4-day Comic Con festival kicks off in San Diego

1.1363474-2581329399 — Elizabeth Lau, 33, gets her photograph taken by her husband, Steve Lau, 32, at the preview evening event at Comic-Con 2014 in San Diego, California, USA, 23 July 2014. Image Credit: EPA

Like Batman responding to a beaming Bat signal in the sky, pop-culture fans are streaming to San Diego for the 45th annual Comic-Con pop culture extravaganza.

The four-day festival celebrating film, TV, video games, comic books, costumes and other popular arts kicked off with a preview on Wednesday night and goes full force on Thursday at the San Diego Convention Centre.

More than 150,000 fans are expected to attend the sold-out event, where studios will offer exclusive previews of their latest properties.

Television is making a greater splash than in previous years, edging into the 6,500-seat exhibition hall that’s traditionally been the main home for movies.

Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead are major TV draws, while the Marvel panel and Warner Bros’ The Hobbit are among anticipated film offerings. 

A young fan poses with a huge Transformers display during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. Image Credit: Denis Poroy/Invision/AP

A fan high-fives another fan dressed as Star Wars' Darth Vader during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. Image Credit: Denis Poroy/Invision/AP

Clark Del Rosario, five, from San Diego poses for a photograph dressed as the Batman villain character, The Joker, during the preview evening event at Comic-Con 2014 in San Diego, California, USA, 23 July 2014. Behind him are his parents, Lester and April Del Rosario. Image Credit: EPA

Emily Reeve, 18, from San Diego, poses for a photograph dressed as a 1950s pop art housewife during the preview evening event at Comic-Con 2014 in San Diego, California, USA, 23 July 2014. Image Credit: EPA

Fans take photos of life sized Hot Wheels Darth Vader Mobile during preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. Image Credit: Denis Poroy/Invision/AP

A staff member dressed as Wonderwoman, who gave her name as Hillary Hula, performs at the Gaslamp Quarter in Downtown San Diego during the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention in San Diego, California July 23, 2014. Image Credit: REUTERS

Bersain Gutierrez, 26, from Chula Vista, California, greets people as he and Belinda Sainz arrive at the preview evening event at Comic-Con 2014 in San Diego, California, USA, 23 July 2014. Both are originally from Mexico City. Image Credit: EPA

Kelly O'Hara, 33, from Detroit, takes a picture of herself with a statue of Batman during the preview evening event at Comic-Con 2014 in San Diego, California, USA, 23 July 2014. Image Credit: EPA

Dressed as Wonder Woman, Lindsay Stanley, center, has her costume worked on before waiting in line for credentials on preview night at the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention held Wednesday, July 23, 2014 in San Diego. Image Credit: Denis Poroy/Invision/AP

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