SPECIAL EVENTS

Proving that Texas really is a magical place, Comicpalooza organizers began Sci-Fi & Fantasy Week by announcing that James and Oliver Phelps --the twins who play George and Fred Weasley in the blockbuster Harry Potter movies—will be attending this year’s event. Comicpalooza 2011 will take place May 27-29 in Houston, Texas, less than two months before the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2, the final installment in the Harry Potter movies.

UPDATE:  Due to professional considerations, James and Oliver Phelps have withdrawn from this year’s event.

Comicpalooza is known for bringing together a host of industry heavy-hitters, including comic-book creators, artists, actors and more. Among the other highly anticipated guests slated to attend the 2011 Memorial Day weekend event: Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica), Sam Trammell (True Blood), Sean Maher (Firefly/Serenity), Jeremy Bulloch and Peter Mayhew (Star Wars), as well as Marina Sirtis (Star Trek).

Other stand-outs in attendance include comic creators Bob Layton (Iron Man), Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies), Howard Chaykin (New Avengers, American Flagg), Phil Hester (Wonder Woman, Firebreather), Fred Van Lente (Cowboys and Aliens), Chris Roberson (Superman) and artists Andy Kuhn (Firebreather), and David Mack (Kabuki), among many more.

Sponsors for this year include the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, McDonalds, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Splatterfest.com, FUNimation, Bedrock City Comic Company and the Southwest Alternate Media Project. Startling Events, LLC, is the organizing-events company for Comicpalooza.

For more information, including a complete list of events, guests, admission prices and schedules, visit www.comicpalooza.com, www.twitter.com/comicpalooza,  www.facebook.com/comicpalooza.