In the Mercure Hotel, tucked down a quiet side street in Newport’s city centre, comic book fans of all ages gathered for the third Kelly’s Comic Fair of the year. Opening at 10:30am, the adjoining lobby rooms were busy within the first hour and stayed so consistently, lulling only around lunchtime. Around 20 passionate traders brought their collections of comics and collectibles to an audience estimated to be 10x that size.
Though less crowded than bigger and more diverse events, such as Cardiff Comic Con, the atmosphere was warm and friendly. “If you’re passionate about comics, you want to talk about them. You’re excited to talk to other people who share your interest.” Paul Haynes, who runs Cardiff’s only independent comic shop, told me. Nothing rang more true when I visited Kelly’s Comic Fair on the 15th of November.
Whether trader or customer, newcomer or lifelong collector, small child or wizened elder, everyone was united by a shared love. Passion transcended all barriers and I soon found myself talking to total strangers as if they were friends.
Kelly’s Comic Fair is organised by Paul Kelly, who has been collecting comics since 1963.
He holds a History degree from Cardiff University but struggled to find work in the field. Instead, he decided to delve into what he truly loves: comic books. Mr Kelly has hosted the popular Newport event for three years now, although the location has changed to accommodate the fair’s increasing size.
Originally based in Newport Market, the first fair featured 8 to 10 traders. Now, it has more than 20 from England and Wales.
Previously, comic fanatic Terry Gay organised regular fairs in Newport Market.
He owned and operated his stall, The Negative Zone, there for over 30 years. When Mr Gay retired, it seemed a decades old tradition was fated to disappear forever. Mr Haynes reflected: “There was a void when Terry retired and the Newport fairs ended.”
However, Mr Kelly successfully revived the fairs and they continue to grow more popular, making them likely to continue for years to come.
Mr Kelly informed me this is the biggest fair so far, even being sponsored by American Dream Comics. As Mr Haynes said:
In a struggling industry, where comic shops are being forced to downsize or close completely, it is crucial to keep local events afloat.
The fair provides a fantastic opportunity for independent businesses to sell to old customers and meet new ones.
Mr Haynes says he considers it a successful trip, if he only gains one more customer.
In such a niche field, many salesmen would feel threatened by the competition and strive to outdo fellow traders. However, Mr Haynes says this is far from the case: “As the old saying goes, rising tides lift all boats.” Not only do the traders share customers, they are part of the same tight-knit community and work with each other to satisfy clients. Many of the business owners have been friends for years, so there’s a strong sense of camaraderie.
Community is what people find at Kelly’s Comic Fair, as well as at the stores themselves. Cardiff Comic Shop, located upstairs in Jacob’s Antiques Market, has been a cornerstone of the city and wider comic community since 1978.
Mr Haynes says: “Some people have been coming here for decades now and you build real relationships over that time.” This was evident in the way Haynes greeted each customer by name and knew exactly what they were interested in.
At the fair, he recognised people from prior events and made everyone feel welcome.
Despite the tight-knit crowd, there is no sense of elitism among collectors.
Mr Haynes says there’s no snobbery, only excitement at someone else with the same interest. He has noticed a recent rise in younger people joining the comic scene, something he encourages.
“Pick up something that takes your interest.” He advised people who want to get into comics, “Comics are a huge genre with all types of stories. It’s not just superheroes, especially from independent publishers.”
At the fair, I saw firsthand how Generation Z was taking a greater interest in comics.
Some were there with fanatic parents, indulging in their shared hobby, but I saw more dragging bewildered family members around. The presence of online stores, resources like Comic Geeks, and social media “hype” makes comics more accessible to a young audience.
However, this shift limits stores to being solely based on the internet.
The owner of Monkey Rocks, an online shop based in Cardiff, said: “My dream is to own a comic book shop.” Sadly, this is a pipe-dream for many independent businesses, competing with corporations like Forbidden Planet, as well as the cost of living crisis. Although Mr Haynes has a positive relationship with Forbidden Planet, he feels it lacks the familiarity of a ‘real’ comic shop: “There’s no talking or forming friendships in there. You just pick up your comics and leave.”
The old-fashioned approach at Kelly’s Comic Fair is what draws most fans. There’s no wall of Funko Pops, graphic t-shirts, or pop culture b-listers to distract from the authentic art of digging through boxes bursting with comics. Mr Haynes says his store will always be about comics, not collectibles, and other traders echoed this sentiment.
The amount of material available to purchase can be intimidating.
Initially, I did feel overwhelmed by the options. But the vendors were eager to help, asking customers what they were interested in and helping find what they wanted. I spent a long time chatting with Andrew and Sharon Waygood from Sin City Comics as they searched their stock on my behalf.
“We’ve been up since 4am getting ready.” Mr Waygood told me cheerfully.
Kelly’s Comic Fair was like show-and-tell for grown ups. Everyone was keen to share their favourite part of their collections, including attendees bringing comics from home to show off.
Some sales included trading rare items.
It was a special bonding experience I felt lucky to be part of, even as a relatively new comic collector.
Whether you own a thousand comics or none at all. I recommend Kelly’s Comic Fair for a unique experience and the chance to meet kind, passionate people.
It’s free to enter and there’s no expectation to be an expert, making it a great day out for anyone interested in comics. The next fair is due to take place on Saturday 28th February 2026 at the Mercure Hotel.