PHOTOS: NJ Comic Expo brings art, adventure, cosplay to Edison

This weekend saw the first-ever New Jersey Comic Expo hit the floor of the NJ Expo Center in Edison — with artists, celebrity presenters and a whole lot of cosplay.

The event's got a lineage with comic credibility — organizers MAD Event Management have been producing the lauded Long Beach Comic Con on the west coast for the last seven years.

The all-ages event included scheduled appearances from Drea de Matteo of The Sopranos and Sons of Anarchy, Amy Acker of Joss Whedon’s Angel series, Chase Masterson from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The Flash, Tommy Walker and Peter Shinkoda of Daredevil, wrestling legend Tito Santana, former WWE Diva China, Smallville star Ashley Massaro, Rob Bruce of AMC’s Comic Book Men, Samantha Newark (the voice of Jem from Jem and the Holograms)_

Dozens of comic artists were on hand as well, including DC's Jim Lee. But the real attraction, for many, was a chance to be among fellow comic enthusiasts — with both professional cosplayers and amateurs mingling on the event floor.

More than 150 vendors sold new and collectible items as well.

“We set out to create an area our own kids would enjoy and along the way, we were fortunate enough to find partners who took it to another level,” Martha Donato, Executive Director and Founder of the New Jersey Comic Expo, said in an announcement from organizers.