Sean Lam

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Sean Lam
Sean lam.jpg
Sean Lam
BornSingapore
NationalitySingaporean
Area(s)Author, artist
Notable works
It Takes a Wizard
Ringworld, The Graphic Novel
Pope Francis: I believe in Mercy
Habemus Papam-Pope Benedict XVI

Sean Lam is a Singaporean author and artist. He is best known for his two part graphic novel adaption of New York Times bestselling Larry Niven's sci-fi novel Ringworld[1] and a 32-page Pope Benedict manga[2] comic where 300,000 copies were distributed for World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid.[3]

Biography[]

Sean Lam was born in Singapore. As a young adolescent, he was fascinated with drawing. In the 1980s, he was exposed to the various art from a diverse range of graphic novels ranging from Western comics to Japanese manga and Chinese manhua, which led him to gain a strong interest in this form of art and storytelling. He graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and specialise in traditional and digital art, graphic novel and story writing.

His first foray into the comic industry was the release of It Takes a Wizard,[4][5] a 480-page single volume manga, written by German writer Thomas R. Hart, and published by Seven Seas Entertainment, an American publisher of original manga-style comics in 2009. Two years later Macmillan Publishers published his two-part graphic novel adaption[6] of the sci-fi novel Ringworld by Larry Niven, namely Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part One[7][8] and Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part Two.[9][10]

He then went on to develop several bible-themed graphic novels with American publisher Manga Hero,[11] which includes Paul: Tarsus to Redemption,[12][13] Judith: Captive to Conqueror,[14][15][16] Many Are Called,[17][18][19] and Habemus Papam! manga.[20][21][22] He released a 32-page Pope Benedict manga comic[23] which was distributed in August during World Youth Day 2011[3] in Madrid. This was followed by an expanded version of the graphic novel which went deeper into the life of Pope Benedict XVI. In 2012 he won an award for his bible themed graphic novel, Judith: Captive to Conqueror at Angoulême Christian Comics Festival[24] in France. A 48-page paperback, Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy,,[25] was later created to celebrate the appointment of Pope Francis.[26][27]

In 2015 he collaborated with the Four Lords from San Diego as the main comic artist for The Curseborn Saga manga,[28] and together held a book signing at the Los Angeles Anime Expo for the launch of the first volume, followed by another at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2018, where his team got an exclusive interview by ABC 10 News.[29] They are currently in works on the second volume of the comic and an art book with a consolidation of all his current concept arts and character designs for the story planned for release sometimes towards end of 2018 or early 2019.[30] In early 2018 he collaborated with American DJ and record producer Slushii with a anime rendition of him on a limited edition poster of his There X2 Tour.

In 2020 he collaborated with Japanese brand Maker's Watch Knot[31] to launch a Limited time collection series of the 12 Zodiac Characters artworks together with their Artisan Watches, with each pair of Zodiac inspired male and female characters featured monthly. ‘Sean x Knot Limited Postcard Collection’ consists of character designs which are loosely based on one of his manga story collections 'Moment For Love 愛の瞬間 ‘. Through this collaboration, he expresses that "art is a timeless expression that bonds together the love and people of diversity". He was also the judge for the manga art competition held by Knot in Singapore in April 2020.

Sean Lam's mural artwork at the unveiling ceremony of REACH 35th Anniversary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he extended support to his homeland Singapore through art therapies and free art workshops for children sharing his latest children's illustrated storybook series Growing Up with you, a series of heart-warming local stories. In December 2020 he was commissioned by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and REACH to produce a mural to celebrate REACH Singapore 35th Anniversary,[32] to show support to their 35 years of relentless efforts to hear the voices of the public as well as engaging in conversations with all walks of life. The mural aims to start off on an emerging stronger conversation to reach out to different communities in Singapore such as clan associations and youths, to enable participants to share their hopes for what Singapore could look like as the country emerge from COVID-19.

He is also currently working with artist and author Junzi (also known as kingB), who is the chief editor for his two new original comic series namely the Red Dot[33] and Goddess Punch, both which were introduced exclusively on his social media platform Instagram. Both works aim to appeal to both local Singaporeans as well as the international audience. Apart from working on graphic novels, Sean has held in-house art gallery showcasing his popular online series of Red Dot and Silent Night series artworks which he has also shared on his Instagram.

In an interview back in 2011, he talked about hopes to bring changes to the art scene in Singapore and to hopefully attract and trigger the creativity in children in comic and manga art, saying “Manga can deliver emotions faithfully and carry a vivid message to readers, evoking a sense of reality in the story. Young children are usually fascinated by the art when they pick up the book. I hope that my artwork can help them understand the emotional background of the set and characters, and bring them into that world to learn about the wonderful stories of faith and goodwill.”[34]

Publications[]

  • Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy (Manga Hero, 2017) ISBN 978-0983639794[25]
  • Many Are Called (Manga Hero, 2017) ISBN 978-0997440522[17]
  • Habemus Papam-Pope Benedict XVI (Manga Hero, 2017) ISBN 978-0983639756[20]
  • Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part Two (Tor/Seven Seas, 2015) ISBN 978-0765324634[9]
  • Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part One (Tor/Seven Seas, 2014) ISBN 978-0765324627[7]
  • Judith: Captive to Conqueror (Manga Hero, 2013) ISBN 978-0983639763[14]
  • Paul: Tarsus to Redemption (Manga Hero, 2012) ISBN 978-0983639749[12]
  • It Takes a Wizard (Seven Seas, 2009) ISBN 978-1934876343[4]

References[]

  1. ^ Niven, Larry (2014-07-08). Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part One. Tom Doherty Associates. ISBN 9781466838352.
  2. ^ "Habemus Papam!". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Pope to be manga hero at WYD". catholicnews.sg. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Hart, Thomas R.; Lam, Sean (2007-07-07). It Takes A Wizard. Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC. ISBN 9781935934479.
  5. ^ "It Takes A Wizard". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  6. ^ Plaxco, Jim. "Book Review: Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part 1|National Space Society". Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Niven, Larry (2014-07-08). Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part One. Tom Doherty Associates. ISBN 9781466838352.
  8. ^ "Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part One | Larry Niven | Macmillan". US Macmillan. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Niven, Larry; Mandell, Robert (2015-11-10). Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part Two: The Science Fiction Classic Adapted to Manga. Tom Doherty Associates. ISBN 9780765324634.
  10. ^ "Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part Two | Larry Niven | Macmillan". US Macmillan. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  11. ^ TWWK (2011-07-07). "Interview with OEL Manga Artist, Sean Lam". Beneath the Tangles. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b Salisbury, Matthew; Gniewek, Gabrielle (2012-08-01). Paul: Tarsus to Redemption. Manga Hero. ISBN 9780983639749.
  13. ^ "Manga Review of Paul: Tarsus to Redemption". Beneath the Tangles. 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Gniewek, Gabrielle (2010). Judith: Captive to Conqueror. ATIQTUQ. ISBN 9780982653814.
  15. ^ "Manga Review of Judith: Captive to Conqueror, Volume 1". Beneath the Tangles. 2011-09-12. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  16. ^ "Manga Review of Judith: Captive to Conqueror, Volume 2". Beneath the Tangles. 2011-10-27. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b Gniewek, Gabrielle (2017-01-01). Many Are Called. MANGO HERO. ISBN 9780997440522.
  18. ^ "OEL Manga Review: Many Are Called". Beneath the Tangles. 2011-11-30. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  19. ^ "Many Are Called: Catholic Manga Review - CatholicMom.com - Celebrating Catholic Motherhood". CatholicMom.com - Celebrating Catholic Motherhood. 2011-09-20. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b Doman, Regina (2017-01-01). Habemus Papam!: Pope Benedict XVI. Manga Hero. ISBN 9780983639756.
  21. ^ "Review: Habemus Papam elevates manga to great reading!". By Hand, With Heart. 2012-12-16. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  22. ^ "Habemus Papam! Pope Benedict XVI - Regina Doman and Sean Lam". www.bookreviewsandmore.ca. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  23. ^ Gniewek, Gabrielle (2011-06-30). Habemus Papam! WYD 2011 (English): Pope Benedict XVI. Manga Hero. ISBN 9780983639718.
  24. ^ "BD chrétienne 2012 : " Les indices pensables " primés - Église catholique en France". Église catholique en France (in French). 2011-12-08. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b Doman, Regina (2017-01-01). Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy. Manga Hero. ISBN 9780983639794.
  26. ^ "S'porean makes Pope Francis a Manga superhero".
  27. ^ "Pope Francis superhero in 'I Believe in Mercy' manga-style comic book". www.catholicphilly.com. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  28. ^ "The Curseborn Saga, Manga Vol. 1". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  29. ^ Boone, Matt (2018-07-23). "San Diego artists share spotlight at Comic-Con". 10News. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  30. ^ "The Curseborn Saga". The Curseborn Saga. Retrieved 2018-10-08.
  31. ^ "Sean Lam x Knot Collaboration Gift". MAKER'S WATCH KNOT SG. Retrieved 2020-11-23.
  32. ^ "REACH Singapore 35th Anniversary 'Every Voice Matters'".
  33. ^ Editor-in-Chief, Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press. "Fanbase Press - Fanbase Press Interviews Sean Lam on the Graphic Novel Series, 'Red Dot'". www.fanbasepress.com. Retrieved 2019-01-04.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  34. ^ "CatholicNews". catholicnews.sg. Retrieved 2018-10-08.

Bibliography and works[]

Interviews[]

Interview with OEL Manga Artist, Sean Lam

Manga artist hopes his work inspires

S'porean illustrates life of Pope Francis for comic book

Fanbase Press interviews Sean Lam on his new graphic novel series, 'Red Dot'

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