Superheroes may wilt in triple-digit temperatures, but Hollywood’s coming to the desert Friday as Palm Springs launches another entertainment bash to bring in tourists.
And this time it’s a new version of Comic Con, the wildly successful, celebrity-driven, costumed event that’s drawn thousands to San Diego for years.
The inaugural Palm Springs Comic Con will launch Friday with three days of costumed heroes, costumed fans, and giants of the comic book industry appearing for what could become an annual desert affair.
Among the guests featured through the weekend are Stan Lee, the man behind hundreds of iconic Marvel characters, Lou Ferrigno, who played TV’s “The Incredible Hulk,” former NFL star and actor Fred Williamson, and a range of actors, artists and more.
Major events will include Geekfest, which will feature a series of full- length and short film screenings, and the Cosplay contest, putting dedicated fans to the test, with the best-dressed attendees receiving a $1,000 grand prize for their costumes.
Panels will be held through the weekend featuring the writers and performers involved in numerous Hollywood and TV hits, as well as the minds behind comic storylines both past and present.
Friday will feature just one panel, a Q & A session with author and screenwriter Andrew Neiderman, a Palm Springs resident who wrote “The Devil’s Advocate,” later adapted into a film starring Al Pacino and Keanu Reeves.
One and three-day passes starting at $20 are still available at www.comicconpalmsprings.com/buy-tickets.php.
–City News Service