Contributed by collector and Overstreet Advisor Art Cloos
Photos by Alice Cloos

Elite Comics11 Expo is a large community-powered comic book and collectible consignment platform operating on social media that was founded and is led by Ali Koleini. The platform functions as a vendor and facilitator for buying and selling graded comic books. It was popularized on Instagram as a trust-based community marketplace that evaluates data to ensure books are sold at fair market value and includes insured shipping in its listings. The network launched its own one day live convention in New York City in 2025 to connect vendors and buyers, the Elite Comics11 Expo.

The second edition of Elite Comics11 Expo was held on Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31, 2026, returning to St. John’s University in Queens, New York. It was a homecoming for me, as I did my undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate work, and where I met my better half. To put it mildly, the show was fantastic. It was a real comic book feel to it that brought big time dealers and buyers together.

Comic book and comic art vendors included Landry Pop Auctions, Next Generations Comics & Cards, Courtyard.IO, Best Comics, Big Apple Comic Con, Christian Waggoner Art, Gotham Comix, Humble Comics, Superworld Comics, CGC Comics, Hi Grade Comics, J&S Collectibles, LI Comic Shop, Long Island Collectibles, Royal Collectibles, Silver Age Comics, Superworld Comics, Father Son Cards and Comics, Paradise Comics, Lightning Collectibles, Lost For Toys, Robo Picto Comics, Squid’s Comics, Zapp Comics and others.

CGC was on site to accept submissions for attendee’s comics, cards, and video games for professional grading. In addition, attendees could submit their toys at the show for professional AFA grading.

Jim Lee was the show’s guest of honor, who appeared on Sunday, and special guest Jim Steranko appeared on Saturday.

We went to the con with one of our best friends, Pat Dunne, who did the driving, and we were all excited to get there after a long winter away from the comic fandom scene. The show was divided into two separate rooms. One was for comic books and comic book art and the other for vintage toys, cards, and retro video games. We started in the comic book dealer’s room and were immediately impressed. The dealer turnout was strong with major dealers coming in from Ohio, Tennessee, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, New Jersey, Canada, as well as dealers from the local area. They brought with them a strong showing of Golden to Bronze Age comics some of which Pat pointed out never show up at local shows. For example, Landry Pop showed pieces from their upcoming auction, and part of their display was a serious shelf of high grade slabbed Golden Age Wonder Woman Sensation Comics. Also, multiple dealers had high grade Fawcett comics, some of which came home with me. There was a big selection of Golden Age Batman comics, which made me happy. Many dealers had horror comics that Pat pointed out are also seldom seen at local cons. With so much to choose from Allie and I did not leave empty handed.

Pat noted that vendors were willing to negotiate to make a sale and he was spot on about that. Overall, sales were excellent and many of the vendors told me that they were very happy with their sales and many feel that prices have stabilized and some said that prices were on the move up.

Allie and I knew many of the people there, and ran into friends including the longtime member of fandom Manny Maris who was hanging out with Jim Steranko. Mike Carbonaro, who I have known for at least 30 years, was set up and wheeling and dealing but we did have a few minutes to catch up. I bumped into Thomas Cordero, who works at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and recognized me from my many visits there, and we talked about what we collected. Allie and I were both happy and surprised to see Mark Huckabone who is one of the biggest Mego collectors and dealers in the country who came in from California to be at the show.

The collectibles room vendors included 8bit Attic, Brooklyn Video Games, Lexjors Lair, Long Island Collectibles, Pot O Collectibles, Prime 151 Collectibles, Sp4Cdes Collectibles, Toytastik, Brain Blast Collectibles and lots more. Allie was very impressed with it and I could understand why. There was a tremendous amount of big time vintage items for sale in that room, and speaking as a Batman collector, there were some serious vintage Batman items for sale. Allie was very happy to see a big selection of Wonder Woman items on dealer’s table as well.

There was a large and varied number of vintage items for sale. In particular, the Force was strong with Star Wars memorabilia with a very large number of playsets, action figures (loose and on the card). Some dealers had blind boxes for buyers who wanted to be surprised by what was in the box. Vintage computer games were offered for sale as well as celebrity autographs and G.I. Joes. In addition, attendees had a chance to win prizes throughout the weekend.

There were food truck options at the event and for a night out after the show, Union Turnpike had a wide variety of places to eat and hang out. We traveled a bit on Utopia Parkway to Patsy’s a great Italian restaurant.

As we left the show for the day, Allie and I totally agreed that we will be at next year’s show.

The 2026 Elite comic show was held at St. John’s University, located at 171-52 Union Turnpike in Jamaica Queens in the Taffner Field House. One and two-day tickets were available as was a special Elite VIP pass. Parking was free.

Information on a New York 2027 Elite Comics11 show has not been announced yet, but on November 7-8, 2026, they will be holding their first Los Angeles comic convention. Details will be shared on Elite website or on Instagram or Facebook.