Boston Comic Con 2015 Features Industry Icon Stan Lee, A-List Celebrities, New Events and 300+ Comic Book Creators

Boston Comic Con enters its 8th year with comic industry icon Stan Lee, co- creator of Marvel Comics, leading the celebrity appearances over the three-day convention. Boston Comic Con will take place at the Seaport World Trade Center from Friday, July 31 to Sunday, August 2. Stan Lee, 92, former president and chairman of Marvel Comics and co-creator of superheroes Spider Man, Iron Man, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers and the X-Men, will appear at the convention on all three days. He kicks off the weekend’s festivities with a sold out VIP experience on Friday night and also appears on Saturday and Sunday to sign autographs and pose for photos with fans.

Other celebrity guests include Billie Piper of “Doctor Who,” Hayley Atwell of Marvel’s “Agent Carter,” Thomas Jane of The Punisher, Robin Lord Taylor of the hit television show “Gotham,” Brett Dalton of Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and Elvira, the one and only Mistress of the Dark. Celebrities will participate in panel discussions, Q&As, photo ops, and autograph signings throughout the three-day convention.

“Boston Comic Con has grown tremendously over the past few years with the rising popularity of comic books all through the entertainment industry,” said Nick Kanieff, a founder of Boston Comic Con. “This year, we have some of the biggest names in the industry, from icons such as Stan Lee to hundreds of talented comic book creators who love to help put on a great show for their fans.”

Several new events have been added to enhance the experience of Boston Comic Con guests including an opening kick-off party and “Drink and Draw” where comic book artists are on hand to literally drink and draw for their fans. Both events are complimentary for Boston Comic Con ticket holders and will be held on Friday evening, July 31 at the Seaport World Trade Center Head House Concourse. The convention also gives fans the opportunity to attend artist meet-and-greets, a film festival, a Cosplay costume contest, Cosplay Harbor Cruise and the official after-party at Laugh Boston. In the eight years since its founding, Boston Comic Con has grown from a one-day show that attracted an estimated 900 comic book enthusiasts to this year’s estimated attendance of approximately 50,000 people. Also new this year, tickets to Boston Comic Con will only be available online and none will be sold at the door.

“We want to give our guests the ultimate experience at Boston Comic Con, that is why we have added special complimentary events where they can socialize with other guests and also connect with comic book creators,” said Kanieff, a Boston area native and resident.

Many of the comic book industry’s most talented creators will be on hand to sign comics and meet their fans including “100 Bullets” and “Batman: Broken City” creative team Brian Azzarello, Eduardo Risso, and Dave Johnson; Humberto Ramos artist of “Amazing Spider-Man;” legendary artist Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez; “Spider-Gwen” writer Jason Latour; “Walking Dead” co-creator Tony Moore; writer Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez of “Locke & Key;” and Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti of “Harley Quinn.” Over 200 popular comic book creators and comic book merchants from both around the country and right here in New England will be in Artist Alley selling their wares.

Participating Boston-area artists include husband and wife team Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb, Joe Quinones, Ming Doyle, Erica Henderson, Tom Sniegoski, and several others.

Boston Comic Con is especially proud of its showcase of several top women creators including: Stephanie Buscema, Amanda Conner, Sarah Dyer, Stacey Lee, Amy Reeder, Sara Richard, Babs Tarr, Annie Wu, Chrissie Zullo, and more.

General admission and VIP tickets are on sale now, as are tickets for celebrity photo ops. Boston Comic Con is also accepting entries for this year’s film festival. Tickets will only be sold in advance, online through www.bostoncomiccon.com.