Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Lambert.
Hi Brian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As long as I can remember, I’ve loved comics and superheroes. I grew up watching The Super-Friends, and my mother bought me the prestige edition Superman VS. Muhammed Ali comic. In my adolescent and teenage years, Image Comics changed the way we viewed comic artists and the power they had to reshape the comic community. Watching their growth and evolution made me want to create on my own. At the time, I was unaware of how to get started in the comic industry, and I put my artists and comic dreams to the side for quite some time. I continued to write and found both solace and my passion in prose. That was a great help and the perfect way to keep my creativity alive. Because of that, and the proliferation of the internet, I was able to self-publish my first novel, Ascension- The Chrusion Saga, Book 1. As I carried out promotion for Ascension, I was able to meet and network with numerous like-minded individuals. I was also able to see the viability of self-publishing comics, as I had done my novel. I initially started out with a group called Konkret Comics, and through growing with them and aiding in their first successful crowd-funded comic campaign, I branched out on my own full with Wingless Entertainment. Wingless Entertainment is a multimedia company that I founded in order to see my visions come to life and my creations on screen in multiple formats. Our original Intellectual Property release was Justice #1, a creator-owned venture that sees a descended archangel question his mission, the world, and humanity’s place within it. We are gearing up for our next Kickstarter campaign that starts on May 16th, along with releases for Immortalis, Her, Avery The Astonishing, and The Scarlet Knight, coming later in the year.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think any road is a straight path. That being said, communication is crucial to anything. When communication breaks down, so does the entire relationship, regardless of type. Working with international artists sometimes takes time to create and cultivate those relationships. Creativity is sometimes a struggle. If what was once your creative outlet becomes a job, it’s very hard to find the joy again. Also, as an African-American, there are both gate-keeping and racial issues that I’ve had to face as an emerging creative in a field that was once (and still is) dominated by a white male voice. And while statistically, the number of writers, artists, letterers, editors, etc., makes sense, it is still often a hurdle faced by those of the global majority. It is not insurmountable, but it exists nonetheless. Oh! And let’s not forget the money. The comic industry works on very thin margins, and it is not inexpensive to create comic books. It’s not a “get rich quick” field. It’s definitely a venture you get into for the love and passion of the medium above all else.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a writer, editor, letterer, and colorist by trade. But as a founder of a multimedia company, I’m also a video editor, a marketing strategist, a shoulder to cry on, and so many other things. In our business, being a jack of all trades is beneficial. It only increases your ability to learn and aid others. In the industry at large, I’m known mainly for my writing and editing. I like to say, “I’m your favorite indie writer’s favorite writer.” It’s a little tongue-in-cheek, but it’s helped me edit for some of the most prolific Black-indie comics writers currently. I’m currently most proud that Wingless Comics was nominated for 4 Glyph Awards for Her #1- Sea Change, written by Malachi Bailey, drawn by Dino Agor, colored by Nimesh, with letters by RuneMakerz. What sets me (and my larger Wingless Comics Family) apart is the deep and studied lore we bring to our world. Most stories are somehow interconnected or overlap each other. We’ve created a world that’s living and vibrant and has a history that can be told in a very “legendarium” format. We also use various mythologies to set the backdrop for our works, not just a singular influence as is seen in much of today’s storytelling.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Wingless Comics keeps an open and rotation production schedule and selection of teams. We can always be reached at admin@winglessent.com for any collaboration or commission inquiries. We are also active on social media, search Wingless Comics. Our website is www.winglessent.com where you can purchase merchandise and comics, and don’t forget, launching on May 16th on Kickstarter, Justice- The Fall 1-4. Which you can find here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/winglesscomics/justice-the-fall-1-4
Contact Info:
- Website: www.winglessent.com
- Instagram: @wingless_comics
- Facebook: facebook.com/winglesscomics
- Twitter: @winglessent
- Youtube: WinglessEnt
