Vincent Zurzolo is the COO of Metropolis Collectibles. Here he is pictured during the recent Comic Con event in Dubai. Courtesy Metropolis Collectibles
Vincent Zurzolo is the COO of Metropolis Collectibles. Here he is pictured during the recent Comic Con event in Dubai. Courtesy Metropolis Collectibles
Vincent Zurzolo is the COO of Metropolis Collectibles. Here he is pictured during the recent Comic Con event in Dubai. Courtesy Metropolis Collectibles
Vincent Zurzolo is the COO of Metropolis Collectibles. Here he is pictured during the recent Comic Con event in Dubai. Courtesy Metropolis Collectibles

Trader profile: Vincent Zurzolo’s super-powered assets


Mustafa Alrawi
  • English
  • Arabic

Name:

Vincent Zurzolo

Job:

Chief operating officer at Metropolis Collectibles

Experience:

27 years

Based:

New York

What kind of assets do you trade?

We have an inventory of more than 150,000 comic books, original art and pop culture memorabilia. We deal mostly in items from the 1930s to the 1980s. Chances are if you have seen coverage about a record sale from the world of vintage comics, that was us. When I graduated from university in 1993 I was selling comics on the streets of Manhattan in the financial district.

What is the outlook for the comic market for the next year?

The comic market is robust and strong. Even after the recession hit, comic books, instead of the market shrinking, it grew. Comics have proven over the past 40 years to be a place where investors can see appreciation. People love comic books. For entertainment, escapism, nostalgia, collectibility and for investment there is nothing in the collectibles world that is as popular as comic books.

Have the raft of comic book-themed movies helped asset values?

Comic book movies have definitely had a positive effect on the appreciation of the value of vintage comics. When Iron Man hit the theatres the value on his first appearance instantly increased by about 30 per cent. I recall hearing all the positive reactions from the trailer for Iron Man at San Diego Comic Con. The next convention I was at I bought every copy of his first appearance in Tales Of Suspense #39 and within a month sold out completely with a hefty profit attached to each book.

What is the market like for original comic art?

The market has exploded over the last 10 years. Original art has appeal to art collectors as well as comic collectors. As more and more people who grew up with superheroes are turning to collecting, they are buying art. The one-of-a-kind unique nature of comic art has a strong appeal. Collectors and investors collect by artist, character, themes, time periods, genres and for so many other reasons.

What is the best investment at the moment?

The closest recommendation I can give to a sure thing is to collect “blue chip” characters — Superman, Spider-Man and Batman are examples. Collecting key first appearances in almost any condition and other issues in very high grade usually works over time.

What was the best investment you were involved in?

I purchased a very high-grade copy of the first Spider-Man in 2002 for US$100,000. Today that comic is worth more than $400,000. It would take me one phone call to sell it. Comics are very liquid.

What was the worst?

I recall once I bought an early issue of a Golden Age comic called New Comics. I paid $8,000 for it and the book ended up getting damaged and I sold it for $4,000. That is probably the worst loss I ever took.

What kind of returns can you make from collecting comics and related merchandise?

I always tell people looking to invest to find characters they like so at the end of the day if the appreciation isn't what they were hoping for they are still happy with what they own. Comics, art and memorabilia can appreciate steadily over time. However, sometimes they stay flat for a period and then explode. As long as you are buying mainstream and popular characters you should do well. I tell people to think of holding for three to five years.

How big is your personal collection?

I often think of my inventory as my personal rotating collection. In terms of my real personal collection it is in the thousands. The core value, however, is in about 50 comics.

Superman or Batman?

They have rich histories and I can vividly remember wanting to be both characters when I was a kid and we played superheroes. As an adult my connection with Batman grew a lot stronger. I think it has to do with the costume, his incredible rogues' gallery and all those toys. Where does he get all those wonderful toys?

malrawi@thenational.ae

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Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

Five%20calorie-packed%20Ramadan%20drinks
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERooh%20Afza%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E100ml%20contains%20414%20calories%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETang%20orange%20drink%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E100ml%20serving%20contains%20300%20calories%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECarob%20beverage%20mix%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E100ml%20serving%20contains%20about%20300%20calories%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EQamar%20Al%20Din%20apricot%20drink%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E100ml%20saving%20contains%2061%20calories%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EVimto%20fruit%20squash%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3E100ml%20serving%20contains%2030%20calories%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.4-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20366hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E550Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESix-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh360%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What are NFTs?

Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.

You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”

However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.

This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”

This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.

What are the main cyber security threats?

Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

The biog

Hometown: Birchgrove, Sydney Australia
Age: 59
Favourite TV series: Outlander Netflix series
Favourite place in the UAE: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / desert / Louvre Abu Dhabi
Favourite book: Father of our Nation: Collected Quotes of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Thing you will miss most about the UAE: My friends and family, Formula 1, having Friday's off, desert adventures, and Arabic culture and people
 

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
MATCH INFO

Manchester City 3
Danilo (16'), Bernardo Silva (34'), Fernandinho (72')

Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Ulloa (20')

'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'

Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.

Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines: 

Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.

Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.

Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.

Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.

Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800