TIJUANA -- For those comic-book fans who haven’t been able to snag a ticket to Comic-Con in San Diego, this city offers an affordable opportunity this weekend to venture into the always dangerous world of superheroes.

Iberoamericana University and Radbeat, a firm that specializes in multimedia productions, will host the second annual ComCom this Saturday, expected to draw up to 5,000 people.

The day-long conference features 50 booths about comics, video games, anime and pop culture, some created by Tijuana natives.

Organizers received an official license to host a Konami Tournament, based on the popular Yu-Gi-Oh! brand, said Abisag Patiño, an event spokesman.

And there will be the region’s first Cosplay (Costume and Play) Competition.

José Alfredo Medina, who placed third at the World Cosplay Competition in Japan last year, will judge the local contest.

There will also be discussions and workshops led by experts, including Carlos Lerma, Medina (Al Squail) and the artist known as Fuerza Rebelde from the Tijuana-based video-game maker Base TJ.

The idea for the conference began when fans on-line wanted to share with a broader audience what was being done in comics in the region, and to exhibit private collections.

According to organizers, 3,500 people attended last year’s event; more that 5,000 are expected this year.

Omar.millan@sandiegored.com