HE'S GOT THE X-FACTOR!

Eric's record-breaking collection of X-Men memorabilia is worth a small fortune

- PECULIA MUSHWANA

IN THE world of pop culture there are fans and superfans - and then there's this guy. Think your comic book collection is impressive? Your stash of figurines awesome? Your trading cards cool? Think again. Eric Jaskolka has the collection to end all collections, a veritable treasure trove of memorabilia to marvel over.

The 53-year-old from Iowa City in the US is an X-Men fanatic and a proud owner of more than 25 000 collectables from the popular superhero franchise which, he says, is probably worth enough "to buy a really nice, large home".

Everything from new and vintage comic books to toys, trading cards, video games, Halloween costumes, statues, jewellery, and much more is displayed in two rooms in his house.

His collection even earned him a spot in the Guinness World Records for owning the world's largest X-Men collection.

"It feels great, an excellent badge of honour," he tells YOU in an interview from his home.

But the cherry on top is that his record was featured on the same spread in the famous book as Stan Lee, X-Men creator and longtime Marvel editor, who holds the record for being the most prolific creator of comic book characters.

Eric met Stan in 2016, two years before he died, and being in the same book means a lot to him. "Now we're connected for life," he says. "It was really awesome to meet him. He was a larger-than-life person who helped bring life to so many characters that had an impact on my life." Stan and legendary artist Jack Kirby created the team of superheroes for Marvel Comics in 1963.