This year marks the beginning of what Ken Murphy calls Cape Comic Con's, "second decade."

Murphy, the event organizer, already is planning on breaking last year's attendance record.

"Last year, on our 10-year anniversary, we had around 3,000 people. This year we are projecting close to 4,000," Murphy said.

Cape Comic Con will be April 15 to 17.

In addition to breaking the attendance record, Cape Comic Con has some big things in store this year.

Every year, Cape Comic Con is held at the Osage Centre, filling up the entire building. This year, the Comic Con is expanding throughout Cape Girardeau. Just a couple of the expanded places include Port Cape Girardeau and the A.C. Brase Arena Building.

Murphy and Southeast Missouri State University have partnered to bring an art workshop to Catapult Creative House, Southeast's student creative incubator, as a pre-event before Cape Comic Con on April 14.

"We have this relationship with the university and continue to push to have more students involved with not only Cape Comic Con, but the university itself," Murphy said.

Special guest and three-time Eisner Award Winner, Rick Burchett, will be on hand for the workshop.

Port Cape will host a costume party upstairs at the River City Yacht Club the night of April 16. For the first time in the convention's history, a pro-wrestling event will be held at the A.C. Brase Arena Building on April 16. Murphy said to expect some pro-wrestling legends to be at the event.

More than 80 vendors will showcase merchandise at the Osage Centre, ranging from cosplay accessories to video games. There also will be gaming tournaments held throughout the weekend during and after hours, as well as some special guests, including a member of "The Walking Dead."

One of the main goals for Cape Comic Con this year is interactivity. Murphy said they are moving the stage outside of the main room at the Osage Centre to make room for more interactive events.

For fans to participate more, there will be live streaming of the event all weekend. People from Paducah, Kentucky, and Springfield, Missouri, will be live streaming and podcasting. Fans are encouraged to participate and be a part of the streaming.

With the rise of large, box office superhero films, Murphy knows this will have a positive effect on the Comic Con, itself, drawing in more fans. Murphy also believes podcasting, social media and word of mouth have spread the word to more people about Cape Comic Con.

"We've created a partnership with the community. I want Cape Comic Con and this community to continue to grow this event," Murphy said. "I want Cape Comic Con to be on everyone's calendar, every year."

MeeMee Prino, a Southeast student and a cosplayer, has attended Cape Comic Con almost every year and has watched the event grow.

"Over the years, I've noticed a lot more people cosplaying more, and it's a wide range of fans who attend," Prino said.

Prino said she has always had a love for science fiction, video games and comics. Cape Comic Con, for her, is a place she can go to be herself, hang out with other fans who share the same interests and not feel judged by other people who can't relate to her hobbies.

"It's also a chance for the person who has that kid who won't take off that Spider-Man costume to let them run around and have fun in it without people wondering, 'Why is that kid still wearing that?'" Prino said.

Not only is Prino attending the event, but she also is a vendor this year. She had noticed over the years that people would have well-made costumes, but sometimes had bad wigs and accessories to go along with it. So she teamed up with a Japanese company and will sell high-quality wigs and accessories at the event.

For more information on Cape Comic Con, visit cape-com.com.