SPLICED COMICS /
FEATURE / SUPER COLLECTOR
ISSUE 02
It’s been said that the
Superman symbol is the
second most recognisable
symbol in the world (after the
Christian cross), and in this,
the 75th year of Superman,
we’ve discovered someone
whose obsession with the
Man of Steel exceeds even our
Creative Director’s [Challenge
accepted!, CD]. Meet Joe Do
Carmo – owner of Smallville
Comics in Alberton, and
Superman aficionado
extraordinaire.
SPLICED MAGAZINE: What is behind your
fascination with Superman? What does the
character mean to you?
JOE: Superman, along with Zorro and the Lone
Ranger were the first ''super hero'' characters I ever
saw on TV back when I was around five years old or
so. Superman just stood out as always doing the right
thing ie: helping others/looking after others etc. I was
always impressed how he could rule the world with a
blink of an eye but chose not to. He wanted to be one
of us, and all of us wanted to be him.
SM: What is the most expensive piece in your
collection and did you consider not buying it at
any stage?
JOE: The most expensive piece in my collection
that I bought was a Supergirl #1 CGC (signed and
re-marked by the late Michael Turner) which cost
around R11,500 at the time. This was about two
weeks before I got married. I wasn't going to buy it at
the time but my wife insisted I do (she's a keeper!).
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