The San Diego Comic-Con has become the place to launch superhero movies, hype sci-fi TV shows, and announce toy deals. Sure, comic-book news comes out of there, too, but the information is usually delivered in a muffled voice by a dude in a Max Rebo mask. (You know, the blue-elephant band leader at Jabba’s palace in Return of the Jedi.) But the Baltimore Comic-Con is still mainly about the art form of comic books, and its 11th edition reaffirms this by having Stan Lee as its guest of honor. More than 150 comics creators are also appearing for signings, including star scribe Mark Waid, writer-illustrator Walt Simonson, and legendary artists Neal Adams and Baltimore-born Bernie Wrightson. But the heart of the con is the Harvey Awards, whose winners are determined by comic-book professionals—not dudes dressed as blue elephants.

Comic-Con takes place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St., Baltimore. $15–$30.