SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake Comic Con is bursting at the seams.

Unable to meet fan demands on its usual Salt Palace Convention Center stage, Utah's original comic and pop culture convention kicked off the three geekiest days of the year at Vivint Arena on Thursday.

More than 10,000 attendees filled the arena, surrounding a stage on all sides as Salt Lake Comic Con founders Dan Farr and Bryan Brandenburg greeted fans.

Farr drew cheers as he announced that the crowd gathered for the kickoff news conference was about what he and Brandenburg had anticipated total attendance would be at the inaugural Salt Lake Comic Con, an event that ultimately drew more than 50,000 guests. Attendance at last fall's comic con event topped 120,000.

The remainder of the convention — including celebrity panels with stars ranging from the "Harry Potter" films to "The Walking Dead" and "The Dukes of Hazzard" TV series — runs through Saturday at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

Brandenburg praised the guest lineup for the latest comic con, which includes icons such as Mark Hamill of "Star Wars" and William Shatner of "Star Trek." The two spoke at back-to-back panels in the large venue Thursday.

"For those who this is their first comic con, we want to say that we have an amazing weekend in store for you," Brandenburg promised.

In his only U.S. comic con appearance this year, Hamill delighted the crowd in the arena, which he greeted as "thousands and thousands of my new best friends."

"I want to talk to you like you we're sitting in my living room, except I won't be serving snacks, and no you can't use the bathroom," Hamill said.

In addition to describing how George Lucas recruited him to revive his character in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" — Hamill claims he tried to keep a poker face while co-star Carrie Fisher shouted out "I'm in!" — Hamill told fans about his upbringing and his decision to pursue show business.

"You guys would probably understand me better if you knew that I was the middle of seven children, my dad was in the Navy, and I went to nine schools," Hamill said.

Entertainment became a personal escape "when my sisters got too annoying," he joked, leading him to pursue the industry professionally.

"You wouldn't be here if it wasn't really important to you to be able to escape reality," he told the audience. "We want to go to our happy place, and right now this is my happy place."

Hamill also talked about his time voicing Batman's nemesis, the Joker, including in the new animated movie "The Killing Joke." Hamill emphasized the production is a Joker story for adults, not children.

Other highlights of the panel included Hamill breaking out the voice of the Joker and other accents as he answered questions, a presentation of plush bear from the Utah Jazz Bear, and an onstage appearance from Hamill's dog, Millie.

Hamill ended his presentation insisting there was much more he wanted to say.

"We're just scratching the surface. The next time I come back, we'll do two hours with an intermission," he said, drawing a standing ovation.

Welcoming conventiongoers to Salt Lake City, Mayor Jackie Biskupski opened the event with a proclamation filled with comic and pop culture references and declaring the weekend "Salt Lake Comic Con Days" in the city.

Biskupski, who said she will be attending the event with her own family, encouraged attendees to enjoy the city, take advantage of TRAX and public transit to get around, and to proudly wear their costumes as they eat and entertain around downtown.

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Thursday's opening ceremonies also included a presentation by Utah law enforcement as Lou Ferrigno, whose physicality defined his role as the original "Incredible Hulk," was sworn in as an honorary member of two agencies.

Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder deputized Ferrigno to his force, while Attorney General Sean Reyes made him an honorary special agent and a member of the state's SECURE task force to fight human trafficking. Ferrigno is the son of a New York Police Department lieutenant, completed police academy training as an official member of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office in California, and has been deputized in numerous states.

Beyond his feats of strength, Winder praised Ferrigno as a force for good in the world, welcoming him to the ranks of his department.

"It's my honor to represent, maybe not superheroes, but men and women who do serve for the peace and safety of our community every day," Winder said of his department.

Swearing in Ferrigno as a member of his investigative team, Reyes took a veiled jab at San Diego Comic-Con's trademark lawsuit against Salt Lake Comic Con, currently being litigated in federal court.

"And if any puny lawyers try to harass Dan Farr or Bryan Brandenburg, I will smash them," Reyes had Ferrigno repeat as the crowd gave a cheer.

Ferrigno told the Deseret News he hopes standing alongside Utah's law enforcement will highlight the good that police do, even as officers around the country face scrutiny and criticism.

"Please trust your police officers," Ferrigno urged the crowd.

Guests appearing at Salt Lake Comic Con include Evanna Lynch, Luna Lovegood from the "Harry Potter" films; Millie Bobby Brown of the Netflix original hit "Stranger Things"; Famke Janssen, who plays Jean Grey in the "X-Men" movie franchise; Michael Rooker, "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "The Walking Dead"; Ian Somerhalder, "The Vampire Diaries" and "Lost"; Ruth Connell, "Supernatural" and "Disney Infinity"; Billy Boyd, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy; Manu Bennett of "Arrow" and "The Hobbit" trilogy; Ming Chen, Bryan Johnson and Michael Zapcic of "Comic Book Men"; and "The Dukes of Hazzard" trio John Schneider, Tom Wopat and Catherine Bach. Email: mromero@deseretnews.com Twitter: McKenzieRomero

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