The popular multi-genre exhibition Comic-Con International 2013 is slated to kick off next week on Thursday, July 18th and run through Sunday, July 21. Fans were left somewhat in the dark leading up to the event, though now the official Comic-Con schedule has been released and features plenty of  anime, animation, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, horror fiction, and fantasy novels for your pop culture pleasure. Comic-Con will take place at the San Diego Convention Center, Hilton San Diego Bayfront, and San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina

The entire schedule with hourly events can be found here though highlights of the weekend-long expo include special guest appearances by Sergio Aragonés, one of MAD magazine’s longest-running cartoonists; Paul Dini, writer and producer of Batman: The Animated Series; Congressman John Lewis, Georgia (D); and Leonard Maltin, Author of Leonard Maltin’s Movie Guide and TV host.

Comic-Con is also a popular venue to debut movies and short films though per the website, “The Films schedule is top secret…the only way you’ll see it is onsite in the Events Guide and in the Quick Guide!”

What started out as a mini convention to celebrate the favorite comic books of those who attended, about 145 the first year, has skyrocketed in terms of popularity drawing an estimated 130,000 people to last year’s event. This year is poised to top last year’s as all four-day tickets sold out in under an hour after becoming publicly available while all tickets sold out in 93 minutes.

According to a 2008 survey as reported by U-T San Diego, “spending on lodging, meals, transportation and other related items totaled $67.8 million, which includes $25 million rung up by conventioneers occupying nearly 31,000 hotel rooms.”

But what do you think about Comic-Con? Would you ever attend? How about those of you who frequent Comic-Con. How often do you go and what’s your favorite event? Drop all of your Comic-Con knowledge on us in the comments section below.