Wizard World Comic Con is back in Madison for the third straight year, taking place Friday through Sunday at the Alliant Energy Center.

New this year is the entertainment stage, which features free, non-stop programming throughout the weekend. Highlights include:

• Wizard World Hall of Legends Induction Ceremony (7 p.m. Friday)
• Wizard World Karaoke (8:15 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday)
• Kids Costume Contest (2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday)
• Rock It Man Entertainment Dueling Piano Show (10 a.m. Sunday)
• Klingon Pop Warrior (11:30 a.m. Sunday)
• Thomas Nicholas Acoustic Performance (1 p.m. Sunday)

The host for the entertainment stage will be Milwaukee native Brian Kato Kaelin, who was gracious enough to do an interview with EatDrinkMadison.com:

EatDrinkMadison: How did you get involved with Wizard World Comic Con in the first place?

Kato Kaelin: I got involved with WW because the current CEO John Maatta saw me do some hosting at an event with the First Lady of Belize, and I guess he liked it. He called me late night from the Austin Wizard World show and hired me over the cell phone. BTW, John also ran the WB network and started the CW network.

EDM: How does it feel to be back in your home state?

Kato: I LOVE WISCONSIN. I’m so excited to be here and especially to share it with all the people of Wizard World Comic Con, because I’ve been bragging about the beauty of the state as well as the MOST wonderful people on the planet. I’m an INSANE sports fanatic, and I follow ALL Wisconsin sports teams! I’ve been fortunate enough to make friends with Packers and Brewers front office people. ON WISCONSIN!

EDM: Have you been to Madison before? When was the last time?

Kato: I haven’t been to Madtown in about 28 years! Sad, I know. Actually, I did drive through the town the last two years on the way to the family’s cottage in Lac du Flambeau. I can’t wait to see how much it’s changed and if the beer is still cold! I used to visit friends at school there and spent weekends in Ogg Hall.

EDM: Though Wizard World Comic Con has been to Madison twice before, the entertainment stage is new to us. What can attendees expect?

Kato: The entertainment stage is “the gateway to the celebrity signings and pics” if you think “America’s Got Talent” with me as the host playing the part of Tyra Banks. I bring up the best of the Wisconsin on stage. We have music acts, magicians, jugglers, hall of legends inductees, celebrity karaoke (KatoRoake), trivia giveaways and continuous DJ tunes! It’s FUN!

EDM: What are some funny anecdotes you can share about entertainment stages you’ve hosted in other cities?

Kato: Some of the things that have happened on the entertainment stage has been NYC-style runway show between Wonder Woman and Gwen Stacy [from Spider-Man] giving their best poses. We had 10 Deadpools laying on stage posing for paparazzi, and we even had a two-year-old baby Hulk running wild on stage only to pause for 30 seconds to load his diaper with gamma rays! Well, I think you know what I mean. I still hope that was no indication of my performance as Emcee. Ha ha! The kids on stage in cosplay contest always steal the show!

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Photo courtesy of Wizard World Comic Con

What an action (hero)-packed weekend!

While in these past few days Madison played host to many events, including Frozen Assets and a Badgers basketball game, I’m glad I attended Wizard World Comic Con. The national event is spreading, this year now in an all-time high of 25 cities, including Madison.

Some highlights from Thursday-Sunday (note: all photos courtesy of Revelation, LLC. Also, although I got into these events for free, I was not paid to write this review):

Kick Off the Con Party

Entercom held three concurrent parties, one each at the Brass Ring (trivia), Brink Lounge (costume contest) and High Noon (interviews with the celebrities) Thursday night. Regarding the latter, Scott Miller from WOLX interview Lou Ferrigno, then Jason David Frank (Power Rangers) and William Kircher (a dwarf from the “Hobbit” movies) one-by-one on stage. Then each of the actors went upstairs to the loft to be interviewed by a horde of media.

The highlight for me was when Kircher sang a song from the “Hobbit” movie. He’s got a great voice, and it was no surprise when he told me he’s also in a 60s/70s retro band called “The California Dreamers.”

Madison Capitols/Drink and Draw

I was too tired to attend the Drink and Draw event, which paired fans with comic book artists, at Pitcher’s Pub Friday night. However, earlier in the evening I did catch Ferrigno drop the puck at the Madison Capitols game. It happened to be $1 beer night, so I think many fans were still in the beer garden instead of in their seats.

Official After Party

This event took place Saturday night at Badger Bowl. I was worried none of the actors would actually come, but sure enough, Bruce Campbell and Kircher stopped by and actually bowled. What a sight to see, Campbell bowling in a suit, and Kircher bowling for the first time.

(In case you’re curious, many of the celebs, including Ferrigno, Campbell and Kircher, ate dinner at Johnny Delmonico’s prior to the after-party.)

Wizard World Comic Con

First, I loved all of the cosplay. I saw video game characters (e.g. Link, Mega Man), movie characters (e.g. Groot) and many, many Harleys (the Joker’s sidekick).

There was plenty of shopping to do, with vendors hawking comics, posters, action figures (including lots of Legos), weapons, clothing, jewelry and other collector’s items. It was neat to see the old Batmobile, and I paid to take a photo inside the DeLorean from “Back to the Future.”

Prices varied to get photos and autographs with the various celebrities, which included Michael Rooker, Ernie Hudson, Jason Mewes, George Wendt and the Bella Twins. After Ferrigno, I’d have to say Hudson was the most muscular actor there. Rooker was really personable, and the Bella Twins are even more beautiful in person.

Most of the actors also held 30-minute programming sessions. I attended William Shatner’s session, which included a hilarious tale of how he had made up seeing a UFO following a motorcycle accident.

Wizard World Comic Con reps told me it’s all but certain the event will return to Madison next year, though April is a more likely possibility than chilly and snowy February. Either way, I look forward to attending again in 2016.