A further look into the present and future of comics, art, and toys as storytelling media became the focus of the second day of Super Manila Comic Con 2024 festivities.

Activities in #SMCC2024 end the first week of September 2024 with a “super” note, where guest presenters among both local and international talents share their insights to fans, artists and toy creators mesmerize with their unique creations, while exhibitors give con-goers more treats with exclusive offerings and discounts.

All Hidden Gems in the Artist Alley

Although local and international talents take the limelight on the Main Stage with their panels, tucked within the Artist Alley are hidden gems in the form of local artists and toy creators showcasing their latest works.

Among the creations we managed to take a look at are:

• Cat-themed pun-tastic imagery from artist Marius Black and Manila Ukiyo-E

• Kaboomees, created by toy designer MANKEEBOI (Arly Pescuela)

• Gigi, the Dreamwalker, from Lili Toys

• Gilded Warden and other toys from DTC Studios

• Vibrant figures (we see the Chonk Trooper!) from Rainbow Hermit

• Awesome-looking Seralings from Seralyx

• Chubz Warpath and Monk-Eye figures from Glenjutsu

Guests Share Industry Knowledge, Insights

Continuing the tradition of knowledge-sharing in #SuperManila grounds is a roster of new presenters for #SMCC2024’s Supreme Sunday, this time with a focus on more diverse art forms and artist insights. Panels that day include:

Rolling Out! Creating the Jeepney Transformers Cover

Illustrator Von Randal and colorist Rex Espino gave their insights on the conceptualization of the 40th Anniversary Transformers cover featuring Hound as a Jeepney Autobot.

In their panel, Von explained that he transformed (no pun intended) the original concept of just featuring Optimus Prime and a jeepney into something more dramatic. This resulted in the inclusion of Starscream chasing Hound and Optimus in the background, with the latter two being drawn pre-, mid-,and post-transformation.

Although colorist Ellery Santos couldn’t make it to the panel, colorist Rex Espino who also worked on the cover wowed audiences after saying they actually managed to create the vibrant cover under a time crunch. Rex said working in the same studio made the process much easier, as they all managed to contribute ideas and polish their work more efficiently.

Komix and Beyond with Manix Abrera

Manix Abrera, who shared his experiences about being compared to his father, political cartoonist Jess Abrera.

In his panel, he shared that his father’s most important advice is to find a way to “be different” while still loving one’s craft. Comparing oneself to others will result in a never-ending spiral that can stop someone from reaching their highest potential. Manix advised others to just keep on doing what they love, as the rest will follow.

Other panels on Sunday included:

• Demon in a Bottle, where comic legend Bob Layton shared anecdotes of his time working on both Marvel and DC Comics.
• Masters of Imagination , where iconic artists Artgerm (Stanley Lau), Kunkka (Kendrick Lim), Derrick Chew, and Ejikure Wee Kiat gave insights about their works.
• Into the Momokoverse, where Peach Momoko showcased the magic behind her vibrant artworks live for audiences to see.
• Bayani Figures, where ToySack Studios showcased concepts behind their Bayani Muntee Figs that aim to make Filipino history more accessible to youngsters.
• Gundam, which celebrates 40 Years of Gundam and enjoying the franchise’s line of toys, Gunpla.
• Bedrock Collectibles, where the team shared their humble beginnings and their current projects involving some of the biggest icons in pop culture.
• Virtuosity, where iACADEMY’s Hamill Buyco explores the dynamic world of digital art in virtual reality.

These panelists and knowledge sessions are a continuation of yesterday’s Super Saturday sessions, which also emphasized the growth of the local pop culture scene – be it in the form of collectors appreciating the hobby, or creators themselves who continue to showcase the potential of Filipino creativity in both local and international spaces. Panels on Saturday included:

Hall C.B.

While Hall C.B. saw Marvel editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski also tease new projects, he also surprised quite a lot of fans with new revelations. Chief among them was the announcement of Filipino artists Von Randal, Roi Mercado, and Frany as Marvel’s newest additions to their roster of creative talent.

C.B. Cebulski also imparted advice to aspiring artists – to focus on storytelling, not just art. He said that a lot of artist hopefuls tend to pay too much attention on trying to develop styles similar to Marvel’s best artists, but he said there’s a fine line between inspiration and imitation. However, C.B. Cebulski said it’s also just as important to know how to tell stories through art, such as understanding the value of panel placement, facial expressions, and even line weight.

Supercharging Pinoy Sci-Fi for the World Stage

Author Katrina Olan, whose works Makina and Tablay formed their respective international followings, shared the importance of how it just takes one work of art to “supercharge” the presence of Filipino creatives in various genres.

In her Supercharging Pinoy Sci-Fi for the World Stage panel, Katrina shared how the profound lack of Filipino sci-fi stories motivated her to create her own tales. Through her works, Katrina not only showed others that Philippine settings can become the locales of techno-societies, but that there’s an audience waiting for more works showcasing Filipino culture.

Other panels from Saturday include:

• 40 Years of Secret Wars, where Mike Zeck and Bob Layton talk about the making of the legendary comic book story arc.
• Exploring Balete City, where the creators of the Balete City game share a look into their semi-open world horror game.
• Drawing Dynamics, where iACADEMY’s Nelson Caliguia Jr. gave artists much-needed insights on dynamic drawing for animation.
• Venom: The Last Dance, where Columbia Pictures hyped the upcoming superhero (antihero?) film.
• Dan Da Dan Screening, where the first 10 minutes of Dan Da Dan tease an action-packed supernatural anime.
• Uniqulo UTME! Sketch to Life, where artist JP Culson brings his designs to life on stage.

Ending on a Super Note

Despite its short two-day run, the 2024 edition of Super Manila Comic Con reaffirms the convention’s reputation for offering a premium experience for comics fans, toy enthusiasts, and aspiring and veteran collectors. 

The choice of a new venue, a powerhouse guest list, and a plethora of exclusive deals and discounts contributed to an overall more streamlined and more memorable convention experience for fans.

This 6th Year of Super Manila Comic Con occurred at The Space, One Ayala, from September 7 to 8, 2024. What’s your favorite #SuperManilaComicCon2024 budol?