Local comic book show returns to Waltham for third consecutive season

By ARTIE KRONENFELD

Waltham native Nick Umbrello is a comic book collector and owner of a local food truck. But he never considered himself an event planner — at least, not until earlier this year.

This weekend, he’s running the third seasonal Waltham Comic Book & Collectibles Show, taking place Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the French American Victory Club at 193 Elm St. The event will host comic book and collectible vendors, a sketch artist and his food truck, Ya Mother’s Truck ‘n Kitchen.

He had the idea to host a local show when he and his brother, both big comic book collectors, decided they were ready to downsize their collections. Instead of going to another comics event in the area, Umbrello floated the idea of holding their own show here in Waltham.

They held the first Waltham Comic Book & Collectibles show in March 2025. In the early stages of putting the event together, he wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out, especially without existing knowledge about running a convention. 

“I didn’t know any vendors. It was me, my brother and I had a couple of friends who were going to sell… we had nothing, you know. We were just hoping that vendors would reach out to us,” he said.

But they did — and the event was successful, bringing about 300 people over the course of the day. So he put everything back together to run it again in June, to similar success.

The event is geared toward collectors, Umbrello said, but everyone is welcome: “I always tell people, if they don’t know much about a comic book show, picture a flea market with comic books and toys and video games.” 

He said that the show hosts a mix of vendors, from comic book stores and established collectible sellers to private collectors who are selling parts of their collection for the first time. 

Part of the fun of attending, he said, is searching through the offerings for the item you want in your collection, whether you’re looking for He-Man figurines or a specific issue of a Daredevil comic book run — and he’s willing to give vendors a call in advance when an attendee says they’re searching for something specific. 

Ultimately, it’s also become a place where comics fans can meet each other and get to know their community. “It’s surprising how many collectors are out there… people will talk to me, and [say] ‘Oh, I’m right down the street and I have a huge collection! Next show you have, let me know!’ ” Umbrello said. “It didn’t initially start as a community-building thing, but [that] has happened.”

Umbrello said he doesn’t make money off running the show itself, but he makes profits from selling his own comics and food sales. His vendors’ fees go toward renting the space, and admission fees — $2 per person —  cover his advertisement costs. 

Running this convention, he added, has made him realize how much he loves planning events. He’s hoping to bring the show back seasonally, three times a year — and maybe, if it gets enough support, eventually move to a bigger space, or stretch the event over multiple days.

“As long as the audience wants it, as long as we can bring in a crowd, I’m perfectly happy to keep going with this.” Umbrello added.

At the end of the day, he said everyone he’s met at the show has been very kind — and he wants to continue to make it a welcoming environment. “Even if you’re not a huge collector, but you wanna support local stores and local people, you’re going to find something you like. There’s going to be a piece of art that catches your eye… No matter what, you’re going to have a good time.”