Comic-Con kicks off with Marvel's return

Comic book fans returned to San Diego, California on Thursday for the latest Comic-Con, with many convention-goers buzzing about this year's return of Marvel.

The studio skipped last year's event, but will be back at the coveted Hall H on Saturday to promote "Avengers: Doomsday," which is slated to premiere in December.

Under the Russo brothers' direction, the latest superhero flick will pick up where 2019's "Endgame" left off, bringing together heroes and villains from X-Men, the Avengers, Black Panther and the Fantastic Four to duke it out once more.

The annual event draws around 130,000 fans who expect to be wowed by movie previews and actor announcements.

The last time Marvel was in Hall H, they stunned more than 6,000 attendees by announcing Oscar-winning actor Robert Downey Jr. would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe -- or MCU as breathless fans call it -- not as Iron Man, but as the villainous Doctor Doom.

DC Studios will also grace Hall H to preview its HBO series "Lanterns," starring Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre as small-town Nebraska detectives, which debuts August 16.

The flesh-and-blood narrative offers a new take on 2011's "Green Lantern," a Ryan Reynolds-led space adventure movie.

Fans began lining up around noon on Wednesday for Thursday's events in Hall H, with sisters Adelaide and Delaney Hall heading up the queue.

"I'm gonna be camping out tonight so that I'm in there first thing tomorrow, I'm really excited," said 21-year-old Adelaide.

Her sister had tried to line up near dawn but "there was no line, and so she was like, okay. She came home, she rode her bike, and then she grabbed me, and we came down around noon, and then we got in line."

The San Diego native is eager to see the panel for "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," a fantasy TV series with its third season due out November 20.

Fans shrieked over another Thursday morning panel titled "Bite Me: Calling All Vampires," which brought together K-pop sensation ENHYPEN and some cast members from 2008's teen vampire blockbuster film "Twilight."

"I am so speechless, I want to cry!" Rachel Castillo told AFP after cheering nonstop for her idols.

Moviegoers also awaited Thursday's preview of upcoming action film "Onslaught" starring Adria Arjona.

Since the pop culture festival began in 1970, it has grown into a major event, with thousands of sometimes-costumed fans gathering in San Diego to buy memorabilia, see their idols and celebrate beloved stories.

Mexican director Guillermo del Toro will mark the 20th anniversary of Oscar-winning "Pan's Labyrinth" on Friday.

Crew members from "Star Trek" will also land in San Diego on Saturday, to commemorate six decades of exploring the far reaches of the universe.

"That's what I'm most excited about," local fan Reyna Villalobos told AFP.

"They told me there will be actors from across the franchise and I think that's incredible."

Studios line up to showcase their best and newest offerings at Comic-Con, with dozens of panels to entertain fans.

In addition to promo for Emmy-nominated horror comedy "Widow's Bay," Apple TV is expected to offer a glimpse of upcoming films "Mayday," starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, and "Matchbox: The Movie," with John Cena and Jessica Biel.

On Friday, fans will see the hotly anticipated preview for "Spaceballs: The New One," a long-awaited sequel to Mel Brooks's legendary space comedy.

Weeks before its opening in Los Angeles, the Lucas Museum will be on hand to share new details about its exhibits.

Comic-Con runs through Sunday, July 26.