Calling all legends. Please report to the convention floor.
After seven decades in the world of comic book entertainment, you would think that 89 year-old Stan "The Man" Lee would eventually hang up the cape and call it a career.
Think again.
Last year's surprise convention success, Comikaze Expo, has a powerful new partner and an awesome new name. Joining forces with the godfather of Marvel mayhem, the new-kid-on-the-block is now "Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo presented by POW! Entertainment."
Positioned as an affordable alternative to the somewhat chaotic and far more expensive San Diego Comic-con, Comikaze was founded by CEO Regina Carpinelli and debuted in November 2011. Despite its newbie status, it made an immediate splash with over 40,000 attendees visiting the Los Angeles Convention Center for a celebration of all things comic, movies, TV, and games.
With a slate of movies based on his creations, including The X-Men, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, and your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Lee believes the L.A.-based Con is a perfect match.
"We saw an opportunity to creatively take this event to new heights through our partnership and we seized it," Lee said in a press release. "The inauguration of Comikaze Expo demonstrated the mighty appetite and eager response from fans to experience a Los Angeles-based event that provides a variety of comic book and pop culture entertainment."
With more announcements about events, guests, and panels yet to come (most likely while mixing in another Marvel movie cameo or two), it looks like Mr. Lee, who was a guest of last year's convention, has only just begun. Excelsior!