A few of the rare comics owned by Dubsy. Pawan Singh / The National
A few of the rare comics owned by Dubsy. Pawan Singh / The National
A few of the rare comics owned by Dubsy. Pawan Singh / The National
A few of the rare comics owned by Dubsy. Pawan Singh / The National

A beginner's guide to the world of pop culture collectables


Dubsy ‎
  • English
  • Arabic

It is the summer of 2020 and Covid pandemic lockdowns are in full swing around the world.

In my decades of collecting comic books and other collectables, I have never seen such a surge in this previously niche market, far exceeding the growth rate of any other asset class.

Some would compare it with the cryptocurrency and non-fungible token markets but, in reality, it couldn't be any more different.

Due to millions of individuals stranded at home with nothing to do other than consume media, shop online and even start trading, a new interest in pop culture collecting emerged.

Countless thousands of new collectors and investors started exploring alternative asset classes with their sights set on the collectables market. Now, the collectables market could be considered mainstream.

What are pop culture collectables?

A general definition of a collectable is objects that are desirable, have a perceived value to others and are limited in quantity.

Investors acquire collectables in the hope that the value increases over time, as well as adding a sort of “coolness” associated with owning them; a prized possession.

Just like a piece of fine art displayed at home or the limited-edition watch on your wrist, a pop culture collectable has more bearing to the modern era of what we associate with popular culture from our childhood.

Think of a film you fell in love with during your youth; a musical, rock ‘n’ roll band, perhaps a sports team.

We associate those feelings of nostalgia, our memories of growing up, to those euphoric experiences.

People who grew up in the 1990s, the heyday of modern pop culture, who are now in their 30s and 40s and with disposable incomes, want to relive those memories.

Collecting everything from action figures, comics, trading cards, VHS tapes and more, the choices are endless.

Record prices never seen before

For me, pop culture collecting has been a decades-long endeavour and I have seen some of those markets mature into established ones akin to coin and art collecting.

Comic books was a niche collecting hobby that started in the 1970s.

Today, after the advent of CGC grading (a third-party grading service) and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the comic book industry turned over $23 million in the month of October alone, according to GPAnalysis.

In April, a high-graded Superman #1 comic from 1940 set a world record of $5.3 million, obliterating a previous record for an Amazing Fantasy #15 (first Spider-Man) comic set in October of 2021.

Some of Dubsy's rare comic collection, including The Amazing Spider-Man. Pawan Singh / The National
Some of Dubsy's rare comic collection, including The Amazing Spider-Man. Pawan Singh / The National

Over the past couple of years, similar records are being broken more often and in all genres of collectables.

Not until 2018 were video games thought of as nothing but video games.

Today, some of these “vintage” sealed video games command prices in the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars.

At the forefront of pop culture collectables are trading cards, specifically sports cards.

The National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC), or “The National” as fans call it, has been held annually since 1980. In 2022, a record 90,000 people attended the event held in Atlanta, in the US.

Unlike large conventions, such as the San Diego Comic Con, the NSCC caters only to trading cards.

Investing in collectables for the long run

The world of high-end collectables can be an expensive one, but collectors can reap the rewards, both financially and emotionally.

However, just like any investment tool, there are risks.

Patience and experience play the biggest part in how successful one can be.

Collectables are seen as mostly long-term investments, with some jumping on the speculation wagon for quick returns, albeit at a very high risk.

In the end, a collector must also love what he collects. That is where the true success of it stems.

In the end, a collector must also love what he collects. That is where the true success of it stems
Dubsy

Emerging markets

Very recently a new collectable entered the market: vintage VHS tapes.

Although still in its infancy, more collectors are discovering their passion for what was once in almost every household in the world.

Before the digital age brought Netflix and other streaming services, VHS was the way to go.

What makes this market unique is the fact that, although these tapes were sold in the many millions, almost all their plastic protective seals were ripped so the content can be consumed for our viewing pleasure, making sealed VHS tapes quite a rare find.

Just last month a sealed first commercial release of Star Wars: A New Hope from 1982 sold for $114,000. Will VHS collecting rival that of trading cards and comic books in the future?

Only time will tell.

Dubsy has been an avid collector of all things pop-culture since the 1990s. He is a Guinness World Record holder and one of the world's leading collectors of high-end Pokemon cards and comic books. Follow him on Instagram @DubsyCollection and check out his website at www.Dubsy.com

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

Britain's travel restrictions
  • A negative test 2 days before flying
  • Complete passenger locator form
  • Book a post-arrival PCR test
  • Double-vaccinated must self-isolate
  • 11 countries on red list quarantine

     
Results

2pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m, Winner: AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).

2.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,200m, Winner: AF Sahwa, Nathan Crosse, Mohamed Ramadan.

3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: AF Thobor, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.

3.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mezmar, Szczepan Mazur, Ernst Oertel.

4pm: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup presented by Longines (TB) Dh 200,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Galvanize, Nathan Cross, Doug Watson.

4.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 40,000 (D) 1,700m, Winner: Ajaj, Bernardo Pinheiro, Mohamed Daggash.

HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?

Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.

They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen 

They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.

The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.

2021 World Triathlon Championship Series

May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China

New UK refugee system

 

  • A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
  • Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
  • A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
  • To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
  • Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
  • Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
How to avoid crypto fraud
  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
  • Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
  • Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
  • Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
  • Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
  • Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
  • Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.

It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.

There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.

In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.

In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.

It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 325bhp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh359,000

On sale: now 

The Africa Institute 101

Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction. 

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

The bio

Who inspires you?

I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist

How do you relax?

Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.

What is favourite book?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times

What is your favourite Arabic film?

Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki

What is favourite English film?

Mamma Mia

Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?

If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.  

 

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Manchester United v Club America

When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
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  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

VEZEETA PROFILE

Date started: 2012

Founder: Amir Barsoum

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: HealthTech / MedTech

Size: 300 employees

Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)

Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

SPECS
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The%20specs
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Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: November 29, 2022, 1:16 PM