Detroit Fanfare convention back this weekend, this year at Cobo

Bruce Campbell

More than 200 comic book creators and media guests, many with Detroit ties, will greet fans at the second annual Detroit Fanfare convention, which this year moves to more spacious digs at Cobo Center.

Big media names include Bruce Campbell (“Evil Dead,” “Burn Notice”), Steve Yuen (“Walking Dead”) and Adam Baldwin (“Chuck,” “Firefly”). Artists and writers such as JT Krul (DC’s new “Green Arrow” and “Captain Atom”), Katie Cook (“Fraggle Rock”), Mark Crilley (“Akiko”) and Kevin Eastman (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”) also will be on hand.

And, of course, lots of retailers will be there with comics, toys and more.

For the first time in several years, Marvel will have a corporate presence at a local con, sending associate editor Lauren Sankovitch (“Avengers”). She will present a “Breaking Into Comics the Marvel Way” panel on Saturday and an “Avengers: Fear Itself” panel on Sunday. And the show will offer a variant cover of “Ultimate X-Men” No. 1.

Dennis Barger, one of the promoters and owner of Wonderworld Comics in Taylor, says Detroit Fanfare is actually an homage to a much earlier convention. In 1965, Shel Dorf, who later went on to found what’s now San Diego Comic-Con, held the Detroit Triple Fan Fair with some other locals. It was one of the first comic conventions in the country.

The con’s Shel Dorf awards, to presented Saturday night, are in his honor.

“We want to reclaim Detroit’s heritage and birthright to this,” Barger said of the inaugural con last year in Dearborn. “We wanted to do this as our gift to the comic industry.”

Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $5-$15 (plus more for some autograph/photo sessions).  Kids 12 and younger will be admitted free on Sunday.