Comic books have long since outgrown their 1930s American origins, and no one proves that point better than Vincent Zurzolo, whose frequent-flyer miles now span five continents in pursuit of rare pages and vintage panels.
Zurzolo, president of New York City’s Metropolis Collectibles and sister site ComicConnect, is heading back to the Middle East for the Dubai CardExposition on Oct. 23 and 24 at Studio City. He’ll bring a carefully curated stack of high-end vintage comics — including the 1938 debut of Superman in Action Comics #1 and the 1962 first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 — hoping to tempt card collectors eyeing a new asset class.
From New York City to Dubai, comics, cards and collectibles know no boundaries.
“Superheroes translate into every language,” Zurzolo says. “Everyone loves Superman and Spider-Man.”
His credentials are hard to top: he recently brokered a record-shattering private sale of Action Comics #1 for $15 million. That copy, graded 9.0, had a cinematic backstory — once owned by actor Nicolas Cage, it was later stolen from him. The deal broke the previous comic book record and was quickly followed by another landmark: a 7.0-graded Action #1 that moved for $5 million.
Joining him on the show floor will be Marwan Alkhaja, better known as “Dubsy,” a collector whose résumé includes selling a rare Pokémon card to internet celebrity Logan Paul. Their friendship dates to 2009, when Alkhaja first reached out to Zurzolo about purchasing comics.
“When the first Dubai comic con took place in 2012, we collaborated and Vincent sent vintage comics from the U.S. for my booth. Two years later he came to Dubai himself and we did the third comic con together, which was a great success. We’ve remained friends ever since,” Alkhaja recalls.
Their bond is rooted in a shared childhood obsession, even though they grew up worlds apart. Zurzolo’s origin story begins at age 5, scrounging sofa cushions for spare change to buy comics; by 15, classmates called him “the comic book kid.” Alkhaja’s own journey started in 1991, when his mother bought him Batman #463 at a grocery store.
“I was a very introverted kid and spent a lot of time at home, so comic books, video games and Lego were almost like my best friends,” he says. “I’ve been hooked on collecting ever since.”
That collection is mostly locked away — and not for sale. “I’m actually much less public about my comic collection because I’m very attached to those pieces – I almost think of them as my children,” he explains.
Zurzolo sees comics as more than nostalgia: “Comic books are a tangible asset that collectors can get passionate about. They can see the appreciation. And they’re fun.”
Alkhaja has also carved out a reputation as a leading Pokémon card collector, starting with the Pikachu Illustrator — the first Pokémon card he ever owned. “Since then I’ve always been particularly drawn to rare and unusual Pikachu cards,” he says.
“Pokémon has an audience far larger than most collectible hobbies, and it appeals across generations – from children to adults who grew up with it,” he adds. “It’s also very accessible: You can enjoy collecting whether you’re spending a few dollars or pursuing extremely rare cards.”
At the show, both men will be working the room — checking out what attendees brought, meeting collectors and reconnecting with familiar faces.
“We have so many great clients, collectors and investors in the region who are incredibly passionate about comics and comic art,” Zurzolo says. “I’m very excited to be returning to the Dubai CardExposition.”
Why it matters: The pairing of a record-breaking comic dealer with a top-tier Pokémon collector signals how pop culture collectibles have become a global, cross-category investment market. With seven-figure sales now routine, events like Dubai CardExposition are where the next generation of collectors and investors meet the pastime’s biggest names.
Joanne Levine
Lekas & Levine PR
joannepr@aol.com
