By Mike Adajian
Roger Kupelian has taken a tale of bloody struggle and transcendent triumph from the 5th-century Middle East and used it as his inspiration to create the astounding reality of his latest graphic novel series and accompanying footage for his film “East of Byzantium : War Gods and Warrior Saints.” Kupelian is the Hollywood visual effects artist who helped create the wondrous worlds of “The Lord of the Rings,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Charlie Wilson’s War,” “Pirates of The Caribbean,” “X-Men,” “The Mummy,” and “Dark Forest in the Mountains,” the music videos for Serj Tankian of System of a Down, and numerous other projects. His graphic novels and film are his re-imagining of the battle between the Persian Empire and the warriors of Armenia in 451 AD.
“With the art style I used in the graphic novels, I wanted to give the readers a cinematic experience of the story,” he says. “That’s why I put so much effort into creating a very lush and yet impressionistic rendering of the pages.”
Kupelian was born in Beirut, Lebanon, lived in Sierra Leone for the first 12 years of his life, and now works out of Hollywood. With his transcontinental cultural background it’s no wonder that his watchword for his “East of Byzantium” heroes is “Who we are is worth fighting for.”
“To me, that’s a powerful motivation for anyone living in 451 AD, or in 2012 for that matter,” he says.
On Sun., Feb. 26, Kupelian will bring his multi-media graphic novel and film works to Chicago and will speak on “The Warrior Myth and How We Draw Strength From It.” The event will take place at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church Hall, 6700 W. Diversey, in Chicago at 3:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required and refreshments will be served. The first volume of Kupelian’s graphic novel will soon be available in print, and advance copies will be available at the event.
To view the digital editions of this work, visit www.graphicly.com and search “War Gods.” For an overview of Kupelian’s work and current projects, visit www.rogerkupelian.com or www.eastofbyzantium.com.
Guest Contributor
Chicago Armenians — Do not miss this event! Mr. Kupelian is a brilliant artist and an extraordinary talent; you will leave this event inspired and moved by his art.
THANK YOU to THE ARMENIAN WEEKLY, Nazareth & everybody else
from 451 AD to 2012 AD who worked on this story !
” BECAUSE WHO WE ARE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR. ”
This is our Chicago community’s Vartanantz Commemoration 2012
presented by The Knights Of Vartan Avarayr Tahlij # 4
& Daughters Of Vartan Asdghig Otyag # 30
with Special Thanks to Saint Gregory The Illuminator Armenian Church.
BECAUSE WHO WE ARE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR– This line is very powerful.. and very meaningful .. especially for us Armenians around the globe… It is worth fighting for keeping our Armenianness alive whever we are and never forget where we come from.. It is worth fighting for to keep our history, culture, arts and music alive.. it is worth fighting for our lands that were stolen from us and it is worth fighting for all the innocent souls that were killed before, during and after Genocide..
because who we are is worth fighting for.. perfectly said…
Gayane
Becau
“East of Byzantium” looks an impressive film. I like these kind of historical films. I like also this: ” WHO WE ARE IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR”.
But I have to be honest to tell this: The 451, May AD battle of Avarayr was actually very short (if at all, as such), as Vardan Mamikonian was killed very quickly (and ALL of his generals too) and the rest of his men fled to the nearby mountains. Vardan Mamikonian was NOT an ethnic Armenian (at least not entirely) and he fought not for Armenia(ns), but for christian faith. He had little feelings for Armenian nation. His stubbornness and political short-sightedness came to cost expensive for Armenians under Persian Empire, who had autonomy.
In the above article referred “the warriors of Armenia in 451 AD” were actually representing a small portion of Armenian nation: mostly (fanatic) christians and church clergy. The MAIN goal they were fighting for was to restore the right of the church to be the GRAND JUDGE again on Armenian lands, as short before 451 AD the Persian Empire took it from them and gave it to Armenian MARZPAN (governer), who was the great political strategist VASAK SYUNI, grandson of famous ANDOK of Syunik/Sisakan..
The 451 AD battle too was written by Mamikonian family historians EGHISHE and ALISHAN, whose job was to make Vardan Mamikonian look bigger and Vasak Syuni smaller/”traitor”. But the writings of historian KORYUN and others prove otherwise. As it was Vasak Syuni who helped Mesrop Mashtots and opened many Armenian schools, among others.
And in 451 AD battle 10 of the 18 Armenian houses (after the famous meeting of Artashat) were fighting AGAINST Vardan Mamikonian and on the side of Vasak Syuni.
On this interesting issue one can read the works of famous Armenian historian N. Adonts.
Although, the story of Vartan is a glorified and exaggerated version of a smaller battle, N. Adonts is one of the most ill-informed historians including his false perception that Armenians did not have literature before Mesrop Mashtotz.