience.
Mr.Xianffy: The metric changes every year due to the market's pursuit of trends, so I cater to a variety of merchandise for different age groups, at a comfortable price range.

Red Dot Diva: What can we expect from your booth at SGCC 2024?

Beefy Boi Titan by Merthewiz

Merick: Fun, friendly vibes and cool new characters in new forms and designs. There will also be supporting products in the form of artist trading cards with fun packaging.

Sneak peek at new merch by Rhinomee

Mr.Xianffy: Both of us have collaborated on trading cards. Besides that, both of us are also part of the Made in Singapore initiative at SGCC. So, Rhinomee will launch a new series of merchandise. There are limited hand crafted Rhinomee keychains as well as other exclusive items, like bottle caps and art prints. Come look for us at the show to find out more.
Red Dot Diva: You have piqued my interest! I'll definitely be visiting your booth, and we have to flex our biceps together again!
To find out what cool items Merthewiz and Rhinomee will be offering at their SGCC 2024 booth, please follow their social media accounts:

Merthewiz
Website: https://www.merthewiz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merthewiz

Rhinomee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhinomee
Xiaohongshu: https://www.xiaohongshu.com/user/profile/5f9326320000000001002d2a

Merthewiz x Rhinomee will be participating as part of Made In Singapore cluster at Booth L1-AA174.


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RELATED SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2024 ARTICLES

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Tickets Now Available For Purchase, and Space Ranger Celebrities Announced

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Meet Comic Book Guests Like Mike Zeck, Michael Gaydos, Ram V and Giuseppe Camuncoli
(Update: Francesco Manna, Michael Gaydos, OSHRed will no longer be attending as guests for SGCC 2024)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Meet The Monster Bunnies By Raven Collectibles (L1-AA201)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Genforcer Is All Ready to Protecc You! (L1-AA180-181)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Delight In Rachel Tan-Hwee's (RattanHwee) Colourful and Whimsical Art (L1-AA95)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Artist Highlight - Marvel At Rudy Ao's Photo Realistic Artwork (L1-AA218, Fat Snake Comics)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Meet Eric Chong, Avid Comic Collector And Owner Of Fat Snake Comics

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Interview With Comic Book Legend Joe Rubinstein

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Tickets Now Available For Purchase, and Space Ranger Celebrities Announced

If you have attended Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) before, you know the drill! Get tickets to the show, attend the event and have the best geek fun of the year. The largest pop-culture event will be back at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 7 and 8 December 2024, with over 400 exhibiting companies and 480 brands at the show that spans two floors (Level 1 and B2). All in all, there will be four exhibition halls taking up about 200,000 sq ft in space.

As usual, there will the usual stable of comic book creators, local and regional artist alley boothers, exhibits, panels, table top gaming, and stage events at SGCC. More details should emerge in the months to come, but right now, you can expect returning exhibitors like Mighty Jaxx, Tamashii Nations, Mediacorp, 52 Toys by Gift Greetings, Lego by The Brickshop, SaberMach, Simply Toys, Top Toy, Wizards of the Coast and Bluey! Singapore-based leading anime venture studio Kasagi Labo will also be at the event.

Red Dot Diva thought the major highlight of last year's SGCC was the Transformers display at Hasbro's Cybertron Fest. For those who have not attended SGCC before, you can check out Red Dot Diva's videos for SGCC 2023 on her Youtube channel. Here are the links:

SGCC 2023 Day 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_h9-nrw9Og
SGCC 2023 Day 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luZY0-8LWqM

At this moment, here are some interesting news that may tempt you in getting your SGCC 2024 tickets.

SGCC 2024'S PRINCESS - RURUSAMA

Adding on to the glitz for this year's event, is cosplayer and content creator Rurusama. Rurusama, who has 1.3 million followers on Instagram, has been named SGCC 2024's Princess. You can get to meet her at Creators Con, an event which is part of SGCC, and may even get a chance to party with her during the weekend!

MEET THE SPACE RANGERS

Get to meet three Space Rangers at SGCC 2024, courtesy of Iconic Bliss Entertainment!

Christopher Khayman Lee (Andros, Red Space Ranger), Selwyn Ward (T.J. Johnson, Blue Space Ranger/ Red Turbo Ranger) and Justin Nimmo (Zhane, Silver Space Ranger) will be making their first ever appearance in Red Dot Island!

You can grab your tickets separately at https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/power-rangers-in-space-sgcc-2024-tickets-863531605277 to secure the opportunity for a photo op or autographs. (A separate ticket is needed to enter SGCC halls.) The booth will also offer merchandise for avid collectors.


TICKETING INFORMATION

Tickets to SGCC 2024 are available from SISTIC SISTIC, and start from SGD 38 for a single day's entry. Kids under 8 can enter the show for free (maximum of two kids under 8 per ticket)!

Early birds can grab tickets at a discounted price before 31 August 2024:

$8 off Ultimate VIP Fan Pack
$5 off 2 day ticket bundles
$3 off 1 day ticket bundles

Other special ticket bundles include limited merchandise, like Mighty Jaxx's XXRAY: One Piece Luffy Wanted Series Treasure Gold Edition, S.H.Figuarts Ultraman figurines, exclusive SGCC x Rurusama t-shirts and more. Check the details out at the SISTIC link above.

Red Dot Diva understands that being a geek is becoming an expensive affair these days. However, if you can afford to go, SGCC still manages to turn up a few surprises here and there. It is also a great time to bond with the local geek community and meet new friends who fly into Red Dot Island specially for the event. Hope to see you there!


SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2024
Where: Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Date: 7 & 8 December 2024 (Sat and Sun)
Admission: Refer to details at SISTIC - https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/sgcomic1224

Meet Rebel Scums and BucketHeads At Star Wars May The 4th Events In Singapore (2024)

May The 4th, also known as STAR WARS DAY, is an annual grassroots driven celebration for STAR WARS fans all over the world. Right here on Red Dot Island, the festivities will be held in a few key spots this year. So, get ready to meet rebel scums and bucketheads at these three locations!


SCIENCE CENTRE SINGAPORE (4 - 5 May 2024)

This year, it's not just about the light side or the dark side. It's all about the Westside!

The primary May The 4th SG event will be part of Singapore Centre Singapore's Sci-Fi Fiesta. Fans can interact and take photos with the local STAR WARS costumed groups, which include the 501st Legion SG, Rebel Legion SG, Kranak Clan - Mandalorian Mercs and The Galactic Academy Hosnian Prime Campus Singapore. That means, you will get to meet a gamut of Star Wars characters like Jawas, stormtroopers, Jedis, Mandalorians and more! The costumed groups' efforts will also be a charity drive, with donations usually benefitting the KKH Health Fund run by KKH Women's and Children's Hospital. This fun opportunity will be held at the Annexe Foyer, and admission is free.

ADDED on 2 May 2024: The May the 4th SG team has released a list of fun activities that you can enjoy this weekend. Take a look at their Facebook post below:



Other Sci-Fi Fiesta activities like building your own space vehicle, are also available for you to take part in. However, these would involve an entrance fee to Singapore Centre Singapore.

GARDENS BY THE BAY (4 - 5 May 2024)

Popular local lightsaber performance group, Fightsaber Singapore, will be putting up their exciting theatrical routines at Gardens By The Bay's Supertree Grove this weekend! Fightsaber Singapore is the only Lucasfilm sanctioned lightsaber performance organisation in Southeast Asia.

You can watch their thrilling performances on 4 May 2024 (Sat) at 8:20 PM, and on 5 May 2024 (Sun) at 7.30PM and 8.20PM.

Red Dot Diva thinks it will be worthwhile to make a family outing to Gardens By The Bay for May the 4th. Here's why.

On the same day, there will be a preview of Gardens By The Bay's new Northern lights spectacle called Borealis at 7:30 PM to 8:15 PM. The light and sound outdoor installation at Supertree Grove is designed by Switzerland-based artist Dan Acher.

Then, when you have choped your place at Supertree Grove, you get to watch Fightsaber's performance. After which, you can treat yourself to the Garden Rhapsody: STAR WARS Edition, lighting up the super trees in glorious fashion at 8:45 PM (Repeats on 5 May 2024, Sunday at 7:45 PM and 8:45 PM). If they are using the same sequence as before, Red Dot Diva recalled that the light show experience gives all kinds of feels for any STAR WARS fan, as you sit/ stand there imagining you are right in the forests of Endor. Totally recommended!

WISMA ATRIA (1 to 19 May 2024)

LEGO is having a special STAR WARS DAY pop up event at Wisma Atria mall from 1 to 19 May 2024. The event is also held to celebrate LEGO's Star Wars 25th Anniversary.

To be honest, the kind of STAR WARS characters you would most probably get to see at the much smaller LEGO minifigure versions, but the pop-up event has a few fun things in store too! For one thing, Bothan spies have whispered that there will be LEGO product launches and announcements on May the 4th (Sat).

Besides the product launches, there are statue builds of Stormtroopers and Darth Vader and a LEGO diorama built by Titan Creations. Outside of Wisma Atria, there is a prop of the Emperor Palpatine's throne where you can channel your dark side and take selfies.



Other interesting things happening at the pop-up are:
- transforming yourself to your own LEGO minifigure version at the Create Your Own Poster boot
- joining contests, like guessing the number of LEGO lightsabers at the event space
- snagging freebies, by taking a photo of yourself on the Emperor's throne
- meet and greet with a roving LEGO Darth Vader on 1 May – 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM, and 18 and 19 May – 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM


May The 4th is all about celebrating being a STAR WARS fan. If you are not able to make it for these public events, please do not feel to sad about it. Red Dot Diva encourages that you can unleash your creativity, and organise your own May the 4th party with your friends and family! It is really about having fun and making memories as a STAR WARS fan.

May the Force Be With You.


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Check out Red Dot Diva's fun video filmed while enjoying some of this year's activities for May The 4th, as well as Free Comic Book Day at local comic book store GnB Comics

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SG Toy Con 2023 (15 to 17 December) - Shop For Diecast Car Models, Designer Toys, Custom Action Figures and More!

The SG Toy Con, held from 15 to 17 December 2023, is pulling out all the stops this year. For starters, the event will command a larger floor space, as it has moved from Dhoby Ghaut's Visual Arts Centre to Leisure Park Kallang. The annual event, organised by Masterpiece Collectibles and Toyz Network, started out focusing mainly on miniature toy models. This year, its scope has widened to include indie exhibitors who offer other kind of toy collectibles, like designer toys, Gundam model kits and Funko. How awesome is that?!

Here's the list of such exhibitors announced for the toy fair. Just to name a few, the international brand names who will be at SG Toy Con 2023 include:


* GoodGuysNeverWin Toy Co from Indonesia
The indie toy company specialises in custom action figures which are very South-East Asian focused, like Indonesian ghoulies and monsters. Familiar scary names include the Kuntilanak (or Pontianak) and the Pocong. They also put an irreverent spin on well known personalities and iconic characters from pop-culture. Red Dot Diva was thrilled to see them back at Red Dot Island so that she can check out their current stuff at Booth A12!

* Playground Studio from Thailand
Toy designer Pranee Jiraprayoon of Playground Studio will be showing of her popular Musikacha figurine and other creations at the event. Say hello to her at Booth A2.

* Kawan Lab from Malaysia
Kawan Lab does a lot of food-themed monster toys and collectibles. They will be bringing in their new designer toy Puffzilla, which you can grab at Booth A5!


* Soulhappy Studio from Shanghai, China
Craving for durians? Soulhappy Studio will be selling their Durian+Mahjong designer toy at SG Toy Con! Scrolling through their social media, Red Dot Diva thinks their designs are super cool and eccentric. Great for adding to your collection or as a gift to someone special.

* Yolopark from Hong Kong
Yolopark is a global toy licensee for multiple global brand including Hasbro's Transformers! Ogle at their exclusive Transformers display at Booth E1 this weekend.

... just to name a few!



Look out also for the wonderful Miniature Stories with intricate nostalgic builds. You might want to keep a part of these heritage models in your home. Miniature Stories' Wayang Chinese Street Opera Stage is now available for pre-order (see pic above).

Stalwart exhibitors like diecast model brand Automodels, logistics company Bok Seng and their unique crane models, custom diorama Dream Customs, and everyone's favourite blind box booth Happibox, will be back this year too!

For lots more information about the list of exhibitors and events at this weekend's exciting SG Toy Con 2023, head to their dedicated website at https://www.masterpiececollectibles.com/sgtoycon



To add on the wow factor, there will also be a Commercial Vehicle Show, an outdoor exhibit just nearby at the open-air carpark beside Leisure Park Kallang from 11 AM to 5 PM! The mini vehicle show will shine the spotlight on the exclusive SG ToyCon Event Bus (see the video above!), as well as various buses, vans and trucks!

Red Dot Diva is prepped and ready to spend some of her hard-earned money if she spots anything interesting at SG Toy Con! See you all there!


Dates: 15 to 17 December 2023 (Fri to Sun)
Times: 10 AM to 8 PM
Venue: Leisure Park Kallang
Admission: Free of charge


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Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2023 Booth Highlight - Hailing All Transformer Fans To Hasbro's Cybertron Fest

A section of this year's Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) happening on 9 and 10 December 2023 at Sands Expo and Convention Center will become a stomping ground for Transformers fans! Hasbro's Transformers: Cybertron Fest 2023 will be taking up ample space at B2 Hall E for fans to immerse themselves in the world of Transformers.

Seriously, based on the press release, there is just so much Transformers that any Transformers fan would probably die happy hanging out in that festival space for the entire day.

Red Dot Diva's friend Edward gives his tongue in cheek take on what will be happening at Cybertron Fest 2023:

Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2023 Artist Highlight - Stay Cool and Cheery With Ven Wong's Adorable Cubemelt

Ever since its debut on social media a few years ago, a web comic featuring a cute, wholesome ice cube named Cubemelt captured the hearts of fans with his optimistic take on life. The foibles of the little ice cube and his friends were later brought to life in an episodic series entitled The Misadventures of CubeMelt. By the way, you can still watch these episodes for free on MeWatch.

Senior Art Director of 7 Productions Peng Ven Wong, is the creator of the loveable Cubemelt. Red Dot Diva thinks it is amazing how Ven is able to construct these relatable story nibblets of Cubemelt's struggles in life that makes you go awwwwww...

Ven will be showcasing Cubemelt to old and new fans at Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) 2023's Artist Alley, booth L1-AA29. Red Dot Diva had a quick chat with him before the convention kicks off on 9 and 10 December 2023.

Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2023 Artist Highlight - Collect 'Em All From Pokémon Fanart Illustrators Abz Art and Trainer K

Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) 2023 is just two weekends away!! There is so many aspects of pop-culture that will be featured at SGCC, of which one of them is the love for Game Freak's/ Nintendo's Pokémon series. In the magical hallways of Artist Alley in SGCC, you will be able to find a number of artists who specialise in Pokémon fan art.

Edward, Red Dot Diva's long time friend from the Glam Bloggers Alliance, spoke to two of such talented illustrators - Abz Art, who is based in Australia, and Trainer K (Kelvin) from Indonesia! Both of them will be looking forward to meet fellow Pokémon fans at the convention, and if you want to collect 'em all, do drop by their booths to check out their wares.