(THE END OF) THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

The collector-mentality is an odd kind of compulsion.

Those of you who collect anything know that already, but

for others not 'afflicted' with the desire to own things, allow

me give you an example from my own experience to demon-

strate the point.  Back in 1980, MARVEL U.K. published

 a series of 'pocket books', digest-sized monthly mags

featuring their most popular characters.

I purchased quite a number of them, but, somehow,

I missed a few issues of The FANTASTIC FOUR and

The X-MEN pocket books.  In the former's case, it was at

least four issues, in the latter's, two.  I managed to acquire

two of the missing mags (one from each title) last year, but

 on Saturday, I received the remaining FF issues I needed,

along with two X-Men mags (one being a better-con-

dition replacement for the one I got in 2015).

Here's the thing 'though - I didn't really need them.

I already have the tales in various full-colour, full-sized

reprints several times over, yet I still felt compelled to plug

the gaps and complete the set of both periodicals - 34-plus

years after I'd bought their 'companions'.  It feels good to

finally complete something that was left unfinished, but

there's also an anti-climactic feeling as well.

Last night, I put the mags in numerical sequence

with their fellows, placed the lid on the box in which

I store them, shoved it back on my cupboard shelf, and

closed the door.  It could be years before I look at them

again, which makes me wonder if there was any point in
tracking them down after such a long period if I'm
now  just going to forget about them.

Although I feel a sense of accomplishment at
completing the task, there's also a touch of sadness
at finally 'closing the door' on a period that represents
my youth (I was only 22 when these mags began).  It's as
'though there was an open link to my past while the quest
remained ongoing, but now that it's over, the thin beam
of connecting light 'twixt then and now has flickered
and dimmed, if not actually expired.

So, satisfaction and sadness at the same event.
Anyone else ever feel this way when finally complet-
ing a long-standing undertaking?   If so, tell all your
fellow Criv-ites in the comments section.

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