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Fans, celebs and comic book greats unite at Wizard World Comic Con

Residents of the suburbs, take note: Rosemont will be overrun this week by stormtroopers, Avengers, vampires, vampire slayers, zombies, several classic movie killers and one legendary Bandit.

Yes, Wizard World Comic Con Chicago is back in town.

The annual pop-culture extravaganza sets up shop in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center for four days, starting Thursday, Aug. 20. The event brings together some of the biggest names from genre films, television and comic books, as well as dozens of comics and memorabilia dealers from all over the Midwest.

Organizers say they're expecting "tens of thousands" of people to attend the show over the course of the weekend. Popular interest in conventions like Comic Con Chicago doesn't appear to be slowing down, despite the fact that metro areas such as Chicago often host multiple cons each summer.

"We have expanded from eight shows (nationally) in 2013 to 16 last year to 24 in 2015," said Jerry Milani, spokesman for Wizard Entertainment, organizer of the event. "We are excited about the growth of our shows, and that so many fans look forward to Wizard World Chicago every year."

As has been the case for the last decade, conventions like Comic Con Chicago attract a mix of fans. Hardcore comic-book nerds still come out, but so do fans of video games, movies and multiple eras of TV.

"Many people who have never opened a comic book or watched a sci-fi movie enjoy these events," Milani said.

This year's guest list reflects that mixed audience. Iconic actor Burt Reynolds, whose enormously successful career includes classic roles like trucker Bo "Bandit" Darville in "Smokey & the Bandit" and adult-film director Jack Horner in "Boogie Nights," will attend, as will Jeremy Renner, who plays Hawkeye in the blockbuster "Avengers" film franchise. Other guests scheduled to attend include Norman Reedus from the hit AMC TV show "The Walking Dead" and veteran comics artist Mike Zeck, known for his dynamic work on Marvel Comics titles like "Secret Wars."

To celebrate the arrival of this year's con, the Daily Herald is spotlighting two of its key guests - one from the comics world, the other from the world of movies and TV. Read all about it, and then head out to Rosemont to let your geek flag fly.

<h3 class="briefHead">Back to the 'Dead,' baby!</h3>

More than 30 years ago, actor and cult favorite Bruce Campbell traveled to Tennessee with some friends from Michigan to make a low-budget, independent horror movie called "The Evil Dead."

This weekend, Campbell will be in Rosemont, presiding over a reunion of "Evil Dead" cast members and hosting a showcase of new low-budget, independent horror movies.

It's enough to make fans shout out one of Campbell's signature lines: "Groovy!"

"I'm looking forward to it," Campbell said. "It'll be like I'm going back home, back to where it all started, except I'll be old, not young and dashing, and I'll be in Chicago, not Michigan. But hey, you get the idea."

Campbell has had a varied career in television and film, but it's the role of Ash, the hapless yet swaggering hero of the "Evil Dead" horror-comedy franchise, that has lifted him to demigod status among pop-culture aficionados.

For the uninitiated, the "Evil Dead" films show what happens when a group of teenagers accidentally unleashes evil spirits into the world while spending a weekend at a remote cabin in the woods. Though the first film played the horror more or less straight, director Sam Raimi (who would later direct three "Spider-Man" films) added a strong dose of comedy to the two sequels, "Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn" and "Army of Darkness."

Campbell will trade "Evil Dead" stories with a number of fellow cast members during a special reunion panel at the con on Saturday. He's also likely to talk about his impending return to the role that made him famous in this fall's "Ash vs. the Evil Dead," a new television series created by Raimi and Campbell that premieres Oct. 31 on Starz.

The series sees Campbell play Ash for the first time in nearly 25 years.

"It feels great - a bit like putting on an old smelly shoe," he said. "Actually, I love playing Ash as an old guy now. Even after all this time, he still doesn't have his act together."

Campbell said fans should not assume that the television show will be a tamer version of the famously (and hilariously) violent films.

"Nope, this is old-school 'Evil Dead,'" he said. "We actually used these high-pressure beer kegs to pump out gallons and gallons of blood. Truthfully, we wouldn't have done this if we couldn't go all the way with it. That's what's great about being on Starz."

In addition to his "Evil Dead" duties, Campbell will host the second annual Bruce Campbell Horror Film Festival while in Rosemont. The fest will present a collection of new and vintage independent horror films, as well as the cult classic "Bubba Ho-Tep," starring Campbell himself. The films will be screened at the Muvico Theaters.

"A lot of these films remind me of what we went through back in the day," he said. "Will they all be great? I don't know - there could be a stinker or two in there, I won't lie. But this kind of low-budget filmmaking is where Sam and I and the rest of our team came from, and it feels good to give a hand to the next generation."

<h3 class="briefHead">Master of realism</h3>

It's not overstating things to say that when it comes to superhero comics, there's Before Neal Adams and After Neal Adams.

Adams burst onto the comics scene in the 1960s with an art style that turned the industry inside out. In a departure from the simple, cartoony look of most comics back then, Adams' drawings seemed almost photographically realistic, with sleek figures that had palpable form and weight. He also shattered the design conventions of the day, creating layouts that pumped new energy into the typical comic-book page.

His style, honed while studying masters like Norman Rockwell and working in the demanding field of advertising, delighted fans and influenced countless artists who followed him.

"I wasn't trying to reinvent the wheel, really," Adams said. "My approach was: If there were a guy in a costume, this is what he would 'actually' look like. That's really all there was to it. I was just trying to make the drawings as good as possible."

Adams produced acclaimed work for Marvel Comics' "X-Men" and "Avengers" books, but it was his work at rival DC Comics that electrified the industry. His dark and elegant depiction of Batman reclaimed that character from the campy 1960s television series and brought it back to its roots. And his work on the 1970s "Green Lantern/Green Arrow" series, written by Denny O'Neil, pioneered the introduction of social issues into superhero comics.

For the last 25 years or so, Adams scaled back his own comics output to run an independent publisher, Continuity Comics. But he recently returned to DC Comics to revisit that company's classic characters. He wrote and drew the story "Batman: Odyssey," and he's about to release a new Superman project titled "Superman: The Arrival of the Supermen."

The Superman story gives Adams a chance to write and draw the cosmic "New Gods" characters created by another industry legend, the late Jack Kirby.

"I was always a Kirby fan, even though I thought his drawing was ugly," he said. "But he was amazing at creating worlds and universes and concepts. Just look at these characters he created - the 'New Gods.' Who would think of creating new gods for a comic book? It's mind-boggling in a way, but it's such great stuff."

While he creates new work, his classic material keeps getting reprinted for new generations of readers. Later this year, for instance, DC Comics will release "Batman by Neal Adams Omnibus," a massive tome collecting every one of his Batman stories.

Adams said seeing his older work get reprinted is flattering, but also a little embarrassing.

"I cringe when I see some of that early stuff," he said with a laugh. "I was just a kid, and comics were supposed to be disposable entertainment! I mean, they were practically printed on toilet paper in the old days. I just have to hope that younger fans can forgive the mistakes and appreciate the good stuff I was able to do."

<h3 class="briefHead">Celebs and attractions</h3>

Here is a list of some of the celebrities and attractions at this year's Wizard World Chicago Comic Con. For a full list, times and availability, go to wizardworld.com.

<b>Burt Reynolds:</b> The legendary actor will meet fans and relay stories from his long and varied career, which includes such classic movies as "The Longest Yard," "Deliverance," "Smokey and the Bandit," "Sharky's Machine" and "Boogie Nights."

<b>Jeremy Renner:</b> A two-time Oscar nominee, Renner is perhaps best known in comic-book circles for playing Hawkeye in the "Avengers" films.

<b>'Walking Dead' cast: </b>Norman Reedus, who plays the fan-favorite character Daryl on the hit show, will appear, as will actors Jon Bernthal (Shane), Seth Gilliam (Father Gabriel) and the great Scott Wilson (Hershel).

<b>Michael Rooker: </b>Another "Walking Dead" alum, this former Chicagoan is known for his intense performances in films like "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer," "Mississippi Burning" and "Tombstone." Most recently, he played Yondu in the hit Marvel Studios flick "Guardians of the Galaxy."

<b>Classic slashers: </b>The men behind some of Hollywood's most popular bad guys will meet with fans: Tobin Bell (Jigsaw from the "Saw" films), Ari Lehman (Jason from the very first "Friday the 13th") and Kane Hodder (Jason from parts 7, 8 and 9 of "Friday the 13th" as well as "Jason X").

<b>Comic-book creators:</b> Writers and artists from multiple eras of comics will be on hand. To name just a few: Mike Grell, Ty Templeton, Whilce Portacio and Streamwood's own Art Baltazar.

<b>Comics:</b> That's right, plain ol' comics. Thousands upon thousands of comic books, old and new, will be on sale by vendors from all over the Midwest.

Cult-favorite actor Bruce Campbell will soon reprise his most famous role - Ash, the swaggering hero of the “Evil Dead” films - in a new television series called “Ash vs. the Evil Dead,” premiering Oct. 31 on Starz. Courtesy of Starz
Jeremy Renner, known to “Avengers” fans as Hawkeye, is among the celebrities appearing over the weekend at Wizard World Comic Con Chicago in Rosemont. Courtesy of Disney/Marvel
Neal Adams' sleek realism was the perfect fit for the 1970s “Green Arrow/Green Lantern” comic, which was recently collected into deluxe book form. Adams will be a featured guest at Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, taking place in Rosemont. Courtesy of DC Comics
Neal Adams' sleek realism was the perfect fit for the 1970s “Green Arrow/Green Lantern” comic, which was recently collected into deluxe book form. Courtesy of DC Comics
The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center will be filled with fans dressed as their favorite comic-book characters during Wizard World Comic Con Chicago. Courtesy of Wizard World
  Prepare to see some creative cosplay mashups at Wizard World Comic Con. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com, 2014
  As in past years, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center will be filled with fans dressed as their favorite comic-book and movie characters during Wizard World Comic Con Chicago. Mark Black/mblack@dailyherald.com, 2014
Norman Reedus is among “The Walking Dead” stars appearing at Wizard World Comic Con Chicago in Rosemont.
Former Chicagoan Michael Rooker, whose credits include “Walking Dead” and the hit Marvel Studios flick “Guardians of the Galaxy,” is among the guests for Wizard World Chicago Comic Con.

Wizard World Comic Con Chicago

What: A four-day pop-culture convention featuring stars from the world of comic books, film and television, along with comic and memorabilia dealers from all over the Midwest.

Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont

When: 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug 20; noon to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23

Tickets: $40-$60 per day, or $94.95 for a four-day pass. (Some autographs and special events are extra.) Go to

wizardworld.com for info.

Bruce Campbell's Horror Film Festival

What: A showcase of new and vintage independent horror films

Where: Muvico Rosemont 18 theaters, 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont

When: Multiple screenings each day, Aug. 20-23

Tickets: Screenings are free with paid Wizard World admission. For people not registered for Wizard World, tickets cost $12 per screening or $100 for the whole festival. Space is limited. Go to

bchff.com for more info.

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