Contributed by collector and Overstreet Advisor Art Cloos
Photos by Alice Cloos
Sunday, November 14, 2021, John Paul, who runs the monthly Pug Productions comic book shows, celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Clifton Comic Book Expo. Paul (who goes by J.P.) started as a comic book dealer almost a decade before the first Clifton con in November 1991. After his wife asked why he hadn’t considered running a con, he pondered the question and became inspired to start a convention.
With the help of contacts and friends he’d made in the industry, the Clifton show was born and remains a success today. Over the years J.P. has increased his reach from his Clifton location to shows in other New Jersey towns like Wayne, Paramus, East Hanover, Fairfield, Secaucus, Hasbrouck Heights and Montclair. According to his website, Pug Productions has hosted over 500 shows since 1991.
Industry guests from creators to educators to dealers have set up at the shows, including Paul Castiglia, Ken Gale, Buddy Scalera, C.J. Henderson, Neal Adams, Irwin Hasen, Fred Hembeck Lee Weeks, Joe Giella, Nick Mockoviak, Gregg Hildebrandt, Jerry Robinson David Hardy, Dave and Paty Cockrum, Adam Kubert, Don Heck, Rickman, and many others. Dealers like Mike Williams, Gary Platt, Howard Tauber, and Oliver Hochran regularly set up at the show. Dealer Ted Pons who set up at that first show returned for this event and Kevin McConnell a friend of J.P.’s since the third grade was in attendance. He told me that he turned McConnel on to comic books.
For this 30th anniversary, Clifton had a strong turnout of buyers and there was a wide variety of comics available. The dealer’s room was sold out and they brought a very nice selection of Golden to Modern Age comics slabbed and raw along with graphic novels, toys, signed baseballs, and other goodies. Dan Gallo had his wall of slabbed Silver Age keys, and there were a lot of them. As always Gary Platt’s table was surrounded with buyers going through his boxes and buying books off the wall. Mike Williams had an eclectic wall of items to check out and Ray Rollings and his son had their comic book protective supplies. None of the dealers had empty spots in front of their booths for any extended period. The shows regular no minimum bid auction, suspended because of Covid restrictions, was also back.
It is important to stress that Pug Productions is first and foremost a comic-centric show. J.P. has said to me that he is proud that people come to look for, buy, and talk about comics and generally don’t care about the bells and whistles found at other shows. All you have to do is walk around the dealer room and you will both see and hear this as you will find discussions on comic book writers, artists, even editors, the price of key books, and more. I find that very cool.
Family atmosphere and friendly vibes are the best way to describe Clifton. Everyone knows everyone there and all are welcome. That has always been J.P.’s goal for the show. Indeed, that family atmosphere was very evident as Allie I went around the show’s dealer rooms. We met up with J.P.’s longtime assistant John Kliminski who has helped man the entrance to Pug shows for as long as I have gone to them. J.P. told me at the show that he wants people to know just how important Kliminski is to him and how much he appreciates all Kliminski does at virtually every show J.P. runs.
Admission was only $5 and kids got in for free. Masks were required at the show and free masks were available to anyone who needed them. As for nearby restaurants, there’s a very nice Peruvian restaurant directly across the street which has become our favorite place to go after the show.
In December Clifton will start its 31st year with its second Sunday of the month show. This December show is usually one of the year’s best, so if you plan to attend get there early. For further information, check out the show website or email pugprdctns@aol.com.
