For decades, pop-culture conventions have given outsiders a chance to be the insiders, inhabiting a realm of shared enthusiasm for the worlds created in science fiction, fantasy, comic books, video games and other media.

Human nature being what it is, these havens of geekdom inevitably left other people feeling like outsiders – or at least like latecomers who weren’t sure how to step into a world that had developed its own codes of conduct and social dynamics. For the organizers of a brand-new convention opening in Mobile on Friday, July 15, changing that was a priority: They want the inaugural Azalea City Con to be a welcoming and rewarding experience for visitors young and old, for first-timers as much as for veterans.

The convention, which takes place July 15-16 at the Holiday Inn at 301 Government St., includes many of the features you might find at a larger, older event such as Atlanta’s Dragon Con. There’s an array of special guests including a respected voice actor; noted cosplay artists and costume communities; and creators in media including film, comics, podcasts and more. The convention also will offer retro video games, a board game and role-playing game area and an Artist Alley and vendor booths.

“It is a traditional fan-run convention, kind of in the same vibe as Dragon Con or something like that, but on a smaller scale,” said co-founder Martha Howard. “All of us are fans, so we have the panels, the costume contest, the guests, the vendor floor, the gaming, all the things that you would expect to see from a conventional convention.”

It also has one feature that’s rather unusual: An all-woman board.