Convention Recap: New Jersey Comic Art Con
Contributed by collector and Overstreet Advisor Art Cloos
Photos by Alice Cloos
On Sunday, August 24, 2025, the New Jersey Comic Art Con was back for its late summer edition. It was held at the Holiday Inn in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. The show is billed by promoter Joe Veteri as the tri-state area’s premiere event to buy, sell, and trade original comic book art.
The dealer list was comprised of Will Gabri-El, Bechara Maalouf, Parigi Books, Anthony Snyder, Han Kosenkranius, Jim Warden, Nathan Rose, Steve and Rich Donnelly, Brad Savage and Olivia Marino. Auction houses in attendance were Heritage Auctions (an official sponsor of the show) and ComicConnect. The special guest artist was Rudy Nebres.
The show was a hot topic in the various Facebook groups devoted to collecting original comic art. Veteri has told me how proud he is of the fact that some of the most prolific comic art dealers and collectors in the nation choose his Comic Art Con as the comic art only convention the exclusively attend.
On the day before the show Allie and I held a pizza party at our house with some of the show’s dealers and collectors. There were some wide ranging discussions about the hobby. One of the topics that came up was how does the change from being a comic book collector to a come art collector come about? Comic art dealer Steve Donnelly said that in his case he never gave up comics but added comic art to what he collected and that while comic art dominates today he still is a fan of comics. The same was true for a collector at the party who still collects comics today but is also a dedicated comic art collector as well. That collector expressed love for being a part of comic fandom, saying it adds multiple layers to the collecting experience such as meeting new people and making friends. Dealer Rich Donnelly (Steve’s brother) talked about the concept of comic fandom and how being part of a collecting community provides many different opportunities such as networking, exchanging knowledge, and advice. It also helps with finding that one piece of art that a collector is looking for. As for Allie and I, we both collect comics and comic book art.
Sunday morning as Allie and I walked in to the dealer room the first thing we saw (as it happens at many shows) was that dealer Anthony Snyder had one entire wall across the dealer room with wall displays and tables filled with items for sale. This was not a display one could go through in a few minutes, and it was really something to see. Allie and I bought from him too. His son Jamison (Jamie) is a recent graduate of the Kubert School and at an earlier event, I had commissioned a Batman sketch from him that I picked up at the show. It really was well done and it got a lot of buzz as I showed it around the room. As we moved around the show Allie and I commented on how nice it felt to be there, especially as there were so many people in the room that we knew.
As she walked through the aisles Allie talked to Dan Gallo, who created the NJ Comic Art Con with Joe Veteri. I caught up with my longtime friend Ankur Jetley who was busy making deals as well. We saw Frank Giella the son of artist Joe Giella is a close friend, who worked the room talking to people and looking for potential trades with dealers and other collectors. I met up with people I have not seen in person in a long time, including one that I first met when I was a kid going to his comic store near my house.
One of the really cool moments for me was that I got to say hello to Rudy Nebres who is still active at the age of 88. His health is not what it was but he still goes to shows to talk to his fans and sell some of his art.
As to the rest of the show there was a strong showing of Silver, Bronze and Modern Age comic art, but there was less Golden Age art than at prior shows. Modern art from the 1990s is still hot and there were examples present. There was a variety of comic book covers for sale but that was only part of what was offered. Dealers had portfolios full of original comic book pages including splash pages. High-end special pieces were on display as were commissions, sketches, comic strip dailies, Sunday comic strips, and paintings. I have said in past reviews over the last few years that Marvel, both in vintage comic sales and original art, has tended to dominate what dealers offer at comic and comic art shows, but that is changing. At this one and the spring show, the ratio between Marvel and DC art continues to become more equal than in the past. Allie and I did not walk out of there with empty hands, and we were very happy with that.
One thing that occurs at every NJ Comic art show was the collectors who set up in the lobby and there was a lot of them at this show. Almost every seat and table was taken by them. They were going through portfolios and making deals, and this is one of the cool things that goes on at every NJ Comic Art show. I have always felt that the best shows are the ones where people talk about their comics, or their art and this show very much reflects that. The people in attendance were more than willing to exchange information, provide insights, and identify the artist on a particular page.
In terms of food, the on-site Hangar Restaurant and Bar has excellent food for breakfast and dinner, as well as very good bar. There is free coffee and tea in the lobby and there were multiple places to grab a meal a short distance from the venue, some within walking distance.
The show ran from 9:30 AM to 3 PM; admission was $20, and kids got in for free. There is ample on-site free parking in the hotel parking lot.
As Allie and I left the show we both agreed that we looked forward to the spring and fall editions of the show in 2026.
The next Comic Art Con is in the spring of 2026 at the Holiday Inn in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. Show dates to be announced. If you want to sell, Veteri requests that you email him at jveteri@coopmail.net or call (973) 768-6649 to arrange to set up at his next show. For information on attending future shows check www.VeteriProductions.com or the Comic Art Con Facebook page. If you are an artist with a Marvel or DC pedigree (or if you know one or represent an artist) and you want to set up at the con artist tables for future shows are available. With only one to two possible spaces available per show it is strongly suggested to book promptly.
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Convention Recap: New Jersey Comic Art Con
Contributed by collector and Overstreet Advisor Art Cloos
Photos by Alice Cloos
On Sunday, August 24, 2025, the New Jersey Comic Art Con was back for its late summer edition. It was held at the Holiday Inn in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. The show is billed by promoter Joe Veteri as the tri-state area’s premiere event to buy, sell, and trade original comic book art.
The dealer list was comprised of Will Gabri-El, Bechara Maalouf, Parigi Books, Anthony Snyder, Han Kosenkranius, Jim Warden, Nathan Rose, Steve and Rich Donnelly, Brad Savage and Olivia Marino. Auction houses in attendance were Heritage Auctions (an official sponsor of the show) and ComicConnect. The special guest artist was Rudy Nebres.
The show was a hot topic in the various Facebook groups devoted to collecting original comic art. Veteri has told me how proud he is of the fact that some of the most prolific comic art dealers and collectors in the nation choose his Comic Art Con as the comic art only convention the exclusively attend.
On the day before the show Allie and I held a pizza party at our house with some of the show’s dealers and collectors. There were some wide ranging discussions about the hobby. One of the topics that came up was how does the change from being a comic book collector to a come art collector come about? Comic art dealer Steve Donnelly said that in his case he never gave up comics but added comic art to what he collected and that while comic art dominates today he still is a fan of comics. The same was true for a collector at the party who still collects comics today but is also a dedicated comic art collector as well. That collector expressed love for being a part of comic fandom, saying it adds multiple layers to the collecting experience such as meeting new people and making friends. Dealer Rich Donnelly (Steve’s brother) talked about the concept of comic fandom and how being part of a collecting community provides many different opportunities such as networking, exchanging knowledge, and advice. It also helps with finding that one piece of art that a collector is looking for. As for Allie and I, we both collect comics and comic book art.
Sunday morning as Allie and I walked in to the dealer room the first thing we saw (as it happens at many shows) was that dealer Anthony Snyder had one entire wall across the dealer room with wall displays and tables filled with items for sale. This was not a display one could go through in a few minutes, and it was really something to see. Allie and I bought from him too. His son Jamison (Jamie) is a recent graduate of the Kubert School and at an earlier event, I had commissioned a Batman sketch from him that I picked up at the show. It really was well done and it got a lot of buzz as I showed it around the room. As we moved around the show Allie and I commented on how nice it felt to be there, especially as there were so many people in the room that we knew.
As she walked through the aisles Allie talked to Dan Gallo, who created the NJ Comic Art Con with Joe Veteri. I caught up with my longtime friend Ankur Jetley who was busy making deals as well. We saw Frank Giella the son of artist Joe Giella is a close friend, who worked the room talking to people and looking for potential trades with dealers and other collectors. I met up with people I have not seen in person in a long time, including one that I first met when I was a kid going to his comic store near my house.
One of the really cool moments for me was that I got to say hello to Rudy Nebres who is still active at the age of 88. His health is not what it was but he still goes to shows to talk to his fans and sell some of his art.
As to the rest of the show there was a strong showing of Silver, Bronze and Modern Age comic art, but there was less Golden Age art than at prior shows. Modern art from the 1990s is still hot and there were examples present. There was a variety of comic book covers for sale but that was only part of what was offered. Dealers had portfolios full of original comic book pages including splash pages. High-end special pieces were on display as were commissions, sketches, comic strip dailies, Sunday comic strips, and paintings. I have said in past reviews over the last few years that Marvel, both in vintage comic sales and original art, has tended to dominate what dealers offer at comic and comic art shows, but that is changing. At this one and the spring show, the ratio between Marvel and DC art continues to become more equal than in the past. Allie and I did not walk out of there with empty hands, and we were very happy with that.
One thing that occurs at every NJ Comic art show was the collectors who set up in the lobby and there was a lot of them at this show. Almost every seat and table was taken by them. They were going through portfolios and making deals, and this is one of the cool things that goes on at every NJ Comic Art show. I have always felt that the best shows are the ones where people talk about their comics, or their art and this show very much reflects that. The people in attendance were more than willing to exchange information, provide insights, and identify the artist on a particular page.
In terms of food, the on-site Hangar Restaurant and Bar has excellent food for breakfast and dinner, as well as very good bar. There is free coffee and tea in the lobby and there were multiple places to grab a meal a short distance from the venue, some within walking distance.
The show ran from 9:30 AM to 3 PM; admission was $20, and kids got in for free. There is ample on-site free parking in the hotel parking lot.
As Allie and I left the show we both agreed that we looked forward to the spring and fall editions of the show in 2026.
The next Comic Art Con is in the spring of 2026 at the Holiday Inn in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. Show dates to be announced. If you want to sell, Veteri requests that you email him at jveteri@coopmail.net or call (973) 768-6649 to arrange to set up at his next show. For information on attending future shows check www.VeteriProductions.com or the Comic Art Con Facebook page. If you are an artist with a Marvel or DC pedigree (or if you know one or represent an artist) and you want to set up at the con artist tables for future shows are available. With only one to two possible spaces available per show it is strongly suggested to book promptly.
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