For fans of pop culture in Singapore, December marks a return to one of the country’s biggest convention mainstays: Singapore Comic Con, or SGCC. The year-end affair has established itself as an annual tradition for the ACG (short for anime, comics, and games) community, where like-minded individuals, including toy enthusiasts, can come together and bask in the celebratory spirit.
Running from 7 to 8 December, SGCC 2024 saw plenty of buzz on across both days. Magnificent statues and exclusive merchandise have graced the show floor yet again, with the Artist Alley, tabletop gaming areas, and stage performances making their return as familiar sights. Amid the respectably-sized crowd are cosplays that will no doubt catch the attention of attendees, completing the convention experience.
As expected, character dress-ups from popular HoYoverse titles Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail continue to be a common sight this year. But it was Zenless Zone Zero, the latest addition to the company’s slate, that introduced a fresh breath of air, with a group of enthusiasts bringing Wise, Von Lycaon, and Jane Doe to life.
As with every iteration, SGCC 2024 is no stranger to the pull of Gotham City. Batman, Harley Quinn. and a gender-bent Red Hood made their rounds in the event space, displaying poses and expressions that fit their character to the tee. The Caped Crusader comes across as particularly impressive, decked out in props with a certain degree of functionality.
If there are cosplay staples, then expect some unexpected appearances. Art, the villainous clown murderer from the Terrifier films, looks gloriously faithful to its fictional counterpart, while Sun Wukong and his friends received a healthy dose of recognition and attention from adults and kids alike. Juliet Starling, from Lollipop Chainsaw, also got the rare opportunity to shine, sporting her iconic double pigtails, blue crop top, and intricately-crafted chainsaw.
Riding off the Arcane hype, reignited by the recent release of Season 2, two Jinxes were well-equipped to paint the town blue, each holding a different weapon replica in hand: Fishbones, the champion’s rocket launcher, and her trusty pistol.
The remaining fanfare hailed from diverse interests, spanning the likes of Star Wars, Transformers, Zootopia, Devil May Cry, and more. There’s even a dream team-up between Master Chief and Doom Guy (who, by the way, also has an Isabelle plush on the shoulder in reference to the meme that started with the same-day launch of Doom Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons), as seen below:
Coming a week after Anime Festival Asia, another major convention in Singapore, SGCC 2024 keeps the pop culture fever going with a welcome dose of cosplay variety. The event serves as a homecoming of sorts, after all, and it’s always nice to swing by Sands Expo and Convention Centre to soak up the atmosphere.
Till next year (and many more to come)!
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Natalie
