Roger Kupelian to present multi-media graphic novel in Chicago

PanARMENIAN.Net - On Feb. 26, Roger 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.”

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.

The event will take place at St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church Hall, 6700 W. Diversey, in Chicago at 3:30 pm.

This event is free and open to the public.