CLAUDIO SANCHEZ ON THE AMORY WARS II

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

Stories have been told with music for ages – from bards to hymns and even some classic albums from the 60s and 70s. But that idea was modernized and revitalized in the music and lyrics of the band Coheed & Cambria. Fronted by singer/guitarist Claudio Sanchez, their albums tell a sweeping multi-part story-arc of a family torn asunder over the background of sci-fi, stars, and suns.

But the story couldn't contain itself in music alone. Sanchez brought this epic story to the comics medium last year in a five-issue miniseries called The Amory Wars from Image Comics and his own Evil Ink Comics. The graphic novel edition of the inaugural Amory Wars series is scheduled to debut at New York Comic Con in April, available in book stores, comic stores and even an exclusive variant cover available at stores in the Hot Topic chain. In additional, all copies will include unreleased material and a five-page sneak preview of the upcoming second volume.

This June, Coheed & Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez returns to comics with the conclusion to the story he started last year with Amory Wars. Corresponding to the narrative told in his band's debut album "Second Stage Turbine Blade", the story told in music and comics is a sweeping science fiction space opera following a couple named Coheed and Cambria coming to grips with their own superhuman souls and their place in the schemes of extraterrestrial powers they know nothing about.

Just off the road from a national area tour supporting Linkin Park, Claudio Sanchez talked with Newsarama by phone from his home in New York.

Newsarama: This new miniseries is the second half of the story arc corresponding with your debut album "Second Stage Turbine Blade". How does it match up, the comics and the music?

Claudio Sanchez: Well, if you were to put the comics up against the albums you'd find the songs on the albums aren't sequential... Every song has its own theme, and the themes jump around on each album. Songs are based sometimes on specific dialogue, captions and scenes. You have to read more into it to see the relationship between the albums and the books.

NRAMA: How did the idea of doing this concept as music and now a comic come to you?

CS: The idea to do this first came about to me a little over ten years ago, when I had taken a trip to Paris. At the time, Coheed & Cambria was actually the name of the side project to what our band is now.

NRAMA: That was Shabutie, right?

CS: Yes. Around 2000 when the band got signed, we figured that that name wasn't appropriate for our music and everyone liked Coheed & Cambria. When I brought the name to the band, I brought the concept and the story with it. The concept was there from the beginning – Coheed and Cambria were the main characters – but the story certainly evolved once the band took it on and it became more than a side project.

Originally the story was going to be told in three albums, with "In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth III" being the end. But when it came to writing it, I found that it didn't have the right conclusion so that's why we created ""Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star". The ideas had always been there, but when the band adopted it, it took on a new life. Writing these comics have also given the albums new life; I had the chance to revisit things and focus in on things that were only touched upon briefly in the lyrics to the songs.

NRAMA: When did the ideas for this story start developing for you?

CS: Well, ten years ago I took this trip to Paris. At the time I'd never been anywhere outside of New York except for New Jersey. I was visiting a girlfriend at the time, and while I was there I bought a guitar and created this little side project. I chronicled the events in this new place, and the story of Coheed and Cambria was loosely based on me and my girlfriend at the time, but from the vantage point of a sci-fi love story. But as I started writing material for it, it took on a more autobiographical story and Coheed & Cambria resembled more my parents and their son, Claudio, was me. Other words and phrases also had their origin in my past: dragonflies, the keywork, the 78 planets – they all have another meaning outside their fictional counterparts.

NRAMA: So there are elements to this story taken from your own life – is there another story behind the curtain to tell?

CS: There's definitely another story behind the fiction. If you take all the pieces and figure out the codes, you'll find a biography in a sense.

NRAMA: In the last miniseries, Coheed and Cambria became aware of superhuman abilities they have. How would you describe those powers?

CS: Cambria is both telepathic and telekinetic – almost like our own Professor Xavier, if you will. That's why she's the brains behind K.B.I.

Coheed is more of the grunt – he's our Wolverine, with the blades on one arm and the cannon on the other. He's almost a cross between Cable and Wolverine. He's more of the physical element to the duo.

NRAMA: Their son is named Claudio, which you mentioned is a stand-in of sorts for you in this story. Why'd you end up putting yourself, and your name into the fictional story?

CS: Well, I always knew I was going to reference real people with some of the characters. As far as "Claudio" goes, I hadn't even thought of it until we were writing the song "Everything Evil". At the end of the outro, I say my name. When I did that, I wasn't thinking consciously about using my own name. But when it sunk in, I realized that now I had to play the character directly. In retrospect I kind of knew I would do this on some level, but it wasn't until I started writing the songs that my name dropped in there.

NRAMA: Looking into the history of this saga, I've found that the original title was "Bag.On.Line.Adventures". What was that in reference to, and why did you change it to The Amory Wars?

CS: Like I said, when I originally created this idea it was to chronicle my ideas while in Paris. Where I was staying there was a store across the street named "The Bag On Line", and that's why I called the series that. That made sense for the type of story it originally was. As the story took on a life of its own, I changed it to "The Amory Wars". The word "Amory" holds a strong significance to where I was brought up.

NRAMA: This is the second comic series, telling the second half of the "Second Stage Turbine Blade" chapter corresponding to the album of the same name. How many comic book miniseries do you see this spanning?

CS: Yes, this miniseries debuting this summer will wrap up "Second Stage Turbine Blade". It was hard for me to cram it into the first miniseries' five issues. Certainly being new at writing sequential stories, it was a learning process to see how it'd translate. In the future we might be pushing the minis a bit larger – it's something I'm toying with now. I'm going to be assessing this after this miniseries and see what the pros and cons are to putting it in one 5-part miniseries or two like it is now.

NRAMA: The comic stories of Coheed & Cambria, from this to it's earliest incarnations, are your first debut into the comics medium. When it came to writing the scripts that would become the comics, how did you learn?

CS: I went to comic book literature first. Several trades have scripts in the back of it as bonus feature, and I would compare the scripts in the back with the comics in the front. I also went out and bought Kevin O'Neill's DC Comics' Guide to Writing Comics and read it to understand the relationship between the script and the panels that make up a comics page. I also learned about the different styles of comic scriptwriting.

It was a very new medium to me, even though I'd been a longtime fan of comics. And writing wasn't always my first thing – I was always more a fan of the art, and wanting to be an illustrator. But I'm terrible at sequential art, so I ended up focusing more on the writing.

NRAMA: This is something I've been wanting to ask. In music you write the lyrics and do the music. In comics, you write it but it's left up to an artist to interpret it and bring it out. Does this lead you to do write comics or approach them differently than music?

CS: I don't think so. Artistically, I'm not part of the end result of the comic – I'm there with the script but then the artist takes over. What you see on the printed page, I didn't do that – I do the dialogue, the plot, the art direction and the story. There are moments when there are specific things I want to say or show, so I'll send a PDF or AI file of a certain setting or character. That way there's no confusion of miscommunication when the artist is drawing the pages from the script.

NRAMA: You mentioned being a long-time fan. What comics do you currently read?

CS: As of recently I've been touring heavily, so usually I'll try to pick up some trades before we head out on the road. The one series I try to keep up with in the single issues is The Walking Dead. That right now is my favorite title. When touring, I'll get the tour managers to send out runners on Wednesdays to grab me the newest issue.

I try to keep up with a bunch of series, with a lot of that being Marvel. I thought Planet Hulk in particular was awesome. I couldn't collect that in single issues, so I grabbed the hardcover. Hellboy is another one, I certainly have those trades.

For the post part I read comics in trade – I have single issues stored and taken care of, but single issues would never survive on a tour bus traveling cross-country.

NRAMA: What about comic classics – what did you grow up reading?

CS: When I was growing up I had an interest in superheroes that had some sort of religious quality to them. I wasn't religious, but I found that component very interesting. Spawn and Ghost Rider were comics I collected when I was young. Also more general things like Spider-Man, The Hulk and most of Stan Lee's Marvel mythology, things like that. Another title was Preacher -- I enjoyed that very much.

NRAMA: Before we go, I see you're slated to make an appearance at the upcoming New York Comicon. You're a regular at the big cons – I saw you walking around San Diego in 2006. What do you have planned for NYCC this year?

CS: At NYCC we're going to unveil a new title that I've been working on. It's a little more comedic, and doesn't follow The Amory Wars. I can't say more than that – but people should come out and show their support. I'll be at the Evil Ink booth.

The Amory Wars II #1 (of 5) debuts on June 5th from Image Comics and Evil Ink Comics.

[KoozyK]

i didn't like the first mini. thought the writing was all over the place and the art was lackluster. considering that i liked the band (past tense) this was a shame.

that being said, i will not be picking this up.

[Ryan Bodenheim]

Originally Posted by KoozyK

i didn't like the first mini. thought the writing was all over the place and the art was lackluster. considering that i liked the band (past tense) this was a shame.

that being said, i will not be picking this up.

The Playa Haters Ball is still six months away Silky Johnson

[PoisonElf]

Definitely picking this up.
Love the band and am excited about where the story is going.

The new artist Gabriel Guzman is fantastic.

[SouthtownKid]

I love that cover. I'll definitely be checking this out.

[Doombug]

Yes! I get to meet claudio at new york comic con, thats so awesome.

I didn't get the last issue of the first mini, hopefully I can get a copy there. Definitely picking up this new series though and the one not connected to the amory wars.

[Steelnexus]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

The Amory Wars II #1 (of 5) debuts on June 5th from Image Comics and Evil Ink Comics.

cool I can buy it and if Coheed are doing a signing at the Download Festival here in the UK I can get them to sign it

[Tabula_Rasa]

Are you guys also the creators of:

Secretest Wars
Crisis on Infinity Earth
the upcoming Secretest Invasion
Sinister Corp War
House of N
Silented War

Truely an original title guys.

[SouthtownKid]

Originally Posted by Tabula_Rasa

Are you guys also the creators of:

Secretest Wars
Crisis on Infinity Earth
the upcoming Secretest Invasion
Sinister Corp War
House of N
Silented War

Truely an original title guys.

Way to be a jackass. Why don't you take a second to find out what Amory is, rather than assume it's some kind of misspelling of "Armor"? Are comics now not allowed to have the word "Wars" in them? Is that some kind of shared trademark between Marvel and DC now?

[Tabula_Rasa]

Originally Posted by SouthtownKid

Way to be a jackass. Why don't you take a second to find out what Amory is, rather than assume it's some kind of misspelling of "Armor"? Are comics now not allowed to have the word "Wars" in them? Is that some kind of shared trademark between Marvel and DC now?

I read it the interview...just think the title of the book is horribly unoriginal considering Iron Man had two big storylines called Armor Wars and...wait for it...Armor Wars II.

[PoisonElf]

Originally Posted by Tabula_Rasa

I read it the interview...just think the title of the book is horribly unoriginal considering Iron Man had two big storylines called Armor Wars and...wait for it...Armor Wars II.

It's AMORY, not armory, genius.

NRAMA: Looking into the history of this saga, I've found that the original title was "Bag.On.Line.Adventures". What was that in reference to, and why did you change it to The Amory Wars?

CS: Like I said, when I originally created this idea it was to chronicle my ideas while in Paris. Where I was staying there was a story across the street named "The Bag On Line", and that's why I called the series that. That made sense for the type of story it originally was. As the story took on a life of its own, I changed it to "The Amory Wars". The word "Amory" holds a strong significance to where I was brought up.

Reading helps.

[Doombug]

Originally Posted by Tabula_Rasa

I read it the interview...just think the title of the book is horribly unoriginal considering Iron Man had two big storylines called Armor Wars and...wait for it...Armor Wars II.

AMORY you weird person. Have you even heard of coheed and cambria or are you just posting to be a jerk? Becuase honestly you really have no idea what your talking about. The comics just like the cd's follow a story thats been developing for years.

If you read the article then I'd suggest going back to school for reading comprehension.

[SouthtownKid]

Originally Posted by Tabula_Rasa

I read it the interview...just think the title of the book is horribly unoriginal considering Iron Man had two big storylines called Armor Wars and...wait for it...Armor Wars II.

Learn how to read. It's not aRmory, it's "Amory."

I never understand people like you who feel the need to jump into a subject they know nothing about and crap on it for no reason.

[UltimateMatt]

Wow, some people are getting a bit defensive in here.

I can't stand Coheed and Cambria- I think their music is awful. Pretty cool that they are in to comics, though.

[Tabula_Rasa]

Originally Posted by SouthtownKid

Learn how to read. It's not aRmory, it's "Amory."

I never understand people like you who feel the need to jump into a subject they know nothing about and crap on it for no reason.

Enough with the three people who are going to buy this book ganging up.

You all think the title is great...I get now...fine go buy it. I should have just bagged on the originality of a telepathic leader with a Wolverine teammate like my original thought and gone on with it. My apologies...the title is wonderful! Everyone happy?

[SouthtownKid]

Originally Posted by Tabula_Rasa

Enough with the three people who are going to buy this book ganging up.

You all think the title is great...I get now...fine go buy it. I should have just bagged on the originality of a telepathic leader with a Wolverine teammate like my original thought and gone on with it. My apologies...the title is wonderful! Everyone happy?

I apologize for hurting your feelings.

I agree with you that it would have been better for you to try and think of a legitimate complaint before coming into a thread you had no interest in to begin with, rather than go for the first, half-thought-out joke you could come up with based on something you misread after only skimming the article. Live and learn, I guess.

[Doombug]

Originally Posted by Tabula_Rasa

Enough with the three people who are going to buy this book ganging up.

You all think the title is great...I get now...fine go buy it. I should have just bagged on the originality of a telepathic leader with a Wolverine teammate like my original thought and gone on with it. My apologies...the title is wonderful! Everyone happy?

You claimed you read the interview but then made stupid and contradictory statements.

And oh noes! The lead characters have similar powers to existing characters! This has never happened before, someone call marvel.

Seriously though, don't post on something just to bash it because it really wastes everyones time and its insulting to the creative team.

[ziza9]

Originally Posted by Tabula_Rasa

Enough with the three people who are going to buy this book ganging up.

You all think the title is great...I get now...fine go buy it. I should have just bagged on the originality of a telepathic leader with a Wolverine teammate like my original thought and gone on with it. My apologies...the title is wonderful! Everyone happy?

Or you could have not posted smarmy comments altogether and kept your negative opinion to yourself. Thus preserving the good nature of the thread. That was an option as well, no?

[ziza9]

I like their albums primarily for the prog rock elements and the stories they tell. I like a good rock story. I'll check this out.

[Doombug]

Originally Posted by ziza9

I like their albums primarily for the prog rock elements and the stories they tell. I like a good rock story. I'll check this out.

Might want to read the first mini first though, this is part 2.

[ziza9]

Originally Posted by Doombug

Might want to read the first mini first though, this is part 2.

It's on the shelf. I just haven't gotten to it yet.

[Doombug]

Originally Posted by ziza9

It's on the shelf. I just haven't gotten to it yet.

Ah okay, just making sure.

[Infernorhyth]

I love the band, and I really enjoyed the first miniseries (especially when Matthew Miller took over the art on the second half). The Good Apollo graphic novel was utterly brilliant, and I can't wait for June. Definitely one of the most unique and enjoyable comics out there.

And yeah, it's Amory not armory. There's an historical character in the comics called Amory, hence the title.

[lonewulf]

Coheed and Cambria are the modern Pink Floyd. There I said it. If you don't like it, you can go dig a really deep hole. It's no one's fault but your own crappy taste in music if you truley think Coheed's music is garbage.

[President Kang]

I have no idea what the albums are about but they're sonically pretty frickin amazing.