[ By TROY ROBINSON ]

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The hometown Comic Book and Pop Culture Celebration returns to the

Kansas State Fairgrounds, Meadowlark Building, June 20-21, 2015.

For this second year, the event has grown even larger. In 2014, interest and support forced

Smallville ComicCon to move to a larger fairground’s building before it even opened its doors. This

year activities and booths are now spread throughout two separate buildings with more outside.

Key celebrity appearances include Billy Dee Williams, who starred as Lando Calrissian in the

original Star Wars trilogy and several animated features, as well as countless box office movie hits;

Katrina Law starring as “Nyssa Al Ghul” in the CW series Arrow and “Mira” in the Starz series

Spartacus; Manu Intiryami, who starred as “Icheb” in Star Trek: Voyager and the soon-to-be

released Star Trek: Renegades, and as “Billy” on One Tree Hill; Vernon Wells, who starred as “Wez”

in Mad Max: The Road Warrior, “Bennett” in Commando, and the villain “Ransik” from the Power

Rangers series; Lee Meriwether, who starred as “Catwoman” in Batman: The Movie, Star Trek:

Original Series, as well as All My Children; and Kathy Garver from Spiderman and his Amazing

Friends and Family Affair.

Creator space has sold out, being packed with writers and artists from all genres. New faces and

returning favorites include artists Mike Grell, Rick Stasi and Tommy Castillo as well as writers Neo

Edmund and Mitch Brian, just to name a few.

Even the vendor space has grown in size providing fans with a diverse and eclectic collection of new

and vintage comics, collectibles, toys, jewelry, costumes, artwork, anime, and handcrafted specialty

items.

Interactive role play gaming is increasing this year with Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic the Gathering

tournaments sponsored by Midknight Games; Warmachine/Hordes Steamroller tournament

sponsored by The Association of Dragons and Starships; along with open gaming in Pathfinder and

Star Wars X-Wing.

Various garrisons, bases, and clans within the Star Wars fan club 501st Legion will be present in

costume with activities and photo opportunities. Fan favorites the Iron Brothers of Topeka (IBOT)

will be back to rock the house in their Iron Man, War Machine, and new Cylon costumes; as well as

numerous other professional cosplayers. Fans are encouraged to dress in costume whether they

are competing in the costume contest or not.