Contributed by collector and Overstreet Advisor Art Cloos
Photos by Alice Cloos
On March 3, 2024, the New Jersey Comic Art Con was held at its new location at the Hanover Marriott in Whippany, NJ. Billed by show promoter Joe Veteri as the tri-state area’s premiere event to buy, sell, and trade original comic book art, this was the 30th edition of the show. The show is held twice a year, the first in the spring and the second in the summer.
The dealer list included some of the top comic art dealers in the hobby from across the country, including some first time dealers and many of the show’s regulars, including Will Gabri-El, Anthony Snyder, Bob Stevenson, Nathan Rose, and Rich Donnelly from California, among others. There were two auction houses set up at this show: ComicConnect represented by Vince Zurzolo, and Heritage represented by Joe and Nadia Mannarino. As with past shows this one was a hot topic in the various Facebook groups devoted to collecting original comic art.
The guest artist for this show was Rudy Nebres, a Filipino comics artist who has worked mostly as an inker who was known for his lush, detailed ink lines. He worked for all the major American comic book companies, with his most prolific period in the late 1970s and the 1980s. Today at the age of 87, he is still drawing three hours a day and despite the loss of his wife, Dolores, wants to get out and meet his fans at shows. He was very happy to meet up with some of his fans.
Allie and I got to the show just as it opened and entering the very large dealer’s room, we saw that collectors were already checking out the vendor displays and going through art portfolios. As with every NJ Comic Art Con, there was a wide variety of original comic art on display. It was much more than what one would find at a traditional comic convention. The dealer’s tables were set up around the room against the wall with two tables set up for Nebres and another dealer in the middle of the room. As a result there was plenty of space to walk around without bumping into someone else. As he does at every show dealer Anthony Snyder had a nice selection of goodies in his portfolios for collectors to go through.
There were no comic books for sale; they are not allowed and never have been. This is strictly a comic art show. Veteri is proud of the fact that some of the most prolific comic art dealers and collectors in the nation choose NJ Comic Art Con as their exclusive comic art only convention to attend.
We ran into a lot of familiar faces at this show, including longtime close buddy Frank Giella, the son of comic artist legend Joe Giella, Ankur Jetley who was checking out all the portfolios on dealer’s tables, and Dan Gallo, who was the co-creator of the NJ Comic Art Con. At an earlier show he had talked to Allie about the con and said that “his baby is all grown up now,” and he was very proud of what the show has become. His smile reflected that at this show.
There was a strong showing of Silver, Bronze, and Modern Age comic art and more newspaper art for sale than in past shows. I am happy to say I found one for my collection. As for Golden Age art, there was a decent amount to look through and some of it really stood out. As at every NJ Comic Art Con, there was a good amount of comic book covers, and I am happy to say that there was a fair amount of Batman art among them. Dealers had portfolios full of original comic book pages including splash pages as well as special ones on the walls. Commissions, sketches, and paintings were on display. Over the last several years Marvel both in vintage comic sales and original art has tended to dominate at both comic and art shows. But that ratio between Marvel and DC art seemed to even out a fair amount at this edition of the con, though Marvel was still in a bit in the lead. Both Allie and I did not walk out of there with empty hands and we were very happy with that.
In past conversations, Veteri told me that part of his Comic Art Con’s unique value comes from his outstanding attendees, many of whom bring art to sell, trade, or simply share with other collectors. Many deals get done collector to collector and no show has more true original comic art collectors walking around than the NJ Comic Art Con. Also the best shows are the ones where people talk about their comics, or their art and this show is one of them.
The hotel has two eateries, including The Auld Shebeen Pub to which opens every day at 3 PM. It offers a wide variety of Irish food and is a perfect spot to eat dinner after the show ends. Seeds an American Grill offers breakfast options and an assortment of American classics, and it is open from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM on the weekends. There are other restaurants within a short drive, and the show had a convenient food stand set up outside the entrance to the show.
Show hours were 9:30 AM to 4 PM, admission was $20, and children got in for free. There was ample parking at the venue and the hotel is easy to get to as it is right off the highway.
The Summer edition of the NJ Comic Art Con will be held Sunday, August 4 at the Hanover Marriott, located at 1401 NJ-10E, Whippany, NJ. Veteri has asked me to say that if you are an artist with a Marvel or DC pedigree or if you know one or represent an artist he is looking to fill slots for future editions of the show. With only one to two spaces available per show he asks that perspective creators contact the show as soon as possible. Veteri can be reached at jveteri@coopmail.net or (973) 768-6649 to arrange to set up at his next show. For more information on dates and attending future shows check his website at www.veteriproductions.com or his Comic Art Con Facebook page.
For more photos from New Jersy Comic Art Con, jump to our In the Limelight section.
