If you live in Philadelphia and have ever looked longingly at San Diego’s Comic Con, something good is on the way. The Keystone Comic Con is scheduled to take place from September 14-16 at the Philadelphia Convention Center. This is the first edition of the Keystone Comic Con and could be the start of an amazing annual event in Philadelphia.

Who Is Coming To The Keystone Comic Con?

A handful of guests have been announced already. Frank Miller (300, Sin City), Fabian Niciezia (Deadpool), and Peter Tomasi (Superman, Green Lantern) headline the comic guests. John Barrowman (Torchwood, Doctor Who), Catherine Tate (Doctor Who, The Office), and Vic Mignogna (Star Trek Continues, Fullmetal Alchemist) are the initial entertainment guests. So far three musical acts have also been announced: Sammus, Mega Ran, and MC Chris (who has contributed music for shows in the Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim block).

While the initial guest lineup for the Keystone Comic Con lacks the overwhelming star power of San Diego’s event, it is nonetheless an interesting group of names. San Diego’s event is the signature entertainment gathering in the United States. Hollywood generally ships their stars to the San Diego Comic Con to hype up their projects. If Philadelphia regularly turns out for an event like this, bigger names could be on the way for future conventions.

Why The Keystone Comic Con Could Be Big

This is not the only Comic Con in the Philadelphia area in 2018. The Great Philadelphia Comic Con will take place from April 27 through April 29. Unlike the Keystone Comic Con, the Great Philadelphia Comic Con is actually located in Oaks, PA, a 26-mile drive from Center City. By taking place at the Convention Center, the Keystone Comic Con is at a much more attractive location.

Not only is the Convention Center a splashier facility, it is closer and more convenient for much of Philadelphia’s millennial population. Given that this is the biggest age demographic for Comic Cons, this is a huge plus for the event. People are more likely to come to the area for an event in Philadelphia than the suburbs. Could you have a better weekend than capping a nerd out at the Convention Center with a pig out at the nearby Reading Terminal Market?

The Keystone Comic Con is not the only nerd-friendly event in Philadelphia in 2018. The Philadelphia Independent Film Festival is scheduled from May 2-5. The sixth annual Philadelphia Podcast Festival will run from June 22-24 and June 29-July 1. The 2018 Podcast Movement conference will be in Philadelphia from July 23-July 26. An increase in the number of pop-culture events can only have a beneficial symbiotic relationship in raising the profile of Philadelphia as an attractive city for events like the Keystone Comic Con.

Who I Would Love To See Added To The 2018 Keystone Comic Con Lineup

Philadelphia has an amazing local music scene. In addition to the names already on this list, one Philly artist with a preexisting tie-in to the Comic Con scene is rapper Schoolly D. Not only is Schoolly D a major influence within the rap community, but he also created music for Cartoon Network’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

The Philadelphia area also has a rich acting tradition that could help bolster a local event like this. The Walking Dead’s Lauren Cohan is from Cherry Hill, NJ. Seth Green (Family Guy, Guardians Of The Galaxy) is from the Overbrook section of Philadelphia.

With Creed II being filmed in Philadelphia this year, bringing in Black Panther’s Michael B. Jordan would be an amazing get for the Keystone Comic Con.

One look ahead towards a potential 2019 Keystone Comic Con: with movies like Aladdin, Bright 2, and Suicide Squad 2 all slated to come out next year, Will Smith could be the charismatic megastar an event like this needs.

www.flatcircleblog.com is a Philadelphia pop-culture blog that covers television, music, podcasts, and movies. Follow along on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest, or subscribe by e-mail to catch all posts.