Mobicon XVIII

When: Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.

Where: Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel, 64 S. Water St.

Tickets: $45 for the whole weekend. Purchase at the door.

More info: www.mobicon.org

This weekend, all kinds of creatures from video games, the pages of comic books, and the big and small screen, will descend on the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel for the 18th annual Mobicon.

The conference for gamers and sci-fi, horror and fantasy fans is chock full of costume contests, special guests, panels, gaming tournaments and quirky merchandise vendors.

"There's a little bit of a nerd or a geek in everyone, whether you're an old "Star Wars" or "Star Trek" fan or you're into the newer things like cosplay or anime," said Mobicon promotions director Michael Steelman. "We try to have something for everybody."

And it's not just fun and games.

Every year, Mobicon donates a large portion of its proceeds to charity. Last year, it contributed $7,000 to The Teal Life Foundation, a non-profit supporting women with ovarian cancer.

And this time around, Mobicon is supporting Woody's Song School for kids with autism.

Mobicon always attracts movers and shakers from the fandom world to make special appearances and lead informative panels.

Some of this year's notable guests are Nicholas Brendon, who played Xander Harris on the TV series "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," prolific video vame voice actor Richard Epcar and David Gerrold, the writer of the iconic "Star Trek" episode "The Trouble With Tribbles."

Cosplay experts like Arjay Floyd, blogger Cos Couture and the character Purple Pixie will also be on hand to assist in judging costume contests, give tips about creating costumes, and educate conventioners on ways to parlay a cosplay hobby into a career.

There are also special Mobicon events for children. A "Star Wars"-themed Kids Con will keep younger con guests busy with games, costume contests and activities until about 5 or 6 p.m. each day, Steele said.

After dark, the more adult fun begins. Part of the adult amusement is Saturday night's slave auction, which will happen after a costume for conventioners 18 years and older.

Don't worry, the auction is not as raunchy and racist as it sounds. And you must be 21 or over to take part.

Guests will bid on and buy the time of other guests, but according to Steelman, the "slaves" do not have to do anything they don't want to, and no physical favors are allowed.

Plus, slaves and masters must remain in the convention area during their interactions. They are not allowed to leave the building or go up to provate rooms.

"People volunteer to take two hours of time after the auction to spend with people who bid on them," Steelman said. "Most of time they'll just talk or play a game."

Speaking of games, there will be more rooms dedicated to gaming tournaments this year, Steelman said.

"We'll have two or three additional rooms," Steelman said. "We're hoping within the next year or two that we'll be able to start using some space at the Convention Center."

Steelman, one of many folks who organize and work the convention on a strictly volunteer basis, is expecting a big turnout this year.

"I've been very excited with the reception weve gotten online with pre-registration," he said.

He's also looking forward to the visual delights only a comic, video game and fantasy convention can deliver

"The community in general has been leaning a lot towards cosplay and anime, so I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of new costumes," he said.