Tens of thousands of comic book and science-fiction fans, many dressed like their favourite fantasy characters, descended on San Diego, California, at the weekend for the annual Comic Con fair, at which the industry reveals its plans for the coming year.
Television series Game of Thrones stole the limelight, with its producers unveiling new characters for the fifth season of the fantasy drama that has enthralled millions with its morally ambiguous characters and dynastic rivalries.
Nine new actors were introduced, including Jonathan Pryce - a former James Bond villain in Tomorrow Never Dies - playing the pious beacon of hope, High Sparrow. The audience greeted the announcements with screams of excitement.
More than 6000 people attended the Game of Thrones press conference, a testament to the popularity of the show which averaged over 18million viewers an episode last season, making it the most popular show on the US's HBO network.
Daniel Radcliffe, of Harry Potter fame, like many stars used the Comic Con tradition of dressing up to escape being mobbed by over-excited nerds - choosing a Spiderman costume for the occasion.
Marvel superheroes of all kinds - from Iron Man to Ant-Man - revealed surprises in coming films.
Avengers: Age of Ultron , the sequel to 2012's superhero ensemble Avengers , brought out a star-studded panel that included Robert Downey jnr ( Iron Man ), Chris Hemsworth ( Thor ), Chris Evans ( Captain America ) and Samuel L Jackson ( Nick Fury ).
In 2012, Avengers became the fastest film to gross $1-billion at the global box office. The sequel introduces Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Quicksilver, Elizabeth Olsen as the Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany as The Vision.
James Spader will play villain Ultron.
The audience at the Marvel showcase was shown a sneak peek that begins with the group of superheroes joking over drinks. The banter quickly turns to action-filled drama as the superheroes have to save people from Ultron.
Fans were also treated to a clip showing actor Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, shrunk to the size of an insect and escaping on a fly.
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