Columbus, OH -- If you're dying to know what intergalactic badass Billy Dee Williams wants as his final meal, and if a guitar serenade from "Buffy The Vampire Slayer"'s James Marsters melts your heart like butter, you may have been one of the thousands of sci-fi and fantasy fans geeking it up this weekend at the Mid-Ohio Comic Con.
Just be warned that at this bash, Adam West, TV's "Batman" from the 1960s, is still too big a star to pose for a photograph, unless you pony up $125 (which I didn't do).
But for the most part, it was a swinging costume party, with star-studded guests. Burt Ward, who played the Caped Crusader's sidekick Robin, more than made up for West's misplaced arrogance. And the costumes these people wore were not to be missed.
Claudia Christian from "Babylon 5"; Robyn Griggs from "Zombiegeddon"; Gil Gerard, better known as "Buck Roger"; and Walter Koenig, Chekov from "Star Trek", were among the celebrated stars.
The event, hosted by Wizard World, is the third-longest continuously-running American comic convention. While Hollywood stars are an obvious draw, fans are also treated to screenings, exhibits and visits with their favorite industry professionals.
A few notable artists and writers in attendance included Dave Aikins ("SpongeBob SquarePants"); Darryl Banks ("Green Lantern," "Superman," "X-Men"); Joe Corroney ("Star Wars," "Star Trek," "G.I. Joe"), and Dan Davis, an inker who has worked on several comics, including "Archie," "The Simpsons" and "Batman Beyond."
Comic Con attendees also had the unique opportunity to check out the world's first glass comic book. According to the book's creator, Wade Gugino, all twelve pages are four feet high and three feet wide. The story is laser etched on quarter-inch-thick glass and weighs more than 500 pounds. The Huge Glass Comic Book cost $17,000 to create and is registered for three world record claims with Guinness World Records.
And what would a Comic Con be without the fan clubs? The Great Lakes Base of the Rebel Legion, a chapter of The Rebel Legion Star Wars costuming group, was on hand, as were the Mandalorian Mercs Costuming Group and the Ohio 501st Legion, which contributes to the local community through costumed charity work.
If the sheer number of visitors was any indication, the Mid-Ohio Comic Con, the first stop on Wizard World's 2011-2012 tour, was a huge success.
The tour is now en route to conventions in Austin, New Orleans, Toronto, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. For full details, visit www.wizardworldcomiccon.com.
WATCH JAMES MARSTERS SERENADE THE AUDIENCE AT WIZARD WORLD MID-OHIO COMIC CON:
