Twenty Questions With Edward Wires
by Julius Marx on www.aftimes.com

Wednesday, June 19, 2002

Eddie Wires has a job most of us don’t think about. When you think of the toy manufacturing process you usually think of the designers and sculptors, but most of us rarely think about the prototype painters. Come to think of it, before I met Eddie I don’t think I really knew there were prototype painters. I mean, I knew that prototypes got painted and that someone had to do it, but not that it could be someone’s job. This 20 questions is a tribute to the unsung heroes—The prototype painter. The guys that are responsible for us looking at the early pictures of an unreleased figure and making us think “WOW! That looks great. If it looks that good when it comes out, I’ll be picking one of those up!”

Eddie has painted a LOT of figures in his 4 years in the industry and he’s done a lot for a lot of different companies such as Toy Vault, Palisades Toys, Dark Horse and Toy Biz. He has worked on such projects as The Lord of the Rings, Farscape, Marvel Legends, Spiderman Classics, Marvel Select, Marvel Studios and the Muppet Show. You can checkout Ed’s amazing body of work at EdwardWires.com. In the portfolio section of the site you will recognize many of the publicity shots that you have seen for the Muppets and Marvel Legends line and you will realize that the clean, beautiful paint jobs are part of why you wanted those figures so much.

Ed is also an extraordinary customizer. His scale of choice is 1:6, but I’ve also seen some custom Batman Animated and Super Powers figures in his workshop. His custom 12” Marvel figures became a big part of the initial pitch to Toy Biz management for the 12” Marvel Studios line.

For those of you visiting the San Diego Comic con may just run into Eddie at the Palisades or Toy Biz booths, or you may see him on the main floor along with Jesse and Phil harassing the Cosplayers.
So with a tip o’ that hat we dedicate this “20 Questions” feature to the unsung heroes- The prototype painters. Long may your brushes be wet….or something like that.

And now 20 Questions with Edward Wires:

1. What is your current title
Prototype Painter

2. How would you describe your job?
I paint resin copies of sculptures that are used in both catalog and advertising photography and overseas manufacturing.

3. Where is your current base of operations?
The Troll Hole, Fullerton, CA

4. How long have you worked for this company?
I have been in the business for almost 4 years servicing a number of clients, with the biggest being Toy Biz

5. How did you get into this field?
Absolute luck.

6. How many figures have you helped to create/design/produce/market?
I have been involved with hundreds of figures.

7. Of those figures/toys, what was your favorite?
I don't really have a singled out favorite. But, Lord of the Rings and Marvel Legends can all be ranked as one BIG favorite.

8. What would you say is the hardest part of your job?
Juggling projects, married life, and sanity.

9. What would you say has been the biggest or most significant change in the industry while you have been a part of it?
The toy industry as a whole has been willing to take more chances, and break free of the stereotypical toys we grew up with. Thus forcing most of the artists to push the envelope in terms of what we produce.

10. What do you predict as the biggest break through for the future of the industry?
I think we're already going through the next big breakthrough with articulation and paint applications. The use of characters and properties that have been popular with kids for the last 25 years are making a resurgence and taking advantage of these modern breakthroughs (i.e. Spider-Man, He-Man, Star Wars).

11. What is your favorite toy/figure/line from ANOTHER company?
I interpret "another" as a company I haven't done work for. So in that case I choose Marmit Boba Fett.

12. What's the silliest statement/suggestion you've ever heard or made in a meeting?
They all have to look "EXACTLY" alike? Or "This is the best time in history to be a fanboy".

13. If you could pick any toy/figure from early in your career to re-do what would it be?
X-Men Movie Figures. I would try to do more with their faces (using the old expression, "if I knew then what I know now".)

14. What is your favorite toy from childhood?
Star Wars Vehicles and Fireworks. I'll show you the scars at SDCC.

15. What is the worst job you ever had (pre-toy industry)?
Cleaning public use toilets and showers at a campground (I can still smell the orange scented disinfectant).

16. What is your proudest achievement to date?
Marvel Legends and Marvel Studios

17. What did you want to be when you grew up?
Chewbacca (my wife says I am almost there)

18. What's the last movie you saw?
The last GOOD movie I saw was Lord of the Rings

19. What one word would you use to describe yourself
Bi-Polar

20. Would you rather hang out with a guy named "Chuck" or a guy named "Stu?” ?
I used to hang out with a guy named Stew, and he liked to shoot people with frozen paintballs. So I guess I would have to pick Chuck.


Thanks to Eddie Wires for playing along here at 20 Questions.
Keep up the excellent work and we'll see you in San Diego!