By: Taylor Roberts ~Staff Writer~

Zap! Ka-pow! Boom! The 2015 Cincinnati Comic Expo returned Friday, Sept. 18 to the Duke Energy Convention Center with a bang. Fandoms united for the three-day affair that featured great comic books and pop culture from all types of classic and contemporary franchises for the inner geek in everyone. The first Cincinnati Comic Expo was held on Sept. 18, 2010 in the concourse of Cintas Center. Since then, the founders, Andrew Satterfield and Matt Bredenstege, have grown the event to draw crowds as large as 16,000 people.

The various panels, autograph sessions and photo ops lured guests through the doors. This year, attendees could get autographs from, and a chance to meet, Adam West and Burt Ward, the actors who portrayed Batman and Robin respectively, in the 1960s TV show. “A big draw is our celebrities,” Bredestege said in an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer. Other media guests included Livvy Stubenrauch and Eva Bella from “Frozen,” Sean Astin from “The Goonies” and the “Lord of the Rings” and Katrina Law from “Spartacus” and “Arrow.”

The event also displayed half a dozen cars, including a replica DeLorean from “Back to the Future.” Guests could snap pictures with these vehicles or other props dispersed throughout the event. “The great thing about the Cincinnati Comic Expo is we have a little something for everyone,” Satterfield said in an interview with Soapbox Media.

In addition to about 100 vendors selling memorabilia, artwork and toys featuring characters and taglines from comic books, graphic novels, games, movies and television, the event showcased various comic book legends that brought the industry to life. Allan Bellman, one of the comic book artists in attendance, worked on Marvel titles beginning in the 1940s, when he was just 18. He created classic work like Captain America with the head of Marvel, Stan Lee. “I was there!” He exclaimed as fans walked up to his booth at the expo. He then proceeded to talk about his work in the comic book industry during the genre’s golden years while he signed artwork for free.

For more information about activities at the event see http:// cincinnaticomicexpo.com/.