Trade-event organizer Advanstar Communications has bought Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo a little more than a year after the fledgling Los Angeles convention was rebranded in a partnership with the legendary creator and POW! Entertainment. The second installment of the expo will be held Sept. 15-16 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Although the terms of the deal weren't disclosed, Folio reports that Comikaze Entertainment CEO Regina Carpinelli and her small staff will focus on publicity and promotion while Advanstar, which organizes the annual Licensing Expo, handles the business and logistical elements.

"They will be contacting the vendors at Licensing Expo to see if they want to be part of our show because it is a good marriage," Carpinelli  said. "Those brands fit in with our base — the demographics of Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo is one of the most desirable in the world. We’re all about our consumers, but we also want to help brands reach their target audiences. Advanstar has access to brands and people it would take us years to get a hold of.”

The first Comikaze Expo, held in November 2011, drew about 40,000 attendees; Carpinelli hopes to attract more than 100,000 by 2013. Guests for the September installment include Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Camilla d'Errico, Jhonen Vasquez, Devin Grayson and, of course, Stan Lee.