Visual Effects Artist Roger Kupelian Creates 100 Unique Covers for Warrior Saints Graphic Novel
LOS ANGELES— Roger Kupelian, Hollywood Visual Effects veteran (Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Alice in Wonderland, Hugo) and creator of the “East of Byzantium” franchise, is inviting 100 fans to own a uniquely painted special cover for the next installment in his “Warrior Saints” graphic novel series. The campaign will fund the printing of 1,000 regular editions of the second edition of the book for wider release.
The previous volume, “War Gods,” is based on the historical events of Armenia’s conversion to Christianity in 301 AD. The “War Gods” story has already been presented to the Knights of Vartan in Chicago and in Toronto, Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. Kupelian even did a signing at San Diego’s Comic Con, a major national industry event.
The sequel, “Warrior Saints,” is the next installment of the epic saga.
In the book, over a century has passed since the events of 301. Vartan Mamigonian and his followers face incredible odds to defend their country and their freedom. When the men fall in battle, women pick up the fight. Kupelian has maintained that the EoB graphic novel series was a way to get the vision of a possible future film out there, so readers can grasp the vision.
“There are a lot of amazing characters throughout our history,” Kupelian remarked, “but Vartan Mamigonian is the one I identified with, even as an Armenian kid growing up in a diaspora community in West Africa. He’s our Braveheart and his story deserves to be told. The power in this narrative is one of us having this Warrior Code, rather than being identified as victims.”
The “East of Byzantium” franchise has fans around the world. There was even a reader who took a photo with a copy of the book at the South Pole.
“War Gods” was released over a year ago, and both books have been licensed as the foundation for a docu-tainment mini-series for television, which is now in post-production.
The program was filmed in Armenia last year, with authentic landscapes as a backdrop and actors in full period costume from the fourth and fifth centuries. There have also been discussions with major Hollywood icons for a feature version of the story.
Lavishly rendered from extensive research, the first 100 copies of “Warrior Saints” will be completely unique in that each cover will be specially made for that supporter of the project. Once the 100 covers are sponsored, EoB fans will vote on the winning cover to go onto the standard edition print. All 100 sponsors will be listed by name in the standard printed version of the book.
To order one of the 100 unique covers painted by Roger Kupelian, visit www.fugitivestudios.bigcartel.com
