Earlier this year, Life of Agony bassist Alan Robert took a dive into comics, something he’d been itching to do for years. The result was WIRE HANGERS, a four-issue genre mashup that sees serial killers, monsters, noir, government conspiracy and global warfare colliding into a unique beast. Now that it’s collected in trade paperback form (out now from IDW Publishing), Robert spoke exclusively to Fango about the collective response he’s received, what to expect next from him and WIRE HANGERS…and just what LAID TO REST’s Robert Hall and Nick Principe have to do with it all.

The official synopsis of WIRE HANGERS is as follows: “A series of abductions plagues New York City and no one is safe. When Anna Davis, a feisty young reporter, goes undercover to try and snag the big exclusive, she stumbles upon clues that give us a glimpse into what could be the most disturbing government conspiracy of our time. Pill-popping detectives, corrupt secret agents and a mysterious, disfigured homeless man are all interconnected in this horrific tale of revenge and redemption.”

“I have to admit, I was pretty anxious to see how people were going to react to HANGERS,” Robert says. “Firstly, because I’m mostly known as being a musician/songwriter and not a comics author/artist, and second, because of the content of story and the untraditional nature of the artwork. Once the positive reviews started coming in, I was relieved. The support has been over-the-top, and I couldn’t be happier with how WIRE HANGERS has been received. The comics community has welcomed me with open arms and so have the horror fans, so it feels pretty great. I’m excited to tell more stories in the medium.”

The kitchen-sink mentality of tales like Robert’s can often be a strong dividing point, as there are those who appreciate the chaos while others are simply turned off. The writer seems to think it’s one of the series’ strong points, however. “The common thread that people really seem to dig is that it blurs the lines between different genres. It’s part horror, part thriller and part drama. Being a huge horror buff myself, I was very conscious to include enough blood and guts for the die-hard fans, while creating a multilayered crime story that focused on complex characters. I grew up on AMITYVILLE, Freddy and Jason, and more recently I started to gravitate toward gritty crime films and thrillers. I thought it would be interesting to use elements of each genre to create something really unique. I was lucky enough to partner with IDW, who put out the book, because they gave me the freedom to depict all the gore and disturbing imagery I wanted!

“The other thing reviewers have pointed out is that as a reader, you really start to feel for the main character, Cypra,” he continues. “At first glance, he’s a deranged, disturbing-looking monster, but being that he narrates the story, you really get inside his head and start to empathize with him. Sure, this could’ve been another typical serial-killer story, but I really wanted to portray the monster more like an antihero.”

As with any good antiheroic story, WIRE HANGERS ends on an open-ended note, promising “further adventures of,” and there’s still much to reveal in the way of backstory. As Robert tells it, that’s all coming up. (SPOILER ALERT!) “I’ve already outlined Volume 2, which takes place six months after this series leaves off,” he explains. “Basically, Manhattan has been cut off at the bridges and tunnels to help contain the madness that ensued at the end of the first series. The surviving characters, led by Cypra, have to fight their way out to stay alive. We follow as they attempt to claw their way to freedom. Along the way, we learn more about how their strange pasts intersect and how they can save themselves by using this newfound knowledge. Expect a lot more action sequences, as well as gore.

“We’ll also see more of what makes Cypra tick as his backstory comes together,” Robert adds, “as well as the truth behind the death of his mother. I’m stoked to get started; it should be high-energy.”

There may be a bit of work to tackle before Volume 2 reaches stores, however, as a feature film could be on its way, and WIRE HANGERS isn’t the only comic bubbling in Robert’s brain. “I’ve known Nick [Principe, Chromeskull in the LAID TO REST movies] for a long time now, and he was one of the first die-hard WIRE HANGERS supporters. Even before it was published! This summer, Nick introduced me to [FX artist/LAID filmmaker] Robert Hall and we had dinner together in San Diego, out at Comic-Con. Rob was excited about the series and we got to talking about creating a live-action teaser together, based on a few scenes from the book. Kinda like a promo clip.  A few days later, Rob started sending me in-progress shots of Cypra’s costume, and I was completely blown away! I mean, it looked dead on to the comic, and it was scary as hell. I decided right then and there that I wanted Nick in full costume on the cover of the graphic novel.

“As you know, Robert started filming CHROMESKULL: LAID TO REST II with Nick in November, so everyone’s schedules got super-busy,” he continues. “My calendar started filling up with shows for my band Life of Agony too, so we kind of put the shoot on hold for the moment. In the last few months, some other pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place and the project looks like it’s really gaining momentum. I can’t get into details right now because some things are still being negotiated, but let’s just say that the possibility of seeing a film move into production is looking more and more like a reality.”

Overall, Robert is riding high on his achievements this year, and looks to be wasting no time in continuing to pursue both of his loves. “For me, creating comics was a long time coming. It’s something I wanted to do before I ever picked up a guitar. After my band landed our first record deal in ’92, it seemed like I was destined to leave my comic-book dreams behind. But I’m happy I didn’t lose the passion. I’m really glad that I took the initiative and didn’t let the idea die on the vine. It was a very proud moment to walk into my local comic shop and see my book on the shelf alongside the other titles I love. It’s an overwhelming sense of accomplishment to hold it in my hands after all the long hours slaving over the drawing board and sleepless nights thinking about it. That’s my favorite part about the whole process: holding the finished book.

“I have two other concepts I wrote recently, that I may want to develop before I tackle the HANGERS continuation,” he continues. “One is a black comedy about a Mafia hitman on the run, and the other is a horror story with a really interesting twist.”

You can find out more about WIRE HANGERS at its official site, and pick up a copy through Amazon here.

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