PORT JERVIS - Spider-Man, Wonder Woman and other heroes, haunters and character creators roamed the rooms of Port Jervis Free Library on Saturday, enticing 915 people to Fan Fest on the librarys 127th anniversary.

This is the biggest event the library ever had. We had a line waiting when we opened the door, said childrens librarian Danielle DeLorenzo, Collaborating with Haven for Heroes was a necessity. Theyre involved with the community and brought their fan base.

They brought out not only many people, but many colorful alter egos and demons needing exorcism. Spider-Man greeted a guest at the top of the library entrance stairs. Although concealed in Spider-Man garb head to toe, he revealed himself to be Manny Sepulveda, of Deerpark, who works for CASA, a dispute resolution program assisting children in foster care.

Growing up, I always had a place in my heart for Spider-Man. He was finding himself on a daily basis, trying to be a hero and trying to have friends, said Sepulveda. Wearing the mask brings out the innocence and brighter moments for kids.

Nearby, Wonder Woman, radiant in her regalia, explained her transformation from Natasha Carmona, of Goshen, social worker at Access Supports for Living.

Wonder Woman was an inner interest from movies, comics and TV, said Carmona. Three years ago I first put on a costume after my supervisor suggested it. She knew I was into it because I described clients like characters. Its a hobby to get my mind off work.

She is now involved with DC Comics cosplay, performance art involving costumes. Im thinking of starting an Orange County cosplay group, she said. If I attend fan fests, I could do that.

In a room nearby, creators of comic books and graphic novels displayed their work. Robert Geronimo, of Staten Island, showed off his popular Blood Realm, which he described as dark fantasy, influenced by Greek and Catholic mythology, like St. George and the Dragon.

But why so dark?

Its a way of exorcising my demons, he said. Im the son of a 100 percent disabled Vietnam War veteran affected by the severe trauma of real war. The trauma and horrors are passed on to the son. Hes a monster because war actions are hideous. I portray the trauma and gray line of war how no one wins. People put their own experiences on it, and I attracted a following.

Meanwhile, Al Nickerson, of Westtown, said he stopped drawing the graphic creations of others, which was his work at Marvel, DC Comics, MTV, Nickelodeon and "Sesame Street," so he could focus on his own characters. His new book, Sword of Eden, follows a 16-year-old on his first day of being a superhero. He searches for the Sword of Eden that cherubs used to drive the first humans from Eden, and then he looks for Noahs Ark.

James Kientopp, of Sparrowbush, described his book, Tales of Levinia, asrealistic fiction based on real people going through hardships who felt silenced, that their stories didnt matter.

This venture began with the support of his English teacher, Jeanne Corcoran, when he was a student at Port Jervis High School, from which he graduated in 2016.

I didnt come from much and felt I would come to nothing, he said. I was violently bullied emotionally, mentally, on the bus, on the internet, in texts. I was struggling to survive. Many were lonely and willing to take their own lives. By telling their stories, they were helped, though I was always afraid of fallout from reporting this and showing vulnerability.

But after he published his book, he said, a friends mother thanked him for saving the family. His friend had been planning to swallow pills, amid his parents tumultuous divorce, but when his mother read the book she was able to help him.

Being part of the book, he felt he amounted to something, said Kientopp. Its about raising your sword, showing them who you are and pushing back.

For DeLorenzo, the childrens librarian, the aim of Fan Fest was to get children to read.

We noticed that kids are often more open to reading graphic novels, she said. When we saw kids looking at Pokemon and anime, and we mentioned this event, they were excited. At the end of the day, we gave the community what they wanted.

With no misadventures, said Doug Garnham, Haven for Heroes co-owner.

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Heroes and demons lure crowd to Port Jervis Library for Fan Fest - Times Herald-Record