When Vincent Zurzolo was 5, he would beg his mom for 10 cents so he may purchase comedian books on the luncheonette and sweet retailer close to his dwelling in Rockaway Seaside, Queens. “My first comedian e-book was Ghost Rider No. 19, 1976, Mr. Zurzolo stated. “By 15 I began shopping for and promoting them with a buddy. I grow to be referred to as the comedian e-book child in my faculty.”
A number of many years later, he owns two profitable companies, Metropolis Collectibles, a web based retailer for classic comedian books, and Comic Connect, a premier on-line public sale website.
As for his personal assortment, Mr. Zurzolo’s most prized possession is Superb Fantasy No. 15, 1962, which he purchased in 2001 for $115,000 and which options the debut of Spiderman. As we speak it’s value nearly $2 million, he stated.
Mr. Zurzolo, 51, lives in Greenwich Village together with his spouse, Josephine Dano, 51, an artwork director.
QUIET SPACE I get up alone round 8:30 a.m. My spouse has the uncanny skill to remain asleep. I am going into the lounge and do Transcendental Meditation for 20 minutes. I simply have water; I don’t drink espresso. Typically I might need yogurt with granola. I’ve additionally gotten into consuming sardines. They’re a superb supply of protein. I placed on some sweats, seize a water bottle and depart for the health club.
FAMOUS GYM For the following 100 minutes — I’ve realized to time every part — I’m on the McBurney Y.M.C.A. on 14th Road. It’s the one they wrote the tune about. I carry weights, use elliptical machines and stretch.
PROTEIN, GREENS At dwelling I’ve leftovers discovered within the fridge, or poached eggs. I’d make a salad with rooster. I’m attempting to eat extra inexperienced meals. Jo is perhaps getting up or has taken a bathe. She’s a espresso and pastry individual, so she’ll have that.
MORE EXERCISE Round midday I’d do a motorbike journey. I began using throughout the pandemic to get me out of the home. I used a Citi Bike, however that’s like 50 kilos and it was onerous to get velocity on it, so I purchased a Scott bike at Echelon Cycles. I am going up the West Facet Freeway or to the George Washington Bridge and again, which appears like a way of accomplishment. It’s a goliath of a bridge and the water is on my proper, which I like.
WORK CHECK-IN If I don’t journey, I’ll go to the workplace for a couple of hours. Individuals love comics. They provide escapism and are a particularly priceless type of investing and gathering. Metropolis at present has 250,000 comedian books in stock, and we promote about 50,000 a 12 months. Some are just a few {dollars}; others go for a couple of million.
GROCERY RUN Jo and I hit Dealer Joe’s. We stroll by the shop in search of contemporary produce: crimson peppers, brussels sprouts, child arugula, berries and pomelos, which she turned me on to. It’s like a grapefruit however sweeter. We purchase rooster thighs, jerky, which is pure protein, and contemporary flowers. Then we schlep the baggage again dwelling.
COMICS COUPLE I like visiting comedian bookstores. My non-public childhood assortment is about 1,000. My grownup assortment is about the identical. Typically Jo comes with me. She was a comic book e-book lover earlier than we met. It’s wonderful she has a ardour for this and that we are able to geek out collectively. On certainly one of our early dates she was rattling off obscure data on X-Males characters. I used to be shocked. I believed, “Wow, I like this lady.”
DRUG ADDICTION SUPERHERO My very own comedian e-book, referred to as Dependancy, which I wrote with the skilled comedian e-book author David Quinn, will, hopefully, come out subsequent 12 months. It’s a few girl physician who’s preventing drug dependancy. The Mafia shoot her up with an enormous cocktail to kill her, which it does, besides she comes again to life. When she does, and touches somebody, she will inject any form of drug into them. She’s very fashionable and has a boyfriend. There are additionally plenty of villains.
SIGNATURE DISH Earlier than the pandemic, my father, who’s 95, would sometimes come over for dinner. He lives in New Jersey and could be very impartial. He likes to take the bus, or I’ll get him a automobile. I’m nonetheless nervous about Covid, so we haven’t seen one another as a lot as I would like. That’s been onerous. I realized prepare dinner from my mother and father and generally I’ll make my signature dish, steak pizzaiola, which is chard and crusted rib-eye smothered in chopped veggies. Often Jo, who’s an incredible prepare dinner, will make roast rooster. If she does, I’ll be on the cellphone with purchasers or on our web site to examine presents being made.
SCREEN ESCAPE Round 7-ish we go downstairs to the lounge to observe TV whereas we eat. Jo is on an anime kick; I’m not. We each like sci-fi. We’ve been watching “Star Trek: Discovery” and “Star Trek: Picard.” We additionally like Marvel motion pictures.
REGIMENS For the previous 5 years Jo has gotten me right into a pores and skin routine. I grew up on the seaside. I don’t need my pores and skin to seem like leather-based, so earlier than mattress, I exploit a bunch of merchandise: Peter Thomas Roth’s Anti-Getting old Cleaning Gel, Algenist’s Genius Final Anti-Getting old Eye Cream and Amorepacific’s Moisture Certain Sleeping Restoration Masque. I’m additionally large on flossing.
READING IN BED Round 11:30 or midnight I’m in mattress. Jo is there first. I’d learn a little bit. I learn comedian books digitally. I simply reread “Wolverine” (1982) by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller. I used to be 11 the primary time I learn it. To learn it once more was particular and introduced again a whole lot of reminiscences. I additionally simply completed “Can’t Harm Me: Grasp Your Thoughts and Defy the Odds” by David Goggins. It’s like a motivational e-book, nevertheless it’s past that. He’s a powerful human being. Then it’s lights out.
