#iCollect: The Flash
With the reveal of the superhero-suit design for "The Flash" in the upcoming new television series for CW (producers for "Arrow"), this would be opportune+perfect time for me to introduce the #iCollect feature for this week: DC Comics' "THE FLASH", from collector Gary AKA "Clipper"!
Here's a look at his display shelves (feel free to click on to view enlarged versions of) - featuring the Scarlet Speedster - before we head straight into the Q&A segment of this new weekly feature on the blog, along with more snaps galore!
TOYSREVIL: What's your name and age?
"CLIPPER" GARY: I go by my 25+ year alterego “Clipper” when I’m online … but in real life I’m just plain Gary, 42+ years … and counting.
TOYSREVIL: What do you do for a living?
"CLIPPER" GARY: I’ve spent my working life in the local graphic arts industry from day one, primarily in the press industry, spanning the trinity of prepress, press and postpress. I’ve taken a “quarter-retired” approach, and am doing a print business development role currently.
TOYSREVIL: When friends ask you, how do you describe to them, or what do you call what you collect?
"CLIPPER" GARY: In the old days, a toy was a toy, no fancy words like “collectibles” or “designer”. Playmobil, Lego, Corgi, kuti-kuti, bottlecaps … everything was a toy. So when family or friends ask about my hobby, its plain, no-BS, call-it-as-it-is "toys". Feedback may range from “childish” to “wasting money”, but its better than be called a drunkard or addict.
[TOYSREVIL: I think we are all "toy-addicts" anyways … ;p]
To many new collectors, toys are seen as investments or sources of revenue, which is fine by me. At the end of the day, it’s a personal toy collection which brings a bit of enjoyment and happiness into our lives, and that’s what I view it as.
TOYSREVIL: Where is your "Base of Operations"? Do you buy the items in person at stores? Or Online? Or both?
"CLIPPER" GARY: Home is a simple flat in Sembawang with my wife and 2 children. Majority of the space is taken up by toy display cupboards and carton boxes. Its been about 15 years since I moved in, and I think some of the boxes still have not been opened yet…
[TOYSREVIL: I can relate...]
The thrill of toy collecting is in the hunt, so I used to go out and hunt for toys with any spare time I have. Weekends will usually see me going down to Substation, (which is where Andy and I first met). Later on it was Clarke Quay and China Square. Even when I went overseas, I always carried with me a “wanted” list with photos and descriptions.
In today’s internet age, I mainly do my hunting and buying on it. I still visit my regular comic shop once a month to pick up the items I’ve ordered. But I don’t really trawl the shopping centres much anymore. Sooner or later, whatever you missed or wanted will pop up on the internet marketplace. It then becomes a game of who blinks first: the seller or the buyer.
TOYSREVIL: WHY The Flash?
"CLIPPER" GARY: Most DC fans always veer towards the holy DC trinity of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. Flash has always been considered a “B-line” hero, along with his best buddy, Green Lantern. My interest in Flash began with the comics in the 80s, and realising that Flash does have a sense of humour, which sometimes borders on almost arrogance. He’s also a comic relief in certain situations, which is a strong contrast to Batman.
It also helps that there is a small Flash-based family of characters with speed as a main power. There’s also been a few speedster supervillains like Edward Clariss, Eobard Thawne, Hunter Zolomon and Daniel West.
On the toy front, Flash is probably one of the rare toys that doesn’t have much accessories. That makes it easier to find complete figures on the open market.
TOYSREVIL: How did it all start? Which was the first?
"CLIPPER" GARY: My first piece was the Super Powers Flash figure from Series 1 (1984). I happened to find it loose in a comic shop, and this should be about ‘85 or ‘86. It probably is still the “fattest” Flash figure ever produced, in my opinion.
(On-left is 1990 Toy Biz Kenner / On-right is 1984 Kenner Super Powers)
TOYSREVIL: Which is your "most expensive" single piece in the collection? Based on how valuable they are now in the aftermarket, or how expensive you bought them for in the first place?
"CLIPPER" GARY: Its probably the customised Flash statue sculpted aand painted locally. I believed there are a few pieces only, but I have yet to seen another one. I bought mine almost 13 years ago for almost S$200 and it has its own acrylic case protecting it. I’m not sure of the aftermarket value of this figure as its customised.
TOYSREVIL: Which singular item is your most treasured/cherished? And why?
One of the treasured piece I have is the Warner Studio Flash 15” vinyl doll, which first came out in 1993. This doll was only sold in Warner Bros stores, but I didn’t buy mine from there.
In 1995, I was in KL for a toy trip with some friends, and at Ampang Square, we happened to pass an office unit that was next to a toilet. While waiting for some to come out of the toilet, we noticed a couple of Warner Bros items through the office’s glass door. We went into the office and after a chat with the employees inside, found out that they were the licensed copyright holders for Warner Bros items.
What happened next was amazing as they had a whole shelf full of singular pieces of all Warner Bros vinyl dolls, from Flash to Superman to Flintstones. There was also figural soakies and smaller figures. Obviously there was only one figure I had to have from the whole shelf..and it cost about S$4.
This figure has been with me now for 19 years, and takes centrestage on the top of my Flash toy cupboard.
[TOYSREVIL: 4-Bucks-FTW! Gotta love fruitous toy-hunts!]
TOYSREVIL: Any particular piece you think not many folks have seen before?
"CLIPPER" GARY: There hasn’t been much Flash toys as compared to other characters. I guess the 15” vinyl doll is the one seldom seen, unless one has been to a Warner Bros store in 1993.
TOYSREVIL: What's your next piece you are hunting/waiting for, which you do not own yet? Is there a "Holy Toy Grail"?
"CLIPPER" GARY: There are a few pieces of which I’m currently looking at, but mostly its statues and figures.
One of the rarest Flash item would be the ARH Flash resin model kit, originally sculpted in Argentina. The other would be the William Paquet sculpted Flash statue released by DC Direct in 1995, limited to 2850 pieces.
These 2 items are definitely on my wanted list and I have found leads online, and am still pursuing them. Of course, I welcome anybody locally that has these items for sale too.
TOYSREVIL: My sincere thanks for sharing with us, Gary!
Folks out there who are interested to share, are to email me direct at toysreviler [at] gmail.com. The focus is on a "singular theme" - which means while you might collect all "Star Wars" or "Dunnys", it veers heavily towards "All Storm Troopers" and/or "All Robot Dunny designs ", cool? :)
