Despite a guest list that includes Star Trek: Deep Space Nine alum Avery Brooks, Serenity actress Jewel Staite and Flash Gordon star Sam Jones, this weekend's Rose City Comic Con remains about comics. It's a good thing, too, considering that Portland, Oregon, is a mecca for creators and publishers alike.

"This town is lousy with comics folks," writer Greg Rucka tells The Oregonian. "But this town has also been lousy about comic book shows."

Now in its second year, Rose City falls somewhere between dealer shows and more creator-focused conventions; it's what founder Ron Brister characterizes as "a celebration of the art of comics." "The celebrities are there because that's something our attendees want," he says.

Kicking off Saturday morning at the Oregon Convention Center, Rose City features as special guests Periscope Studios (its members include Jonathan Case, Colleen Coover, Karl Kesel, Steve Lieber, Jeff Parker, Erika Moen and Paul Tobin), Cullen Bunn, Kurt Busiek, Katie Cook, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Matt Fraction, Adam Hughes, Sam Humphries, Brian Hurtt, Joelle Jones, Aaron Lopresti, Dustin Nguyen, Jamie S. Rich, Greg Rucka, Tim Sale, Matthew Southwaorth, Pete Woods and Chrissie Zullo.