ArteEast Quarterly: The Adventures of Aluminum Hagop

August 1, 2008


The Adventures of Aluminum Hagop

By Vartan Avakian

The Adventures of Aluminum Hagop is an Arabic sci-fi comic, based on a thirteen-issue limited series in Armenian published under the name Hagop Aluminum. After the 13th Armenian issue was mischievously titled "Is this the End of Hagop?" H Publishers revived the series in Arabic, with occasional bilingual (Arabic/Armenian) special editions.

The story is set in the future in a place that is never referred to by name. In a post-apocalyptic world, the world seems to be one suburb that bears an uncanny resemblance to the post-war suburbs of Beirut. Once known for its political freedom and racial tolerance, this suburb prospered as it attracted craftsmen and entrepreneurs from neighboring regions. But this prosperity came to an abrupt end when overpopulation and deforestation left the world in severe shortage of wood.

When a young, unknown writer dies, finding a wooden casket proves to be difficult, Aluminum Hagop, a blacksmith and volunteer undertaker, creates an aluminum casket to bury him. Many rumors surround him and his workshop for aluminum objects and caskets, but what we know for sure is that he has a sleeping disorder, drives a black Citroen DS, and as much as he loves wrestling and pinball machines he hates comics and videogames.

Issue no.2h/7:
NEW FILMS THIS WEEKS
Illustrated by
Ghassan Halwani
 Issue no.3h/6:
WHO FRAMED
HAGOP?
Illustrated by
Ghadi Ghosn

 		 Special bilingual
 issue illustrated by
ALI QAYS



 		 Issue no. 2h/9:
NO ONE DIES TONIGHT
Illustrated by
Fouad Mezher

 
Issue no.1h/11:
THE CITY SLEEPS IN PEACE
Illustrated by
Avak Avakian

 Issue no.1h/12:
NO MORE PORN? 
Illustrated by
Ahmad Beiruti



 		 Issue no.3h/4:
NO MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
Illustrated by
Rafic Saab


 		 The last issue of the original Armenian edition:
IS THIS HAGOP's END?
Illustrated by
Ghassan Halwani
 

 
  Born in Beirut in 1977, and raised in the port town of Jbeil. Vartan Avakian sprung from his father's mechanics shop to the Lebanese American University as a junior in Industrial engineering, to finally major in Communication Arts. He has since been working as a video editor and designer for the stage. His work features hybrid machines and installations in various media.
 
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