Thousands of fans donning their best costume play outfits gathered at the San Diego Convention Center on Thursday (July 24) for the opening day of Comic-Con.

It is a social experience unlike any other, where loud and proud geeks share their love of everything nerdy, from anime to all-American superheroes to popular television shows.

Super-fan Matthew Tackett drove all the way from Dallas, Texas to attend his first ever Comic-Con.

SOUNDBITE: Matthew Tackett, saying (English):

"The entire culture. Being able to come out here, see a bunch of great costumes, hang out with my friends and look around and see a lot of great artwork, a lot of great figures and it's just a lot of fun."

In recent years, Comic-Con has turned from a fan gathering into something much bigger, often hosting blockbuster premieres.

Some fans see this mixture of cultures as an evolution for Comic-Con, like Analise Smith-Hinkluy

SOUNDBITE: Analise Smith-Hinkluy, saying (English):