By LEONARD GRAY

Sometimes, I wonder what it’s all for. My wife wonders about the same thing on a regular basis. I’m talking about my comic book collection, of course.

Like many boys of my generation, I devoured comics as a kid. I “outgrew” them somewhere around eighth grade. However, in my third year of college, I started again and never have stopped. My collection now runs into thousands of books, all valued at nearly $100,000, I would suppose. That is one reason my wife tolerates losing one room to our house to my comics. However, the other reason is quite simple to comprehend – there are a lot worse ways of blowing some $40-80 per week than on comic books which have the potential of resale value. All of this doesn’t explain why I’ve indexed my complete set of “Justice League of America” and related titles, dating back 42 years. And you can ask me almost any trivia question about the “Superman” universe of comics characters, and I’ll have the correct answer. None of this puts food on the table, pays the electric bill or brings me professional recognition.

Likewise, since I have no children, I’m at the point in my life of wondering what will become of this collection after I’m dead. I’ve thought of endowing a university library, or perhaps it will pay for my funeral expenses.

Regardless, two things have resulted: it keeps me out of trouble and it brings me immense satisfaction and a sense of personal achievement.

So, do YOU know the seven varieties of kryptonite and their effects?

LEONARD GRAY is assistant managing editor of L’Observateur. He may be reached at (985) 652-9545.