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System of a Down Drummer Opens Comic Book Store

Rather than dive right into his System of a Down side project Scars on Broadway, drummer John Dolmayan has decided to launch his own online comic book store. The product of his lifelong passion for superheroes and such, Torpedo Comics (www.torpedocomics.com) launched yesterday with an impressive selection of around 15 million items, ranging from dirt-cheap single issues (the "Monolith" section, which promises "millions of books for 99 cents") to thousand-dollar pieces of paper that have been graded by the CGC (Certified Guaranty Company). In other words, that $9500 copy of Action Comics #98 is the real thing, so start saving Superman fans. Other items of note include discounted trade paperbacks, original comic art from the '40s through the present, and more than 100 collectible toys including mint condition Star Wars and Batman figures.

The truly impressive thing about all this, though, is the 30,000-square foot Las Vegas warehouse where Dolmayan stores all his geeky goods (everything from the first solo series of Wonder Woman to multiple copies of Giant Size X-Men #1) with the help of a 25-strong staff. Selling millions of albums apparently has some benefits after all. Speaking of Dolmayan's music side, Scars on Broadway (which also features SOAD guitarist Daron Malakian) are currently writing and recording their debut album with a summer 2008 release in mind.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
11.02.07