Speedforce.org is proud to present our newest feature, Flash Collector Showcase. We will be showcasing Flash memorabilia collectors and their collections from all over the world; whether it be comics, toys, t-shirts, collectibles or art. If it’s a collection and it’s main focus or a large part of it relates to The Flash or his Rogues, then it will be eligible to be featured.

To that end all collectors interested in having their collection possibly featured in a future Flash Collector Showcase please send your name, geographic location, a short biography, some background on your collection, and about 3 to 6 pictures to
Devintheflashjohnson@yahoo.com. Be sure to mention if your collection has received special mentions or any other accolades as well although this is not a requirement.

Now on to our very first Flash Collector, Glen Antonio.

Glen hails from the Republic of the Philippines, where he is widely known as the country’s biggest Flash Memorabilia collector. His collection is so well known that he has been featured in various newspaper articles and even on a popular Filipino primetime talk show, Mel and Joey. The show’s topic was Glen and his family of fellow collectors; his wife, Rosette who collects Lord of the Rings action figures (with a focus on Legolas) and his daughter and son, Dylan and Dwayne who collect Barbie dolls and red diecast cars respectively.

You can see Glen and the rest of the family on Mel and Joey showing off their collections HERE. The language is Tag-Lish, a combination of Tagalog and English, but you get the idea.

Glen has been collecting Flash action figures and memorabilia since he was in grade school, but he didn’t really hit his stride (hehe) until around 2001. His collection now includes more than 100 versions of the Flash and several rare collectibles that can only be procured through fast food establishments in the Philippines. These collectibles alone may make his collection one of the largest and certainly more unique Flash collections in the world.

His favorite Flash just so happens to be Barry Allen. Glen believes Barry to be the noblest and the greatest of The Flashes, which admittedly is a hard case to disprove considering he sacrificed himself for the universe and all. Glen’s love for the character comes through even in the way his display is set up. With Barry’s figures taking center stage and the rest of the Speedsters carefully arranged behind him, Barry Allen is clearly the star:

Glen’s display is arranged thematically. The first section has all the Bart Allen figures on the far left of the display, then all of the Jay figures closer to the middle, with Barry figures taking center stage (Glen’s favorite speedster after all). Wally’s section is to the right of Barry, and all other Flash incarnations (Johnny Quick, Alfred E. Neuman, etc) are farther right.

The second section is reserved for the bigger items (8” and above). Plushes, various dolls, Justice League Animated 10” Figures and the 12” Giants of Justice DC Universe Flash SDCC exclusive among others, goes here.

Finally the third section (below) consists of fast food Flash collectibles, Kenner Flash action figures and the smaller scale Justice League Animated Flash Figures. The fast food collectibles are definitely some of the rarer pieces in Glen’s collection. They are considered harder to find since only certain parts of the world offered them and even then only for a limited time. He has pieces from the United States (Burger King, Jack in the Box, Subway, McDonald’s, Sunkist – Hawaii), France (McDonald’s), and the Philippines (Jollibee, a fast food chain that rivals McDonald’s popularity in the Philippines):

DC Universe Classics Barry, Crisis On Infinite Earths Barry, Silver Age Barry, Superfriends Barry, and New Frontier Barry all team up to stop the Anti-Monitors of Five Different Universes, or something cool like that:

Some of Glen’s rarer collectibles:

One more view of the largest Flash collection in the Philippines:

There are a few more items that aren’t pictured, and Glen is always adding new collectibles to what he has dubbed his “Flash Stash”, but you can see the newest pics of his “stash” on his Facebook or follow him on Twitter.

I have to say that this really feels like things are coming full circle; Glen was the guy who first inspired me to start collecting Flash memorabilia in earnest a few years ago. Up until then I had purchased a few Flash action figures here and there but nothing significant. Then one day I was checking out Toynewsi.com and I came across a post of Glen’s in the DC Comics forum where he had posted some pics of his collection and I was awestruck. From that point on my goal was to amass a collection as thorough as Mr. Antonio’s. Who else can say they have garnered national attention for their Flash collection?

This guy doesn’t skip a beat by the way. Glen will be exhibiting his full Flash collection for the upcoming 9th Annual Philippine Toycon, June 19th through June 20th, 2010. This year’s theme is the 75th Anniversary of DC Comics. With a collection that spans the Golden Age with Jay Garrick and up through the Modern Age with Bart Allen (and everything in between), there is no doubt that Glen’s collection is a great choice to be on exhibit for the 75th Anniversary celebration.

Thanks for reading. Keep a look out for more collections to be showcased here on Speedforce.org in the future. Also remember if you or anyone you know has a Flash collection please drop me a line at
Devintheflashjohnson@yahoo.com. I would love to hear from you. Be sure to include your name, geographic location, a short biography, some background on your collection, and about 3 to 6 pictures as well.

Btw Speedforce.org and myself are on Twitter. Add @Speedforceorg and @FlashJohnson to receive the latest Flash news on the run.

–Devin “The Flash” Johnson