NEWARK, NJ — A free comic convention that highlights diversity in the realm of sci-fi and fantasy is returning to Newark after a successful debut last year.

The second edition of the Newark Culture Con (NCC) will take place at Express Newark in the historic Hahne & Co. Building at 54 Halsey Street on Saturday, April 27. The convention celebrates "diversity, representation and inclusion in the comic book industry." The all-day event will take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission, demos, contests, workshops, panel discussions, and parking are free for all attendees, organizers said in a news release.

This year, celebrity guests include J.W. Cortes aka Detective Alvarez from Fox TV's hit show "Gotham" and B.E.R., featured in the Cartoon Network show "Teen Titans Go!" B.E.R. will render an acoustic performance their Billboard-charting hit, "Night Begins to Shine." Along with traditional comic con fare, attendees can "capture themselves being transported anywhere" through green screen technology,do 3D printing, take free cosplay photos or enter a cosplay contest. Click here for a list of activities.

According to a statement from organizers, Newark Culture Con is the brainchild of Lincoln Farquharson, editor-in-chief of independent comic book publishing company, FarCorners Studios. "No other university has the distinction of being the most culturally diverse university for over a decade," Farquharson said, explaining why he chose Rutgers for the convention location.

"As a comic book creator, I also understand the power of the arts," Farquharson said. "The arts is one of the only areas where difference is highly valued, where inclusion is a given, and where representation is just another form of expression. We celebrate these things through the comic book space not just because of its current popularity, but because it has allowed us as artists to be representational, inclusive, and diverse, both visually and literally, and in small digestible packages for practically anyone to consume."

Newark Culture Con, powered by the Newark Latino Film Festival and Express Newark, is produced by FarCorners Studios and Rutgers University-Newark, with marketing partners Drawlines and TaylorAdams Marketing. Attendees are asked to pre-register online and download event app at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/newarkculturecon. Seating is limited for panels and workshops. RSVP is recommended for those individual programs.

The con will be a featured event at Rutgers University-Newark's annual "Rutgers Day" for 2019. Watch a video from last year's convention below. See related article: Black Comic Book Creator Hopes To Promote Diversity With 'P.B. Soldier'