MAPLEWOOD -- High school walls are often covered with support for the school's sports teams or flyers for an upcoming dance.

That's why on Saturday afternoon, 17-year-old Lyric Patterson said she and other students were thrilled Columbia High School on Parker Avenue held its first-ever comic-con in celebration of comics, movies, anime and sci-fi, to name a few.

"This is a new light for the school," Patterson said of the day-long event hosted by the school's Comicology Club, which consists of about 12 kids. "It shows there's nothing wrong with being a nerd or geek -- someday we're going to rule the world anyway."

Students roamed the school's cafeteria, glancing at cartoon artwork and toys made from sci-fi films. Susan Rinaldi, 68, of South Orange, stood behind her table, displaying toys and antiques she collected over the years from movies such as "Super Smash Bros" and Star Trek."

"Capt. Kirk was supposed to be my first husband, but that guy got the luck of it," she said, nodding to her 80-year-old husband Dan.

Tom Jeron, 46, of Pompton Lakes, who works for South Orange-Maplewood School District and helped organize the event, said more than 50 people came out to meet the 20 vendors and guests. Jeron, wearing a "Batman" polo T-shirt, said he hopes to make the event an annual gathering.

One of the guests was Matt Bell, who has been impersonating Marty McFly from "Back to the Future" for more than seven years. The 31-year-old from New Milford said he does about 40 events a year, imitating the fictional character played by Michael J. Fox.

Another was 45-year-old Will Torres, of North Plainfield, who said he fell in love with drawing cartoon characters while watching the original "Spider-Man" at the age of 7. Three years ago, Torres said his artwork was featured on the 27-story billboard attached to retailer American Eagle Outfitters in Times Square.

"I don't think I'll ever see my artwork that big ever again," said Torres, who is working on a comic book he hopes is published within a year.

When the school's Comicology Club meets, Patterson said, they talk about diversity in comics and how women characters are often sexualized.

Sometimes, women aren't seen enough in the industry. As 40-year-old Robert Lee was leaving the event with his 5-year-old son Harrison -- who he said "could name Batman's villains before he could name his vegetables" -- Jeron stopped him to say there was something he didn't like about his shirt, covered in comic book characters.

"There's not a single female on that shirt," Jeron said, pointing to what Lee was wearing. "I almost bought that shirt a couple years ago but didn't because of that reason."

"Oh, you're right," Lee said, holding his son's hand. "This must be the most misogynistic shirt I own. I feel so bad."

Two men dressed as Gen. Veers and a storm trooper from the film series "Star Wars" stood outside the high school most of the day. Under the outfits were Taylor Goodson, 26, and Bryan Phil, 43, who volunteer at 501st Legion, a Star Wars costume organization. Goodson said the 10,000-person group has 80 New Jersey volunteers, who create costumes and work events such as comic-cons or hospital visits.

In the parking lot, spectators took cellphone photographs of replicas of the 1966 Batmobile and the "Back to the Future" DeLorean, provided at the happening by Delorean-Entertainment.

As of 2 p.m., legendary comic book writer Dennis J. "Denny" O'Neil was on his way to the gathering, which was scheduled to end at 5 p.m. Voice Actor Tatyana Yassukovich, who voiced Barriss Offee in the TV series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," was also at the turnout.

Yassukovich said she enjoys the "geekdom" of comic-cons.

"People get so crazed," she said. "It's just like being a Bernie Sanders supporter or a Philadelphia Eagles fan."

Luke Nozicka may be reached at lnozicka@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @lukenozicka.

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