System Of A Down drummer and Torpedo Comics owner John Dolmayan bought an original 1938 copy of Action Comics #1 for $825,000 at New York Comic Con in October 2026. The private transaction, brokered by New York dealership Metropolis Collectibles, secures Dolmayan his second personal copy of Superman’s debut issue to expand his high-end comic portfolio.
The purchase highlights the dual role played by the musician, who balances global arena tours with running Torpedo Comics in Irvine, California, and publishing his own titles, Ascencia and Dead Samurai. While museum-grade copies of the 1938 anthology command eight-figure sums at public auction, this deal cements Dolmayan’s standing as an active dealer-collector operating at the highest tier of the market.
Metropolis Collectibles and the Action Comics #1 market
Demand for Action Comics #1 continues to set the benchmark for vintage comic collecting. With fewer than 100 copies known to survive from the original print run of 200,000, market values depend entirely on certified preservation grades.
| Transaction | Date | Parties Involved | Recorded Price | Market Context |
| Client Placement | 2009 | John Dolmayan (Broker) | $317,000 | Early private brokerage sale |
| Stolen Copy Resale | January 2026 | Metropolis Collectibles (ex-Nicolas Cage) | $15,000,000 | All-time record for a high-grade copy |
| Personal Collection | 2026 | John Dolmayan (Buyer) | Undisclosed | First verified personal acquisition |
| NYCC Floor Deal | October 2026 | John Dolmayan via Metropolis Collectibles | $825,000 | Second copy acquired for personal holding |
The $825,000 figure reflects the realities of critical condition. When Metropolis Collectibles sold the recovered Nicolas Cage copy in January 2026 for $15 million, that issue held a high unrestored certified grade. Dolmayan’s $825,000 price point points to an issue graded in the lower-to-mid range on third-party grading scales, or an unrestored copy showing significant handling wear. Public announcements did not disclose the certified CGC or CBCS grade, leaving the exact structural state of the purchase unverified.
Dolmayan previously addressed his lifelong pursuit of the comic after picking up his first copy earlier this year.
Torpedo Comics retail footprint versus private trading
The acquisition exposes a clear separation between public retail inventory and private collector trading. Torpedo Comics operates a physical shop at the Irvine Spectrum Center in Southern California and an online store. The shop’s public catalogue focuses on contemporary releases, graded modern keys, and artist editions, with the most expensive current listing being a regular edition of The Dark Knight Returns Gallery Edition by Frank Miller priced at $150.
Seven-figure and high six-figure Golden Age trades bypass traditional retail shop floors entirely. Dolmayan built his reputation as a dealer through convention trading, high-roller client sourcing, and private transactions rather than over-the-counter shop sales. In 2009, he brokered an Action Comics #1 sale for $317,000 on behalf of an anonymous private buyer. Holding two copies in his personal collection puts him among an exclusive group of private custodians of Golden Age Americana.
System Of A Down plans to tour stadium venues in Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand alongside Faith No More in early 2027, followed by a four-night residency at the Rose Bowl in California in June. Between rehearsals and stage dates, Dolmayan continues to operate Torpedo Comics and publish independent series through his creative imprint.
