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Talk about creating a buzz.

Early Saturday afternoon, word began to spread that there would be sci-fi royalty mingling amongst the cast of characters filtering into the ToonSeum for its annual fundraiser that evening, so much so that by the time the event was under way, a handful of fans were clustered outside on the sidewalk in anticipation of catching a glimpse of none other than Star Trek's Mr. Sulu, aka George Takei.

And thus, the VIP portion of Ka-BLAM! started off with a bang.

“I am so brash. I sent him an email with an invite not expecting him to even reply,” mused founder and executive director Joe Wos. “We're a geek museum. … This is like a coup for us.”

The geekery was contagious. More than 100 guests swarmed the man of the hour for the requisite photo op and a little one-on-one, which has never gotten old for the helmsman of the U.S.S. Enterprise.

“I'm an actor! If I did not want that, I'd stay back home,” he laughed, having been in town for the past month while working on a project. “When I first came to Pittsburgh during the '70s for ‘Star Trek' conventions, I had this preconceived notion to see a soot-covered town, and when we came out of the tunnels, bam! It hit me and I was blown away. This is such an exciting city. Every time I come here, there's a change.”

Carrying a Gotham Nights theme as a nod to the city's starring role in “The Dark Knight Rises,” the “cartoon casual” dress code saw a few costumed ensembles in a crowd that included hosts Jim Krenn (with Hedy) and Rick Sebak; chairwoman Erin Marton, Mandi Bridgeman, Michelle Figlar and Greg Quinlan, Stu Neft, Joe King, Aubrey Klinger, Jim Edwards, Steven Mitchell, Nick and Alicia Cafardi, and Doc and Jenn Mendelson.

Already in the mood, some amongst the crowd planned on making their own after-party at the nearest cinema.

“I have to leave at 10:45,” confessed Sally Wiggin. “I'm going to the Imax to see (‘Dark Knight Rises') again. This is the second time I've seen it.”