The inaugural New Jersey Comic Expo takes place this weekend at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey. The event is organized by MAD Event Management, which also runs Long Beach Comic Con.

The guest list includes Chris Claremont, Jim Lee, Louise Simonson, Walter Simonson, Dennis Calero, Garth Ennis, Greg Land, Jamal Igle, Ivan Reis and Ethan Van Sciver.

One thing that really stands out in the programming is the number of how-to panels. The Kubert School is offering a two-part panel on storytelling, and former Marvel executive editor Carl Potts is leading another on visual narratives. There are separate panels on writing, penciling and inking, and Simmons is leading a comics workshop just for kids. On the career side, veteran editor Bob Schreck has a panel on creating a portfolio, and there are also presentations on comics careers, Kickstarter and comics law.

The celebrity guests are an interesting mix, including actors Tommy Walker and Peter Shinkoda, from Netflix's Daredevil series; Samantha Newark, the voice of Jem on the Jem and the Holograms animated series; wrestler Tito Santana; and Alan Robert, a founding member of the alt-metal band Life of Agony. There will also be reproductions of the Batman '66 Batmobile, the Back to the Future DeLorean, and other famous cars on the floor. Cosplay is well represented among the guests and panels as well.