Req Arif has amassed over 500 items from the Japanese “Super Sentai” series, spanning its debut in 1975 to the latest editions, as well as the American “Power Rangers” series from 1993 to 2023.
Beyond these franchises, his collection also features toys from “Gundam”, “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe”, “Marvel Legends”, “Star Wars”, and “Transformers”. Each item is meticulously organised, adorning two rooms in his home as well as a dedicated storage space on the third floor.
Among the high-value figures and robots in his collection are the “Voltron” robot sword from 1984, priced at RM20,000; the “Super Sentai” DX Maskman Great Five robot (1987), valued between RM7,000 and RM10,000; and the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” Megazords (1993), priced between RM2,500 and RM10,000.
Req told Bernama that he began collecting superhero figurines in 2014 after his family’s financial situation stabilised, noting that the hobby requires a significant budget.
“Before 2014, my children were still young, and the costs of raising them at that time were high. So I prioritised my family over my interests.
“However, as my children grew older and my salary increased, I had extra money to spend on these toys,” said Req, who is in his 40s and works in marketing an international consulting firm.
He revealed that the prospect of financial returns is a factor. “I was an avid gamer from school through university and into my early working years. Gaming became an expensive habit, costing me tens of thousands of ringgit,” he shared.
“Eventually I realised that games are just virtual experiences, not physical assets that can be resold. Despite spending so much money, I couldn’t get a single sen back as profit – just the satisfaction of playing.”
As such, Req sees his toy collection as an investment: limited and rare items are in high demand, which drives their prices to skyrocket.
In addition to using postal and delivery services to order toys from abroad, Req shared that he has travelled to 15 countries, including Australia, Japan, Thailand and the United Kingdom, in search of antique and exclusive items.
“When I travel, I hunt for vintage toys, most of which are sold at flea markets or car boot sales – for instance, in Den DenTown in Osaka, Japan, and Brunswick Flea in Melbourne, Australia,” he said.
The father of three also published a book, “Kembara Hobi: Tips dan Lokasi Pencarian”, in 2018.