Razmig Chaglasian was a contributor to East of Byzantium Vol 1: WAR GODS and now has increased his role, moving on to Co-writing Volume 2: WARRIOR SAINTS with Roger Kupelian. Razmig managed to squeeze together a few moments of his time for this interview.
EOB: When did you first get acquainted with the Vartan story and what does this epic mean to you?
RC: When I was 6 years old , I learned a song in school about the exploits of an Armenian hero named Vartan who fought for Armenians and died valiantly. A few years later in Armenian history class, we learned about the period and the history of Vartan Mamigonian. I later studied that period on my own for a couple of years because the battle represented the “final stand” Armenians took to preserve their identity. In other words, it is the ultimate story of survival and a desire for a people to craft and preserve its own identity in the face of overwhelming strength and power.
EOB: Who would you say are your greatest inspirations?
RC: I’ve drawn inspiration from a number of great writers, but two in particular whose work I often revisit are George Orwell and Ernest Hemingway.
EOB: What are some of the difficulties the storyteller, especially one from an Armenian background will have in telling this particular story. What would you say is the adjustment in writing for a graphic novel versus writing for a screenplay?
EOB: What are some of the difficulties the storyteller, especially one from an Armenian background will have in telling this particular story. What would you say is the adjustment in writing for a graphic novel versus writing for a screenplay?
RC: One major difficulty for a storyteller, particularly an Armenian, is to remain unbiased in the portrayal of the major figures central to the story from the Persian side. For Armenians, this battle is viewed as a major moral victory and justification for our preservation of Christianity. It is one of the three major events in Armenian history of the last two thousand years, thus a palpable patriotism is tied to the Armenian heroes in the war. In writing a graphic novel, the words on the page are secondary to the images. In writing a screenplay, words paint the picture in the mind of the reader. Graphic novels are primarily a visual medium, particularly with a remarkable visual storyteller like Roger Kupelian, words on the page just help frame the action.
EOB: Why do a graphic novel about a battle that Armenians lost rather than a story about one of our great kings or legendary figures?
RC: Stories of tragedy and fights for survival illicit visceral reactions from readers. Stories of great kings have been told in the past, and often, I can’t get past the hyperbole involved in the glorification of oppression by said kings. The underdog fighting a war they cannot win, but must fight, has a romantic feel.
EOB: At this time., The Roman's main adversary was the Sassanian Persian Empire. As such, Persians are the chief adversary in the story arc, especially the second one that Warrior Saints deals with. There are those who say that this story is the wrong one to tell especially because Iran today remains one of the few allies to The young Armenian Republic within Sea of enemies. Do you agree with this? How would you respond to that criticism?
RC: I am not a fan of revisionist history. The battles two nations fought roughly 1,600 years ago should have no effect on today's political climate. Iran and Armenia share thousands of years of history, rich with alliances, battles, cultural similarities and most of all, a deep rooted belief in their individual identities.
EOB: Did you agree with the way the Persian empire was depicted in the immensely successful film (300)? How is it different in the east of Byzantium saga?
RC: 300 was an entertaining film, but I personally did not agree with the way the Persian empire was depicted. They were represented by creatures and monsters rather than human beings with an agenda. Our portrayal of the Persian empire is very different. In East of Byzantium, they, like the Armenians, are humans with specific political and religious ideologies that drive them to pursue their goals. Telling a story like this invites the storyteller to take sides and paint the enemy as the "other", a race that is inferior in one way or another to your story's protagonist. Once they've been categorized as such, its easier to attack them because they are no longer human beings. But once you've depicted the enemy in your story in that manner, you're perpetuating a tired cliche.
EOB: Kupelian has described you as one of the most passionate people he has ever met concerning this particular period Of Armenian history. What is the strongest part of the epic of Vartan as far as you are concerned? It is usually considered a religious story by many, but do you see it that way?
RC: I love this story for a number of reasons, but one in particular is that it is a battle that Armenians were soundly defeated in, but had to fight. It was a group of people marching into certain death to fight to preserve the intangible. Their identity. The church, the culture and Armenia's rich traditions all form that identity. But what is an identity aside from a mental construct. Most battles are fought for materials gains. These men and women fought to stay Armenian.
EOB: In your research, what are some of the misconceptions you feel Armenians have regarding Vartan and his clan?
RC: In the most famous depiction of Vartan, the profile picture wearing his helmet, he is shown to have dark black hair. Vartan was a red head. But more importantly, Vartan is canonized for basically being a hot-headed general. He is a saint according to Armenian history. The Armenian church I grew up attending is named Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Apostolic Church. Notice the name is Saints, because Vartan, his clan, and all those who fought and died in that battle are canonized. Vartan was a military and political leader who took a particular position, which he deemed to be the right course for his people. Vasag (his rival and head of House Syunik) is treated remembered as the great traitor of our people. For Armenians, he's ranked with Judas as one of histories greatest turncoats. But in reality, Vasag was a wealthy man protecting his interests at any cost, which in this case, involved betraying his rival. He is no more or less slimy than any politician today.
EOB: What other projects are you currently working on and do you have any advice you would give a writer who is about to embark on scripting a difficult historic topic?
RC: I am currently working on an outline for a script as well as a short story.
My advice to a writer working on an epic is to really do your homework on the subject and think about your central characters by putting yourself in their shoes and thinking about how you would react. It'll teach you something about the character and yourself.
WARRIOR SAINTS (East of Byzantium: Vol. 2) will being unveiling in early 2013.
