2008 San Diego Comic-Con is Here

That's it! It's here! The 38th annual Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center has arrived to the delight and excitement of fanatics everywhere.

Running from July 24-27 (with a special preview night on July 23), fans from all over the United States and beyond will get to geek out over comics, upcoming films and favorite artists at the country's largest comic-book convention in California.

The convention, known for its humongous attendance numbers and mecca of comic culture, will welcome San Diego visitors and natives (many of whom will dress up as their favorite characters) with a plethora of activities and events that will surely leave even the biggest comic fan satisfied.

Registration for the convention sold out completely a few weeks before Comic-Con. According to an article by the Associated Press, the iconic convention will see more than 100,000 people per day as the event runs.

Hundreds of exhibitors - including comic book vendors - will be at Comic-Con to showcase their items for sale. Special film screenings are also scheduled during the week, known only to attendees.

The convention hosts a number of events and entertainment opportunities for visiting fans. There will be an art auction for charity this year, which looks forward to breaking last year's record of $24,000 for attendees with special needs.

Philanthropy doesn't stop there - the 31st Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive will also take place during Comic-Con. Donors will receive a goody bag containing "comics, books ... a limited-edition T-shirt and a raffle ticket" for a chance to win a multitude of prizes offered by the convention's exhibitors.

Comic-Con attendees will also be coming in droves to see a multitude of special guests, including author Ray Bradbury, cartoonist Lynda Barry and comic book writer J. Michael Straczynski.

Various webcomic artists will attend Comic-Con this year. Those slated to swing by for signatures and greeting fans include Zach Weiner of "Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal," Jeph Jaques of "Questionable Content" and Nicholas Gurewtich of "The Perry Bible Fellowship."

With the convention jam-packed with people, events and fun, this year's Comic-Con is sure to be a great success.