INTERVIEW: Working Class Villains - PART 3

Check out the guy's work at Emerald City Comic Con this weekend...

Figures.com: So what is Working Class Villains working on now?

Tony: Right now we're working to secure our first licensed property and it's a lot of work. That gap between business and creative is a vast and deep one. Sorry, we can't divulge what the property is, but we can promise it's a fan-favorite and one that hasn't been done yet.

Aside from that, we were approached to develop a prototype for Cougar, a new property for UK-based Studio Cougar. Later this year we'll all be able to read the adventures of Cougar in his own comic title but until then, check out the awesome set-up work on their website www.studiocougar.com. It's a really different spin on the "changeable" robot formula.

Skot: With Cougar, this is one of those times we were talking about where an operative was called in. Randy Kinser is our lead dog on this project. If you went to Bot-Con or Cyb-Con last year you no doubt saw his 2 1/2 foot tall, fully changeable, scratch built (Transformers) Cybertron Primus (at top). To say he's able to build great 'bots is an huge understatement. He's doing some amazing work on Cougar and we're all anxiously anticipating the final product.

Figures.com: Where do you hope to be and what do you hope to be doing in five years?

Tony: There are a few more licensed properties we are circling to produce on our own and become a full-on toy/collectible company, as well as fleshing out some of our own concepts. It's so rewarding collaborating with clients and making something tangible out of their ideas, but eventually I want us to work exclusively on our stuff full time, be it licensed or original. And I love the Seattle area, it's an amazing place to live and work. It's my dream to be the first big toy company in this town...

Skot: Seattle and Sculpting. I love the northwest as only someone who didn't grow up here can. If the lakes and trees don't inspire you, then maybe the Cascade or Olympic mountains will. It is truly like nowhere else in the world and I can't imagine a better place to live and work. As for the professional end, I think Tony nailed that part; our ideas, full time. With the dissolve of some truly great toy companies in the past few years, it would seem that there is a place for us to step up and add something. There aren't a lot of companies right now making what we can make, and I think in five years, Working Class Villains could be one of the great studios, making beautiful, collectible toys that are fun to play with. We've got a lot of things planned and in development, and I can guarantee that the next few years are going to be quite a ride...

Be sure to check out WorkingClassVillains.com for more information. For those looking to meet Tony and Skot, be sure to stop by their booth at this weekend's Emerald City Comic Con where they'll be meeting and greeting fans and collectors. Also be sure to check the "Josh Medors Benefit Auction," going on at the Con this Saturday, May 10th. Tony and Skot wanted to let everyone know about the auction, benefiting Josh, who's been battling cancer.

"Josh is a hell of a comic artist who's worked on titles like G.I. Joe, 30 Days of Night and Frazetta's Swamp Demon," says Tony. "We want to encourage anyone who will be at the Con to come and bid on donated items by some big names like Frank Frazetta, Todd McFarlane, Ahmet Zappa as well as others...including little ol' us."

Those unable to make it to the Con and bid in the auction can send donations to jmedors1@insight.rr.com via Paypal.