SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake Comic Con believes its latest convention will be one for the record books.

Organizers hope to assemble enough costumed fans to break the existing Guinness World Record of 1,530 people dressed as comic book characters. With overall attendance reaching 120,000 at past events, many of whom came in costume, co-founders Dan Farr and Bryan Brandenburg believe the odds are in Salt Lake Comic Con's favor.

"People have really embraced the cosplay aspect of comic con," Brandenburg said. "When we looked into it a little bit and saw the record is only 1,530, it was just like, 'We can beat that,' and it would be fun and just another way to tell the world there is some serious geekery going on in Salt Lake City."

The record attempt is set for 6 p.m. Friday following the convention's second day and is a preview for Saturday morning's Superhero Run 5K, which will raise funds for a new building for South Davis Community Hospital.

Turning just 3 years old this weekend, the comic and pop culture convention has some logistical foes to combat if it's going to claim the title. Costumes must be for characters who originated in comic books, not in TV or movies, and don't include the creative variations that have been seen at past conventions (i.e. "steampunk Spider-Man" or "ballerina Supergirl"). A comic book T-shirt cannot be counted as a costume.

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The Salt Lake Comic Con is just days away and cosplayers from all over are gearing up for their biggest cosplay competition yet.

Costumes can be simple, however, Brandenburg noted. For example, a pair of glasses and a Superman logo peeking out from a button-up shirt would count as Clark Kent, and a sheriff's hat and paw print shirt could represent Carl Grimes from "The Walking Dead."

A list of preapproved options is available at saltlakecomiccon.com.

Regardless of the outcome, Brandenburg is looking forward to the attempt.

"When you're doing things for the first time, you kind of take your best shot," Brandenburg said. "Without being cliche, we do a lot of things on faith and just feel like, this seems right, let's go after it and do our very best to make this happen."

Advance sign-up isn't required, but comic con pass holders are encouraged to register for free through the event's website to help organizers track prospective participants. Record attempt participants will meet at the Salt Palace south entrance and will be required to stay in place for five minutes while Guinness officials adjudicate.

In addition to the record attempt, the convention that kicks off Thursday will welcome a set of A-list stars from Marvel's "Captain America" saga, including the hero himself, Chris Evans; Sebastian Stan, who plays Bucky Barnes aka the Winter Soldier; Anthony Mackie, who plays Cap's new sidekick, Falcon; and Hayley Atwell, the face of the alluring and intrepid Agent Peggy Carter.

With panels from the Marvel stars and others in high demand, Salt Lake Comic Con has merged two of the convention center's largest ballrooms into one massive space to accommodate about 4,400 people, Brandenburg noted. But even with the expanded area, organizers acknowledge that a number of hopeful general admission ticket holders won't make it through the doors for the most in-demand panels.

This will be the convention's second time utilizing RFID wristbands, which successfully cut down long lines at the smaller, streamlined FanX event earlier this year. Fans who shelled out for highly coveted VIP passes, which sold out weeks ago, will also be trying out a new virtual queuing system for the first time. Organizers have also continued to widen aisle space in the expo hall to keep traffic moving and comfortable.

Brandenburg encourages fans to use the Salt Lake Comic Con app to plan their time in advance, and for those who may be coming for the first time, to opt for a three-day pass to experience more of the event.

"There's just so much going on. It's designed so there's no way you can experience 100 percent of the event," Brandenburg said. "We've tried to create something for everybody."

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