For collectors and gamers, a comic book convention is a veritable paradise.

On Saturday and Sunday, the fourth annual Cape Comic Con will invade the West Park Mall, in the former Steve & Barry's location.

It's an event where rare and popular comic books and cards can be traded and sold. Fans can roam freely dressed as Batman or Luke Skywalker. Gifted gamers compete and show their skills in front of an audience of their peers.

"We're expecting between 1,000 to 1,500 people this year," Ken Murphy said.

Murphy, the former owner of Marvels & Legends, has helped organize Cape Comic Con the previous three years and said this one will be the biggest Cape Girardeau has seen yet.

Grant Schaefer of Jackson got a Spiderman face paint by artist Bill Baunach during the 2008 Cape Comic Con. (Southeast Missourian file photo)

"We'll easily have five to six times more space than before," Murphy said.

More space means a larger area for a video game tournament where competitors will face off in rounds of "Guitar Hero," "Madden '09" and others. There will also be a larger stage for the costume contest.

"Parents love our show," Murphy said. "Kids love to get their picture taken with all the different characters and people in costumes. It's great because Cape Comic Con isn't just about older people seeking collectibles."

In its first year, the convention was held in the Riverview Room above Buckner Brewing Co. For the following two years, it was held in Southeast Missouri State University Rec Center South behind the old First Baptist Church on Broadway.

"The support from the Heartland has been phenomenal," he said. "Plus, we've got vendors coming in from Baton Rouge, Dayton, Ohio. Someone can come in, spend 50 bucks on a couple of really special issues or fill up a wheelbarrow full because there'll be plenty of 50 cent boxes, as well."

Local vendors of comics and cards will include Marvels & Legends, Championship Games and Yamazo Anime.

Not only will anime have a bigger presence this year, there will be open-play gaming tables where the public can take part in Magic, Warhammer and Star Wars miniature games with members of the River City Gamers RPG (role-playing game) Club.

Talent scheduled to appear this year will include members of the Mid-South Cartoonist Association from Memphis, Tenn., along with writers Roy Thomas and Gary Frederich. The duo, both natives of Jackson, is probably best known for their run working on the popular Marvel Comics title "Ghost Rider."

Cape Comic Con will also show the independent film "Fanboy," a comedy that chronicles the life of "Star Wars" fans who go to conventions. That film, which was filmed in Paducah, Ky., at another convention, has cameos by Jeremy Bullock and Peter Mayhew who played Boba Fett and Chewbacca, respectively, in the original "Star Wars" trilogy.

"The guys who made the film were real lucky because the guys that played Boba Fett and Chewbacca were in Paducah. It's crazy, you know," Murphy said.

"These shows are great for hobbiysts to see what's out there and it's also great for people who used to be fans and want to catch up," he said.

Admission is $5; children 9 and younger get in free.