Denver Comic Con rolls out yet another wave of artist announcements including literary guests, television celebrities, radio and television emcees, as well as opportunities for gamers and volunteers alike.

Scheduled to take place at the Colorado Convention Center from May 31 – June 2, the annual pop culture event attracted nearly 30,000 people at its launch last year, prompting event organizers to go even bigger and better in 2013. With a guest list that ranges from Nerd-tastic to sci-fi-rific notables such as Stan Lee,Wil Wheaton, Felicia Day and other cast members from The Guild, along with a legion of comic book artists and voice actors, Denver Comic Con is proud to announce that New York Times bestseller Chris Ware is now joining the lineup.

Fresh off the heels of the organization’s “indie-week” aimed at featuring the crème de la crème of the independent comic world (and released only to their social networking sites) the locally-operated organization announced yet another visionary guest to initiate this year’s Education Day of the convention: New York Times bestseller Chris Ware, known for his work on the Acme Novelty Library series, graphic novel Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth and the unique set of books called Building Stories. Ware will be a featured guest of both Denver Comic Con and Special Guest at ROMOCOCO (Rocky Mountain Conference on Comics & Graphic Novels). Scheduled to take place the last weekend of May, the five-day event encapsulates both a literary conference and full-scale comic convention, with both events celebrating their second year in 2013.

As if Chris Ware’s attendance is not enough to get your geek on, Denver Comic Con announces two more celebrity guests: Nelsan Ellis of True Blood fame and the incomparableErin Gray, who can be seen most recently on the hit web series The Guild. Nelsan Ellis is no stranger to the acting world; this Julliard-trained actor is not only a popular cast member of HBO’s hit series True Blood as Lafayette Reynolds, but he has been seen in movies such as The Help, Secretariat and The Soloist. Erin Gray is an internationally known actress, speaker and writer. Famous for her role as Colonel Deering on Buck Rogers and the 25^th Century, she has also appeared in over 50 television movies and counltess TV series in her prestigious career.

In case you’re still wanting more, be on the lookout for strange and familiar guests hosting panels, as well as signing autographs on the con floor. Event organizers have added a rich group of emcees such as Andy Ihnatko (columnist at The Chicago Sun Times and Macworld, a regular on Mac Break Weekly, frequent speaker, Apple guru, geek and extraordinaire), as well as members from Comic Geek Speak, one of comics’ top-rated podcasts with over 13,000 episodes online.

Not to be overlooked as just a place to find rare comics and get them signed by their authors, Denver Comic Con also features an attractive all-inclusive gaming area including various tournaments, Magic the Gathering, Heroclix, video and board games, role playing games and much more, all for the price of entry.

Want to know how you can be involved? Why don’t you volunteer? Denver Comic Con needs a small army to make this happen and THEY WANT YOU. Volunteer FAQs and applications are available on the DCC website athttp://www.denvercomiccon.com/2013/volunteer/. Don’t miss out; the application process closes at midnight on March 15, 2013.

Loaded with costumed characters, vendors, gaming pavilions and all things geek, Denver Comic Con has something for everyone. Children can stop by the face painting and creative hub of the Comic Book Classroom Kids’ Corral while parents peruse collectors’ items and merchandise of all kinds. And it all centers around the vibrant and creative arts community, both local and national, and directly benefits the nonprofit Comic Book Classroom. Hundreds of featured artists both up-and-coming and renowned will be on hand for autograph signings, commissions and much more during the three-day event.

Tickets are on sale now for Denver Comic Con 2013, and are set for a slight price increase on March 1. Weekend passes will increase to $50 for adults and $30 for teens. DCC is also announcing the release of single-day tickets, which will be available beginning March 1.

Single-day prices are as follows: 
Friday – $20 adults/$12 teens
Saturday & Sunday – $25 adults/$15 teens each day

Prices will increase on the day of the show and event organizers are encouraging advance ticket purchases for all tickets; VIP passes are already sold out.  For more information about the event or volunteer opportunities check outwww.denvercomiccon.com , www.romococo.com orwww.comicbookclassroom.org for more information.

ABOUT DENVER COMIC CON: DCC is Denver’s premiere fan experience, covering the worlds of comic books, film, and related media, taking place May 31-June 2, 2013 at the Colorado Convention Center. For the latest news and information, visitwww.denvercomiccon.com

ABOUT COMIC BOOK CLASSROOM: Comic Book Classroom is a charitable organization that educates through alternative approaches to literacy, learning, and character development. CBC creates programs for underserved students, schools, and communities via comic books, graphic novels, and related media. CBC is the organizer and producer for the DCC/LC. www.comicbookclassroom.org.

Denver, Colorado (November 28, 2012)- Denver Comic Con prepares for a triumphant return to the Mile High City after an overwhelming national response to early bird tickets and guest announcements. On the heels of their record-breaking inaugural event with 27,700 in attendance, the 2013Denver Comic Con will feature even more square footage on their convention floor, allowing bigger and better options for the panel discussions, cosplay appearances and star-studded guests. Set to take place at the Colorado Convention Center from May 31-June 2, 2013, tickets are on sale now and moving swiftly, with VIP passes nearing an unexpected sellout 7 months in advance.

Denver Comic Con is thrilled to announce that Guest of Honor Stan Lee will also be joined by fan favorite Wil Wheaton and some of his fellow cast members, Robin Thorsen and Sandeep Parikh, from the highly successful internet sensation, The Guild.  Also included in the preliminary guest announcements are voice and sci-fi actress, Kelly Hu known best for her work in X-Men X-2, and Peter Mayhew from the original Star Wars trilogy. The three-day event will feature a legion of celebrated comic book artists including Phil Jimenez, Paul Ryan, Herb Trimpe, Georges Jeanty,Rebekah Isaacs, Allen Bellman, Moritat, and Zombie King Arthur Suydam. It’s all set to go down in Denver this summer.

Widely known as Wesley Crusher onStar Trek: The Next Generation, Wil Wheaton is also known for his work in the classic movie, Stand By Me. He is an accomplished actor, writer, tweeter and blogger who has developed a mind blowing cult following. Most recently, he can be seen in his recurring roles onLeverage, the smash hit comedy series,The Big Bang Theory, and the cult-favorite web-series, The Guild.

Cast members of Felicia Day’s hit gaming-centric web series, The Guild, Robin Thorsenand Sandeep Parikh are thrilling additions to the weekend. The Guild revolves around a group of online gamers, The Knights of Good, wherein Robin plays Clara Beane, a stay-at-home mother who is the Frost Mage within the game and Sandeep the warlock, Zaboo.

Everyone’s favorite furball from a galaxy far far away, Peter Mayhew, will also be signing and meeting fans. Best known for his role as Chewbacca, the Wookiee co-pilot and sidekick of Han Solo in all three original Star Wars films, Mayhew has also appeared as Minoton in Ray Harryhausen’s Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, he voiced the character Susha in the English version of Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy and has written an anti-bullying book for children called My Favorite Giant.

Denver Comic Con will also feature Hawaiian-born actress Kelly Hu, known for her movie roles in The Scorpion King and X2. Hu also has a long list of TV credits which include: The Vampire Diaries, Hawaii Five-0, and as China White on CW Network’s Arrow.  Her extensive voice work includes Young Justice, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and as a regular on Disney’s smash hit, Phineas and Ferb.

Exciting comic guests from Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics and more include: Phil Jimenez (Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes, Wonder Woman, Adventure Comics, Infinite Crisis), Paul Ryan (Fantastic Four, The Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man,The Phantom – King Features, D.P.7), who has worked extensively with fellow Denver Comic Con guest Stan Lee, co-creating Ravage 2099, Herb Trimpe (Co Creator of Wolverine), Georges Jeanty(Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Rebekah Isaacs (Angel & Faith, DV8), Golden Age greatAllen Bellman (Captain America, The Human Torch, Sub-Mariner), Moritat (All-Star Western, The Spirit), and Zombie King Arthur Suydam (Batman, Conan, Tarzan, Aliens, Marvel Zombies).

Tickets are on sale now for the 2013 Denver Comic Con set to take place at the Colorado Convention Center May 31st – June 2nd, 2013.  To purchase general admission or VIP level passes go to DenverComicCon.com.

For more information about Denver Comic Con or the Comic Book Classroom check outdenvercomiccon.com or comicbookclassroom.org.

ABOUT DENVER COMIC CON: DCC/LC is Denver’s premiere fan experience, covering the worlds of comic books, film, and related media, taking place May 31-June 2, 2013 at the Colorado Convention Center. For the latest news and information, visitwww.denvercomiccon.com

ABOUT COMIC BOOK CLASSROOM: Comic Book Classroom is a charitable organization that educates through alternative approaches to literacy, learning, and character development. CBC creates programs for underserved students, schools, and communities via comic books, graphic novels, and related media. CBC is the organizer and producer for the DCC/LC. www.comicbookclassroom.org.

Bruce MacIntosh, the Convention’s Programming Director explains:  “Economically disadvantaged children, women, gays and minorities are woefully neglected – and often consciously ignored – in the entertainment industry.  And despite  often being at the forefront of progressive thought, the cartooning and comics industry is unfortunately no exception.”  MacIntosh, whose job is to merge the Con’s mission with its programming, added: “We hope to use our resources to change that situation as much as possible and expose our fans to amazing comics creators and entertainers of all backgrounds.  Through the Comic Book Classroom’s educational programs using comics, and specifically the massive CBC ‘Corral’ at Denver Comic Con – we also help educate kids who are underserved in our community, and teach them that they can learn, create and succeed no matter what their gender, skin color or sexual orientation.”

Next year, the Con’s organizers will expand on 2012’s diverse list of entertainers, celebrities and comics creators.  Added MacIntosh, “We plan on adding even more panels and films to our Independent Film Series.”  This year’s con already had 150 hours of programming, an unheard-of number of panels and films about everything from independent and mainstream comics– to movie and TV celebrities like Star Wars and Dr. Who.  “Next year, we’ll be adding special tracks of programming for women, minorities and the LGBT community.

“Of course, we plan on bringing in as many of these celebrities to sit with the kids in our massive Comic Book Classroom ‘Corral’.  The comics creators and entertainment icons will actually sit with graduates of our after-school literacy programs and kids attending the con, teaching them to draw, write, and even reading to them.”

He added, “We’re speaking with a variety of celebrities and creators who will help us fulfill our mission for next year’s event.”  In fact, several of the Con’s Directors – including MacIntosh himself – will be travelling to New York this month to attend the country’s second-largest comic convention to speak personally with some of the industry’s luminaries.  “But we would like to encourage any women, LGBT or minority creators who wish to help with our mission – to contact us about attending and taking part in the convention – and any of the events throughout the year leading up to the 2013 event.

The 2013 Denver Comic Con will take place the weekend of May 31, June 1 and 2, at theColorado Convention Center.