Req Arif Amasses Over 500 Power Rangers And Super Sentai Figures

By Mohd Afiq Zulkifli

CYBERJAYA, Nov 28 (Bernama) – A lifelong passion for superheroes from iconic television shows of the late 80s and 90s has inspired a man in his early 40s to collect an extensive array of toys, including figures and robots from the Power Rangers and Super Sentai series.

The collector, known as 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 iconic franchises, Req Arif’s collection also features toys from Gundam, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Marvel Legends, Star Wars, and Transformers.

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Each item is meticulously organised, adorning two rooms in his home, including 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 Arif told Bernama that he began seriously collecting superhero toys in 2014 after his family's financial situation stabilised, noting that the hobby requires a significant budget, with some items worth thousands of ringgit.

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“I have three children. Before 2014, they 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 Arif, who works as a Market Transformation Manager at an international consulting firm.

 Req Arif explained that his toy collection is also an investment for the future, as limited and rare items are in high demand, driving their prices to skyrocket.

“Previously, 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, as some games required payment to play,” he said.

“There came a time when 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 cent back as profit after playing—just the satisfaction of playing,” he said.

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In addition to using postal services to order toys from abroad, Req Arif shared that he has travelled to 15 countries, including Australia, Japan, Thailand, and the United Kingdom, to hunt for antique and exclusive antiques.

"I usually travel for vacations, and during those trips, I hunt for vintage toys, most of which are sold at flea markets or car boot sales. For instance, in Den DenTown, Osaka, Japan, and Brunswick Flea, Melbourne, Australia," said Req Arif, who also published a book titled ‘Kembara Hobi: Tips dan Lokasi Pencarian’ in 2018.

-- BERNAMA