AFHub Handle: Clark Ken
Real Name: Kenway Chee
Year of Birth: 1973
Location: Binondo, Manila
Believe it or not, Clark Ken wasn’t always Clark Ken nor was he always the Superman collector that he is presently known to be. My first encounter with the person behind this Clark Ken handle was around the middle of 2004, when he used to be more known to the online world as Granamyr. Granny-who? That’s what people ask whenever I tell them a little bit about Calrk Ken’s lurid past :-)
So how does one transition from being a dragon to an alien life form endowed with super powers? Clark Ken (or Ken in real life) never forgets to point a finger at me saying that I was the bad influence who got him started and consequently hooked on Superman collectibles. OK, so I may have created a monster when I sold him that extra DC Direct Supergirl figure I had at a ridiculously low price almost 2 years ago.
Present day – Ken’s Superman collection has grown at an incredibly exponential rate. From action figures to statues and bust to life-sized replicas – he’s probably got them all.
Let’s try and find out a little more about him…
When did you start collecting Superman toys?
I started collecting toys specifically MOTU (Masters of the Universe) in October, 2003. It may surprise you but I only started collecting Superman toys in January 2005.
Why Superman?
Hmmm…actually I dont know. I usually just tell people I don’t like Batman. What’s not to like about Superman?
Where do you do most of your toy shopping?
Before, I would purchase a lot of items from ebay. At the time, I had a brother based in Canada who had a Paypal account. It made eBay purchases very, very easy. But now, I depend mostly on local shops like Ptoys and Druid’s Keep. And, of course, from fellow collectors – many of whom are regular members of AFHub.com.
What is your most prized possession?
Probably my Seinfeld Superman and 2 Kryptonite replicas.
Which piece was the toughest to find, your Holy Grail so to speak?
That would be the first Kryptonite replica. Followed by the Seinfeld Superman statue. And very recently, sourcing the Hot Toys Superman Returns figure was a huge challenge. Fortunately, a couple of close friends helped out after I nagged the hell out of them.
Do you still have an item that you desperately want and hope to some day own?
I’ve always wanted to own a Superman Returns lifesize statue. It currently goes for around Php120,000. Ouch!!!
What do you think of the custom figures/toys?
I’m not a great fan of custom toys but I do like the work of one particular customizer – Grundy’s. I have been a fortunate recipient of one of his work – a Justice League Unlimited Shazam. I also like Carthut’s JLU customs. Both of them produce great pieces.
Do you collect anything else besides Superman?
Aside from Superman, I also collect MOTU, Space Ghost, Captain Marvel and WWE wrestling figures.
What’s the first thing people tell you when they see your collection?
They either tell me I’m like a kid or they ask me how much have I spent on them. I’ve gotten used to these comments over the years.
How do you decide which items to open and which ones to keep mint-in-package?
It’s very hard to decide. So I came up with a system to tackle this problem – I get 2 of each item – much to the displeasure of some people, admittedly.
In the next 5-10 years, do you see your collection growing or would you have grown tired of all this?
I really can’t say. But as long as I interact with people and fellow collectors like my friends here on AFHub, I don’t see myself growing tired. Retirement is still a long way from where I’m standing.
When you meet a newbie Superman collector, what tips do you give them?
Whenever I meet someone who is also collecting Superman figures, my first reaction is always very positive. I know the feeling like what sir Gerry (Sibal – aka Big Blue) said, masaya ako (I’m happy) to see and meet fellow Superman collectors. As for giving them tips, can I quote speedracer? Mas mabuti magsisis na binili mo kaysa magsisi na di mo nabili (It’s better to regret buying an item than to regret not having bought it in the first place).
Here are some photos of Ken’s collections:
