The Second Stage Turbine Blade (comic)
Encyclopedia
The Second Stage Turbine Blade is a series of ten comic book
s narrating the concept behind the lyrics of the Coheed and Cambria
album of the same name
.
They are written by Claudio Sanchez
, illustrated by Wes Abbot (currently on hiatus) and published by Evil Ink Comics
, although the first issue is now out of print and the second one is rapidly becoming rare.
In June 2007 The Second Stage Turbine Blade was re-released under the new series title The Amory Wars. The new comics are written by Claudio Sanchez, illustrated by Gus Vasquez (Volume1:issues 1 & 2), Mike S. Miller
(Volume 1:issues 3-5), and Gabriel Guzman (volume 2) and published by Image Comics
. The first two issues of the new series are almost exactly the same as the originals, although with new art work, the third issue continues the story from where the old comics finished.
In August 2010, the two volumes of five comics were released together in a single hardcover edition titled "The Amory Wars: Ultimate Edition".
, the comic books narrate the events of approximately the first third of Coheed and Cambria's concept album The Second Stage Turbine Blade
. The story takes place in the distant past of the Milky Way
. Heaven's Fence (or the Fence) is a group of 78 planetary systems connected by a visible energy beam known as the Keywork. Seven star transformers keep the Keywork operational. Three races, the Prise, humanity, and the Mages, occupy the Fence. The Mages rule over humankind, the Prise protect the Keywork, and the humans make up the general population of the Fence. Tri-Mage Wilhelm Ryan's rule has lasted for dozens of years and has descended into tyranny. A young female mage, named Mariah, has risen to power on Paris: Earth (commonly believed to be our Earth) and represents a major threat to Ryan- she is gaining followers because she opposes Ryan's rule and demands justice.
One of Ryan's generals, Mayo Deftinwolf, creates a plan to rid the Fence of Mariah: Coheed Kilgannon is the unknowing and unwitting carrier of a dormant virus
known as the Monstar. When activated, the Monstar endows its host with the ability to destroy star transformers and separate planets from the Keywork's unifying energy beam, resulting in an apocalypse for the inhabitants of the separated planets as they smash into other astronomical bodies. Mayo plans to activate the Monstar and send Coheed and his wife, Cambria, to Paris: Earth, in hopes that the Monstar will only destroy the star transformer at Paris: Earth, thus causing Paris: Earth to break free of the Fence, ridding Wilhem of Mariah.
Coheed and Cambria Kilgannon are a married couple living in Sector 11: Valley Hills, Hetricus. They have four children: Matthew, Maria (not to be confused with Mariah), Josephine, and Claudio. Matthew and Maria are twins, appearing to be seven years old or younger. Josephine is almost 23 and Claudio is a junior in high school, so he should be around 17.
Amory Wars Release: 13 June 2007
After a few mysterious pages featuring Coheed's brother, Jesse, a man named Henry, and two young children, the first chapter of the saga begins with an explanation of the Prise, the Mages, the Keywork, the Fence, and other fictional concepts central to the understanding of Coheed and Cambria's imaginary reality. (The events prior to the prologue are later explained in the Good Apollo graphic novel as the incineration of Longicinda, a defunct IRO-bot creation of Jesse's. One of the children is Chase, who becomes emotional when Jesse kills Longicinda.) This explanation is given by Jesse's unnamed son, widely believed to be Sizer
, one of the main protagonists in the band's second album. This belief, like many, can neither be confirmed nor denied until more information is released by the band. It is stated, however, that the narrator is not human. Alternatively, many feel that the narrator may be Claudio Kilgannon, son of Coheed and Cambria, or perhaps Chase, an IRO-bot girl created by Jesse.
Coheed and Cambria are creatures known as IRO-bots, or genetically enhanced humans, and were members of a defunct organization known as K.B.I.: the Knowledge (Cambria), the Beast (Coheed), and the Inferno (Jesse). Jesse is also called The Prize Fighter Inferno, due to his boxing career. The organization's purpose was to protect the Keywork from terrorist activity. The creator, however, installed the Monstar virus in Coheed. The Monstar, when activated, overwrites its host's personality and causes the host to have only one objective, the destruction of the Keywork and thus, Heaven's Fence. The Monstar accomplishes this via its ability to cool the Stars of Sirius, which hold the Keywork in place. K.B.I. was disbanded, Coheed and Cambria's memories wiped, and their creator killed. According to Mayo Deftinwolf, the highest-ranking general in Supreme Tri-Mage Wilhelm Ryan's army, Jesse is out to activate the Monstar virus in Coheed. It is revealed, however, in The Year of the Black Rainbow that Jesse is meant to watch over Coheed and Cambria should Ryan try to activate the Monstar.
Coheed and Cambria's children—Josephine, Claudio
, and twins Matthew and Maria—are said to carry a mutation of the Monstar virus known as the Sinstar, or The Untamed. It is untreatable, and therefore much more dangerous: Mayo convinces the couple to kill their children for the safety of humanity. The Sinstar is believed to become active when one of the children turns 23: Josephine, the eldest of the Kilgannon children, is nearing that age.
The first comic book ends with Coheed putting poison into a green drink and bringing it to the sleeping twins. The couple are informed that, upon killing their children, they will fly to Paris: Earth to receive a cure for Coheed's Monstar. The truth is that Mayo and Ryan plan to release thousands of dragonflies
on Paris: Earth, each with the ability to inject a specific serum, the Ciache, into humans. If Coheed is injected with the serum, the Monstar will be activated once he makes eye contact with Cambria and Paris: Earth will be knocked from the Keywork. The Prise discover Mayo's plan and vow to stop it by stopping the dragonflies, as their duty is to protect Heaven's Fence.
Amory Wars Release: July 2007
The second comic opens with the last few minutes of Matthew and Maria's lives. Coheed has administered Mayo's poison to the twins, and spends their final minutes playing with them. They fall to the floor, dead, and Coheed says aloud, "Maria, my star... Matthew, goodnight." The story cuts away to a brutal attack by the Jersey City Devils (the "Corner Boys") on Josephine and her fiance, Patrick McCormack. At the same time, Claudio, who has been out with his girlfriend Newo Ikkin, realizes he has missed his 1 a.m. curfew and races home.
Josephine arrives at home in visible distress; Cambria takes her in compassionately. Coheed, aghast at the knowledge of what must be done, calls Josephine over and, with a large hammer, seals her fate via a "series of knocks to the young girl's head side" (as represented in the song "Everything Evil"). Patrick, surreptitiously arriving through the back door, witnesses Josephine's death. In terror, he flees the house. By now, three of the four Kilgannon children are dead, leaving only Claudio.
Elsewhere, the Prise pay a visit to rebel leader Mariah Antillarea. The reason for this meeting is not immediately clear; it's possible that they are there to warn her of the dragonflies destined for Paris: Earth.
Wilhelm Ryan, aware that Patrick has witnessed Josephine's death, is becoming anxious: not only is there a witness to the murder, but one of Coheed and Cambria's children still lives. He mentions that Claudio is a "threat beyond reasonable comprehension" and that, should he learn to use his "powers" and discover Ryan's treachery, he will be unstoppable. Ryan instructs Mayo to make sure that the couple are on their way to Paris: Earth immediately. Ryan also mentions the "priests," about whom little is known to the reader.
Mayo, accompanied by members of the Red Army, promptly shows up at the Kilgannon home. He begins to taunt Coheed, who is clutching the body of the slain Josephine. Coheed demands to know what will become of Claudio, and Mayo tells him that while he has no answers for Coheed, perhaps Cambria does. Cambria receives a vision of Wilhelm Ryan instructing Mayo to have the children killed, no matter what it takes, for he senses in the Kilgannon bloodline a power far greater than that of Ryan or Mayo. Cambria cries out in anguish. The Sinstar mutation was a fabrication. The children did not need to die. Suddenly, blades erupt from the scars in Coheed's arms, decimating Mayo's troops. A spray of bullets subdues Coheed eventually; however, he is only knocked unconscious, as not a single bullet pierces his skin. Mayo instructs his troops to carry Coheed and Cambria away, and tells two of them to stay behind to incinerate the house: no trace must remain for the young Claudio to discover.
While spreading gasoline throughout the house, the soldiers are attacked by what is presumably one of the "priests."
Amory Wars Release: 29 August 2007
Issue 3 starts with Claudio, who was supposed to be home hours earlier, outside the Kilgannon house saying goodnight to his girlfriend, Newo. Noticing that the door is damaged, Claudio enters the house and slips on something on the floor: Josephine's blood. Grabbing his sister, Claudio briefly revives Josephine—the first sign of his true potential. Josephine tells Claudio about what happened in Jersey City, and tells him to leave her and run as he is attacked by a priest. Claudio puts up a fight, but ultimately escapes by becoming intangible and moving through the kitchen wall.
At the spaceport, Mayo Deftinwolf oversees Coheed and Cambria being loaded aboard the Gloria Vel Vessa for transport to Paris: Earth. At a nearby bar, Josephine's frightened boyfriend, Patrick, is acquiring a gun, but is soon hunted down by a priest who destroys the bar; Patrick barely escapes in a car.
Elsewhere, the Prise are asking Mariah Antillera for help. Jesse, or Prize Fighter Inferno, appears and informs the Prise that Ryan is planning to separate the Twelfth Sector from Heaven's Fence and alter God's creation. Inferno tells the Prise that if they do not reform their pact, Man will wage war.
Cutting away, Claudio is seen standing over a sleeping Newo. He wants to tell her everything that has happened, but realizes that the information will only endanger her. He leaves without saying goodbye.
The comic ends with a vision that Coheed and Cambria are having on the ship: it depicts the birth of the K.B.I., and the reader learns that the Monstar's antidote is, in fact, Josephine. Coheed awakes ready for revenge.
Amory Wars Release: 24 October 2007
Coheed is being transferred by the Red Army in a large tube, his arms restrained. Upon waking from his vision, he hears the men talking about how he killed his children, Maria, Matthew, and Josephine. At this, he becomes even more enraged: he and Cambria break their restraints and slaughter the soldiers, in spite of their pleas for mercy. The rampaging couple begin their efforts to seize control of the Gloria Vel Vessa.
At House Atlantic, Wilhelm Ryan watches his plan unfolding; the reader learns that Ryan has become deformed because of the war which he declared.
On Dil-Ariuth in Sector 12, Inferno and his team have discovered a monk transmitting data to the Red Army. Inferno attacks the monk when he tells them that his master has "sent him a message drenching in the blood of his brother," Coheed. Inferno tells the captain to get a report of transports that have left Sector 10 in the last 24 hours and to prepare the Grail Arbor for takeoff.
Back with Coheed and Cambria, Coheed feels a burning in his arm, where gashes appear. In spite of the agonizing pain, he pulls the skin off his forearm to see what is underneath, and what he is. He discovers a metal arm, which turns into a gun. Coheed and Cambria head toward the bridge of the Gloria Vel Vessa; they encounter many Red Army soldiers along the way. Cambria uses telekinesis to fling them against the ship walls, allowing Coheed to kill them with the gun in his arm.
In Jersey City, Patrick is making a phone call, recalling what happened at the Kilgannon home. As he's on the phone, the FBI arrive; Patrick approaches them and starts to drop his gun. Of course, all is not as it seems: the FBI agents fade away, and the priest that remains mutates into a large winged daemon, one of Wilhelm Ryan's firstborn. Stunned, Patrick laments, "What did I do to deserve this?" which is repeated in the song "Blood Red Summer".
On the Gloria Vel Vessa, the crew has sealed the bridge and are trying to contact help. Coheed and Cambria violently blast through the bridge doors; they demand the ship lands if they are not to hurt anyone else.
At the spaceport, Mayo Deftinwolf receives the distress signal from the Gloria Vel Vessa. He orders contact to be made to find out if Coheed and Cambria have escaped. His order is canceled by Admiral Vielar Crom, who then informs Deftinwolf that he has been relieved of his command. Crom orders the Red Army light-fighters to be deployed.
After a harsh interrogation, the crew of the Gloria Vel Vessa inform Coheed and Cambria that the ship is on auto-pilot and there's nothing that can be done. A ship appears behind the Vel Vessa, bearing Inferno, who orders an intercept course.
Amory Wars Release: 16 January 2008
The fifth chapter opens with Patrick continuing his fight with Wilhelm Ryan's daemon, which was once one of the 12 Tri-Mages of the Keywork. Patrick tries to fight the monster off, but it freezes his gun with venom before impaling him through the chest with its tail. Patrick's last thoughts are of Josephine, with whom he can now find peace.
Still on the run, Claudio uses his newfound powers to reach through a shop window and steal a gun.
Coheed and Cambria have taken control of the Gloria Vel Vessa, but the ship that follows, The Grail Arbor, fires a warning shot across their starboard bow. Commanding a prisoner to communicate with the ship, Coheed finds himself facing his brother, Inferno, who tersely informs Coheed and Cambria that the Vel Vessa must be stopped one way or another. The prisoners suggest that they could rewire the ship's power to override the autopilot. Inferno tells them to act quickly, and ends communication; he instructs his crew to fire upon the Gloria Vel Vessa if it does not correct its course within an hour.
Wilhelm Ryan informs Deftinwolf that Admiral Crom is trying to recapture Coheed and Cambria, and that he should go work on the dragonflies. If he does well he may regain his position. It becomes evident that Claudio is the one person in Heaven's Fence Wilhelm Ryan fears.
Mariah Antillera rallies troops to wage war at the steps of House Atlantic.
Coheed and Cambria arrive at the engine core of the Vel Vessa. In spite of his best efforts, Coheed fails to rewire the engine; frustrated, Cambria releases a burst of telekinetic power.
Deftinwolf reaches a genetic engineering lab, where he asks if the flies are ready; the doctor in charge of the project confirms that they are. Deftinwolf enters a room containing large chambers filled, ominously, with dragonflies. On Star IV, the Prise sense the fulfillment of the prophecy— Claudio, who is sneaking aboard a ship to escape Paris: Earth—and realize a member of their ranks must serve as his guardian.
Mariah is ensuring everything is ready for the rebellion against Ryan. Disembarking her ship, she finds she is too late: the Red Army have already begun their attack.
The reader learns that Cambria's powers destroyed the Vel Vessas engine, and that the ship has been seized by Ryan's forces. As Inferno resolves to blow the ship up—in spite of the fact it carries his siblings—Coheed and Cambria share a final tender moment.
Six years later, Inferno wakes suddenly. He makes his way to the bridge and looks down upon a planet, thinking of Coheed, Cambria, and Mariah. Wondering what Mariah would want him to do, Inferno decides to seek out what remains of her rebellion.
. Volume two has a new artist, Gabriel Guzman, covers continue to be drawn by Tony Moore.
Amory Wars Release: 4 June 2008
The Issue begins with Inferno confronting two children, Chase and Sizer, telling the crying children that "there is no room in our family for malfunctions" due to the destruction of Longcindia. The scene ends with Inferno leaving to continue on his work to seek out Mariah's rebellion
Meanwhile, Ryan oversees the Council of the Eurocons, "twelve opportunists who oversee the Keywork, making sure Ryan's followers are kept in line, while the seeking out the non-believers and crushing them." A Council Member speaks out concerning a disturbance in his sector, which openly describes part of Ryan's plan, that which colonies of subterranean beings have been taken and carried off-world in garbage scows. The Council Member confronts Ryan about the issue, only to be taken away and presumably killed.
The next scene begins with Claudio on the Guile Griever Garbage Carrier. The doors close quickly in the room Claudio steps in, trapping him in. Claudio soon remembers his newfound powers and phases through the door with ease. Upon entering the new room, Claudio discovers what the deceased council member confronted Ryan about in the previous scene. Rows of Alien-esque creatures fill the room in robotic containment jars filled with a green liquid containing the beings in a deep sleep.
On Star IV, Ambellina begins her mission and is burned, hair and wings. As she attempts to escape the pain by flying, her now fire-consumed wings fail her and she drops to the ground. All that remains of her wings are lifeless stumps of bone and small flecks of feathers, while her body is a dark indigo blue.
Fire initiates upon the Notting-Vezer ship by the Grail Arbor, but fails to break the Juggernaut's Hold on the Gloria Vel Vessa, containing Coheed and Cambria. Cambria controls the Ship's crew into gathering explosives in an effort to destroy themselves. As Coheed prepares his Arm Cannon to detonate the ship, the Cannon deactivates from an unknown force, seen in the next panel to be Admiral Vielar Crom. Coheed readies himself for battle, as Cambria controls the Crew to attack Crom. Crom fights back, crushing the faces in of each crew member, leaving each dead on the floor.
As Inferno continues to fire upon the Notting-Vezzer, he is requested by Mariah that he be contacted with while war wages on the planet of Dil-Ariuth. Inferno runs to the cockpit of an escape ship of the Grail Arbor, commanding his soldier to secure the line between him and Mariah while the pod disconnects from the Grail Arbor.
The scene flashes to Dil-Ariuth IX, where Mariah controls soldiers of the Rebellion against the Red Army. Inferno appears to Mariah via transmit screen, and tells her to get off-world as soon as she possibly can to Paris: Earth to defeat the effort of Ryan to unleash the Cache Serum. As Mariah and the soldiers run for the airstrip, she and Inferno share love tidings as Mariah unleashes a huge telekinetic attack which destroys a significant amount of the Red Army. She makes way with the soldiers off Dil-Ariuth IX.
General Mayo Deftinwolf is seen now, inside a ship, commencing a landing on Paris: Earth. Upon landing, he thinks about his demotion and swears revenge on "the dogs" who disrespect him, once he regains his position at the right hand of Ryan.
Back at the Kilgannon House, Newo enters a crime scene of the death of Coheed and Cambria's children. Two detectives scour the scene discussing the reason for the children's death and the reason for it. As Newo enters the house and the detectives attempt to block her from entering any further, a huge comet-like white light bursts from the sky into the house, where an orb hits inside the kitchen. Ambellina appears from the orb, clad in a blue space suit, she eyes Newo, and begins her mission.
Claudio is shown, toying with a computer, reading that the Guile Griever is en-route to Shylos Ten. He searches for answers as he further tampers with a pod in which an alien being is sleeping. As Claudio pushes a button, the being awakes, enraged and breaks from the container. He attempts to attack Claudio, but is shot down by a Red. Claudio escapes using his power of Invisibility, overhearing the disgust of the Planet of Shylos Ten.
The Guile Griever has finally reached Shylos-10, the waste planet of Heaven’s Fence. Claudio watches in awe from afar as the aliens, from the glass tubes, are moved from the ship to Camp: Si-Revody, Ryan’s secret facility designed to cause the genocide of the aliens. As they are being moved the soldiers call the aliens, “Stars.”
Aboard the Gloria Vel Vessa, Coheed and Cambria struggles against Vielar Crom's awesome powers. Just as all seems lost Inferno appears and helps in the fight. Crom calls for reinforcements and all three begin to battle against the small army. As they fight, Inferno thinks back to the days of the K.B.I. and how he came to join Mariah’s rebellion. This leaves him open and Crom impales Inferno in the back with a steel rod. Crom then uses the power from his armor to render Coheed and Cambria unconscious.
Back at the Kilgannon’s home on Hetricius, Ambellina disposes of the detectives and goes on to question Newo. Newo tells her that she does not know anything, but Ambellina believes she is not telling the truth. Newo leaves the house and Ambellina follows. Outside, however, a Priest waits fully transformed.
On Dil-Ariuth IX, Mariah and the last of her soldiers try to escape the planet. Both of the other two pilots give their life for Mariah as she escapes into space. She tries to call Inferno but is met with silence, left crying for those she has lost.
Meanwhile on Paris: Earth Mayo finds out that the Prise are en route to Earth. Mayo contacts Ryan to tell him the news, but is instead scolded for not being prepared for them. Ryan tells Mayo that Crom recaptured Coheed and Cambria and is on his way to meet him; to make him comfortable. Ryan signs off and turns his attention to the two Priests before him. They both transform into grotesque monsters due to Ryan’s experimentations on the fallen Mages after the Mage War. These fallen Mages become the Onstantine Priests. He sends one off to find Claudio and the other to stay with him.
Back on Shylos-10, Claudio wanders inward towards the camp. There he meets a Star known as Cecil. Cecil asks if Claudio was just on the ship that came in. Claudio keeps quiet and Cecil tells him of how one of the Stars tried to escape, taking on five soldiers before being killed. Cecil goes on to tell him that no Star has ever tried to do anything like that before and that that Star is now a hero among them, known only as the “Hearshot Kid.”
Elsewhere in space, Mariah finally hears back from Inferno. He is still alive and tells Mariah to continue to Paris: Earth and they will meet up there. Mariah understands and descends onto Earth.
Coheed and Cambria have finally reached Paris: Earth. They are shackled and then placed into large holding restraints under the observation of Crom. The restraints face each other and both Coheed and Cambria have their head held down and their eyes forced open by a device on the restraints. Mayo then appears, mocking both Crom and Coheed.
Meanwhile on Hetricius, Newo reads the note Claudio has left for her, and realizes it is more than just a break-up letter. As she finishes reading, one of the fully transformed Priests breaks through the window, attacking her and Apollo. Before the full extent of the attack is carried out, Ambellina appears to fight the Priest and protect Newo; as least until she finds Claudio.
Back on Earth, the Prise arrive and tell the citizens that the Red Army is on its way and that they need to evacuate. They were too late, though, as the Red Army fire onto the city just a few seconds later. Meanwhile, Mariah sneaks into the woods outside of the main city on Paris: Earth. She attempts to stop the dragonflies from being released by killing Mayo. However, she misses and Mayo releases the millions upon millions of dragonflies. As they swarm across the planet, one finds Coheed and stings him. As he looks at Cambria, both Coheed and Cambria's eyes start to glow and Coheed begins the transformation into the Monstar. Ryan watches on as Coheed’s body expands to giant proportions with both his blades and cannon fully formed on his arms. Crom’s armor can no longer resist the incredible power Coheed now wields, and he is overtaken. Coheed finally has his vengeance on Crom by tearing him in two. As Cambria stares in disbelief at Coheed, she too starts to transform. Ryan tells her that after he is done with Coheed, she will be there to end him, for she is the “White Ruineer.”
Elsewhere on Shylos-10, Claudio helps a Star being beaten by a soldier. Cecil tells him, however, that it’s unwise to do such things, for it is the way of Shylos-10 and that he should not let the Red Army know that he’s there. As they walk away from the scene they find a mutilated body in the middle of the road. They continue on by, unaware of the Priest lurking in the shadows.
At the House Atlantic, Wilhelm Ryan, knowing that all has gone according to plan, sits confidently on his throne, smiling.
Cambria’s transformation continues as hundreds of near-indestructible plates tear through her flesh. She tries her best to fight the transformation but eventually succumbs, becoming the “White Ruineer”, a being with one purpose: to destroy the Monstar; the being that used to be her husband, Coheed. The Monstar sees the Ruineer and bursts into the sky. As the Prise and the citizens of Paris: Earth fight against the Red Army, they notice the Monstar flying through the sky and they know something is terribly wrong. The Monstar flies toward Star VII with the Ruineer not far behind. As he lands on Star VII, a vapor pours from his body, suffocating the Star and its energy, and soon the Star dies. As the Ruineer lands, she uses psychokinetic vibrations to form a sword and the two begin to fight, matching blow for blow. However, the Ruineer creates a wound large enough for her hand on the Monstar's chest. She reaches in and drains the Monstar virus from his heart, and Coheed dies as he slowly reverts back to normal, not knowing the horrors he has committed. Cambria starts to revert as well, knowing that her role has also ended. Knowing that she could not keep this power to avenge Coheed, she takes what’s left of the sword and kills herself.
With the death of Star VII, the Keywork is interrupted, causing the nine planets in Sector 12 to float freely in space. As the two lay in death, Cambria’s powers are released and she relights the star, turning it into a sun. The Sun’s gravity pulls on the nine planets and the birth of our Solar System begins. However, if the Keywork is not fixed, the other 69 planets will also be pulled in by the sun, causing them to smash into each other and killing the beings of Heaven’s Fence.
Meanwhile on Hetricus, Ambellina continues to fight the “Tentacles” Priest. Though it looks like victory is hers, the tides quickly change as the Priest drips slime onto her as it crushes her with its tentacles. Back on Paris: Earth, Mariah is still fighting against Mayo. She radios Inferno, who is in orbit, for help.
On Shylos-10, Claudio and Cecil feel the effects of the Keywork being interrupted, as massive earthquakes rock the planets of Heaven’s Fence. Things quickly turn from bad to worse as the “Hulk” Priest bursts through the wall, looking to kill Claudio.
While the Monstar is flying towards Star VII...
Back on Paris: Earth, the Prise are losing the battle against the Red Army and Paranoia, a Prise, is killed. After Sector 12 is separated from the Keywork, the Prise sacrifice themselves to restore energy to the remaining stars and prevent the remaining 69 planets from crashing into each other.
Mariah is ambushed by Mayo Deftinwolf while communicating with Jesse. Her throat is slit by Mayo while Jesse looks on in horror.
Mayo brings Mariah's head back to Wilhelm Ryan on Apity Prime and informs him that the Prise are no more. Wilhelm is pleased and reinstates Deftinwolf as General and Commander of the Red Army.
Back at Newo's home:
Ambellina and Newo defeat the priest. After reading Claudio's letter, Ambellina decodes a message within it and says she no longer needs Newo's help in finding him, leaving her alone.
On Shylos-10:
Claudio saves Cecil from the Priest and the Reds destroy it. Cecil reluctantly informs Claudio that he must leave the camp.
Six years later....
Jesse is now a boxer by the name of "The Prise Fighter Inferno". He discovers his opponent in a match is a surviving Prise who is waiting for The Crowing to emerge and save the Keywork. Jesse states that the children now help and that he will rally support to rebuild the rebellion for the sake of Coheed, Cambria and Mariah, whom he thinks about each day.
The story ends with a bearded, homeless Claudio wandering the streets of Shylos-10 and seeking refuge from rain in a sewer, muttering, "Your dreams can't last forever."
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
s narrating the concept behind the lyrics of the Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria is an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York. Formed in 1995, the group incorporates aspects of progressive rock, punk rock, metal and post-hardcore....
album of the same name
The Second Stage Turbine Blade
The Second Stage Turbine Blade is the first studio album released by rock band Coheed and Cambria. It was originally released on February 5, 2002 through Equal Vision Records. It is the second part of a five-part pentalogy, telling the story of The Amory Wars...
.
They are written by Claudio Sanchez
Claudio Sanchez
Claudio Paul Sanchez is an American writer and musician best known for being the lead singer and guitarist for the alternative/progressive rock group Coheed and Cambria. He is also the creator of the comic book series, The Amory Wars and Kill Audio, co-written with wife Chondra Echert...
, illustrated by Wes Abbot (currently on hiatus) and published by Evil Ink Comics
Evil Ink Comics
Evil Ink Comics is a comic publishing company set up by Claudio Sanchez, the lead singer of progressive rock band Coheed and Cambria. Currently Evil Ink is co-publisher to three graphic series; The Amory Wars, Kill Audio and Key of Z. In 2009, Evil Ink released its first prose novel, Year of the...
, although the first issue is now out of print and the second one is rapidly becoming rare.
In June 2007 The Second Stage Turbine Blade was re-released under the new series title The Amory Wars. The new comics are written by Claudio Sanchez, illustrated by Gus Vasquez (Volume1:issues 1 & 2), Mike S. Miller
Mike S. Miller
Mike S. Miller is a comic book illustrator and writer who currently resides in San Diego, California.-Biography:A longtime artist for many comic publishing companies including Marvel, DC, and Image, Mike Miller is most known for his work on the comic book adaptation of George R. R...
(Volume 1:issues 3-5), and Gabriel Guzman (volume 2) and published by Image Comics
Image Comics
Image Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
. The first two issues of the new series are almost exactly the same as the originals, although with new art work, the third issue continues the story from where the old comics finished.
In August 2010, the two volumes of five comics were released together in a single hardcover edition titled "The Amory Wars: Ultimate Edition".
Overview
Released in the summer of 20042004 in comics
-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
, the comic books narrate the events of approximately the first third of Coheed and Cambria's concept album The Second Stage Turbine Blade
The Second Stage Turbine Blade
The Second Stage Turbine Blade is the first studio album released by rock band Coheed and Cambria. It was originally released on February 5, 2002 through Equal Vision Records. It is the second part of a five-part pentalogy, telling the story of The Amory Wars...
. The story takes place in the distant past of the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
. Heaven's Fence (or the Fence) is a group of 78 planetary systems connected by a visible energy beam known as the Keywork. Seven star transformers keep the Keywork operational. Three races, the Prise, humanity, and the Mages, occupy the Fence. The Mages rule over humankind, the Prise protect the Keywork, and the humans make up the general population of the Fence. Tri-Mage Wilhelm Ryan's rule has lasted for dozens of years and has descended into tyranny. A young female mage, named Mariah, has risen to power on Paris: Earth (commonly believed to be our Earth) and represents a major threat to Ryan- she is gaining followers because she opposes Ryan's rule and demands justice.
One of Ryan's generals, Mayo Deftinwolf, creates a plan to rid the Fence of Mariah: Coheed Kilgannon is the unknowing and unwitting carrier of a dormant virus
Virus
A virus is a small infectious agent that can replicate only inside the living cells of organisms. Viruses infect all types of organisms, from animals and plants to bacteria and archaea...
known as the Monstar. When activated, the Monstar endows its host with the ability to destroy star transformers and separate planets from the Keywork's unifying energy beam, resulting in an apocalypse for the inhabitants of the separated planets as they smash into other astronomical bodies. Mayo plans to activate the Monstar and send Coheed and his wife, Cambria, to Paris: Earth, in hopes that the Monstar will only destroy the star transformer at Paris: Earth, thus causing Paris: Earth to break free of the Fence, ridding Wilhem of Mariah.
Coheed and Cambria Kilgannon are a married couple living in Sector 11: Valley Hills, Hetricus. They have four children: Matthew, Maria (not to be confused with Mariah), Josephine, and Claudio. Matthew and Maria are twins, appearing to be seven years old or younger. Josephine is almost 23 and Claudio is a junior in high school, so he should be around 17.
Issue 1
Original Release: 2004Amory Wars Release: 13 June 2007
After a few mysterious pages featuring Coheed's brother, Jesse, a man named Henry, and two young children, the first chapter of the saga begins with an explanation of the Prise, the Mages, the Keywork, the Fence, and other fictional concepts central to the understanding of Coheed and Cambria's imaginary reality. (The events prior to the prologue are later explained in the Good Apollo graphic novel as the incineration of Longicinda, a defunct IRO-bot creation of Jesse's. One of the children is Chase, who becomes emotional when Jesse kills Longicinda.) This explanation is given by Jesse's unnamed son, widely believed to be Sizer
The Amory Wars
The Amory Wars, originally entitled The Bag.On.Line Adventures, is an ongoing series of comic books written by Coheed and Cambria frontman Claudio Sanchez and published by Evil Ink Comics. The story of The Amory Wars is also the focus of the band's music...
, one of the main protagonists in the band's second album. This belief, like many, can neither be confirmed nor denied until more information is released by the band. It is stated, however, that the narrator is not human. Alternatively, many feel that the narrator may be Claudio Kilgannon, son of Coheed and Cambria, or perhaps Chase, an IRO-bot girl created by Jesse.
Coheed and Cambria are creatures known as IRO-bots, or genetically enhanced humans, and were members of a defunct organization known as K.B.I.: the Knowledge (Cambria), the Beast (Coheed), and the Inferno (Jesse). Jesse is also called The Prize Fighter Inferno, due to his boxing career. The organization's purpose was to protect the Keywork from terrorist activity. The creator, however, installed the Monstar virus in Coheed. The Monstar, when activated, overwrites its host's personality and causes the host to have only one objective, the destruction of the Keywork and thus, Heaven's Fence. The Monstar accomplishes this via its ability to cool the Stars of Sirius, which hold the Keywork in place. K.B.I. was disbanded, Coheed and Cambria's memories wiped, and their creator killed. According to Mayo Deftinwolf, the highest-ranking general in Supreme Tri-Mage Wilhelm Ryan's army, Jesse is out to activate the Monstar virus in Coheed. It is revealed, however, in The Year of the Black Rainbow that Jesse is meant to watch over Coheed and Cambria should Ryan try to activate the Monstar.
Coheed and Cambria's children—Josephine, Claudio
Claudio Kilgannon
Claudio Kilgannon is the main character of the story The Amory Wars, which is the concept behind the albums of the band Coheed and Cambria. The setting of this story is Heaven's Fence, a locale also commonly referred to as The Keywork although these two are not the same thing.The story is further...
, and twins Matthew and Maria—are said to carry a mutation of the Monstar virus known as the Sinstar, or The Untamed. It is untreatable, and therefore much more dangerous: Mayo convinces the couple to kill their children for the safety of humanity. The Sinstar is believed to become active when one of the children turns 23: Josephine, the eldest of the Kilgannon children, is nearing that age.
The first comic book ends with Coheed putting poison into a green drink and bringing it to the sleeping twins. The couple are informed that, upon killing their children, they will fly to Paris: Earth to receive a cure for Coheed's Monstar. The truth is that Mayo and Ryan plan to release thousands of dragonflies
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
on Paris: Earth, each with the ability to inject a specific serum, the Ciache, into humans. If Coheed is injected with the serum, the Monstar will be activated once he makes eye contact with Cambria and Paris: Earth will be knocked from the Keywork. The Prise discover Mayo's plan and vow to stop it by stopping the dragonflies, as their duty is to protect Heaven's Fence.
Issue 2
Original Release: 2005Amory Wars Release: July 2007
The second comic opens with the last few minutes of Matthew and Maria's lives. Coheed has administered Mayo's poison to the twins, and spends their final minutes playing with them. They fall to the floor, dead, and Coheed says aloud, "Maria, my star... Matthew, goodnight." The story cuts away to a brutal attack by the Jersey City Devils (the "Corner Boys") on Josephine and her fiance, Patrick McCormack. At the same time, Claudio, who has been out with his girlfriend Newo Ikkin, realizes he has missed his 1 a.m. curfew and races home.
Josephine arrives at home in visible distress; Cambria takes her in compassionately. Coheed, aghast at the knowledge of what must be done, calls Josephine over and, with a large hammer, seals her fate via a "series of knocks to the young girl's head side" (as represented in the song "Everything Evil"). Patrick, surreptitiously arriving through the back door, witnesses Josephine's death. In terror, he flees the house. By now, three of the four Kilgannon children are dead, leaving only Claudio.
Elsewhere, the Prise pay a visit to rebel leader Mariah Antillarea. The reason for this meeting is not immediately clear; it's possible that they are there to warn her of the dragonflies destined for Paris: Earth.
Wilhelm Ryan, aware that Patrick has witnessed Josephine's death, is becoming anxious: not only is there a witness to the murder, but one of Coheed and Cambria's children still lives. He mentions that Claudio is a "threat beyond reasonable comprehension" and that, should he learn to use his "powers" and discover Ryan's treachery, he will be unstoppable. Ryan instructs Mayo to make sure that the couple are on their way to Paris: Earth immediately. Ryan also mentions the "priests," about whom little is known to the reader.
Mayo, accompanied by members of the Red Army, promptly shows up at the Kilgannon home. He begins to taunt Coheed, who is clutching the body of the slain Josephine. Coheed demands to know what will become of Claudio, and Mayo tells him that while he has no answers for Coheed, perhaps Cambria does. Cambria receives a vision of Wilhelm Ryan instructing Mayo to have the children killed, no matter what it takes, for he senses in the Kilgannon bloodline a power far greater than that of Ryan or Mayo. Cambria cries out in anguish. The Sinstar mutation was a fabrication. The children did not need to die. Suddenly, blades erupt from the scars in Coheed's arms, decimating Mayo's troops. A spray of bullets subdues Coheed eventually; however, he is only knocked unconscious, as not a single bullet pierces his skin. Mayo instructs his troops to carry Coheed and Cambria away, and tells two of them to stay behind to incinerate the house: no trace must remain for the young Claudio to discover.
While spreading gasoline throughout the house, the soldiers are attacked by what is presumably one of the "priests."
Issue 3
Original Release: N/AAmory Wars Release: 29 August 2007
Issue 3 starts with Claudio, who was supposed to be home hours earlier, outside the Kilgannon house saying goodnight to his girlfriend, Newo. Noticing that the door is damaged, Claudio enters the house and slips on something on the floor: Josephine's blood. Grabbing his sister, Claudio briefly revives Josephine—the first sign of his true potential. Josephine tells Claudio about what happened in Jersey City, and tells him to leave her and run as he is attacked by a priest. Claudio puts up a fight, but ultimately escapes by becoming intangible and moving through the kitchen wall.
At the spaceport, Mayo Deftinwolf oversees Coheed and Cambria being loaded aboard the Gloria Vel Vessa for transport to Paris: Earth. At a nearby bar, Josephine's frightened boyfriend, Patrick, is acquiring a gun, but is soon hunted down by a priest who destroys the bar; Patrick barely escapes in a car.
Elsewhere, the Prise are asking Mariah Antillera for help. Jesse, or Prize Fighter Inferno, appears and informs the Prise that Ryan is planning to separate the Twelfth Sector from Heaven's Fence and alter God's creation. Inferno tells the Prise that if they do not reform their pact, Man will wage war.
Cutting away, Claudio is seen standing over a sleeping Newo. He wants to tell her everything that has happened, but realizes that the information will only endanger her. He leaves without saying goodbye.
The comic ends with a vision that Coheed and Cambria are having on the ship: it depicts the birth of the K.B.I., and the reader learns that the Monstar's antidote is, in fact, Josephine. Coheed awakes ready for revenge.
Issue 4
Original Release: N/AAmory Wars Release: 24 October 2007
Coheed is being transferred by the Red Army in a large tube, his arms restrained. Upon waking from his vision, he hears the men talking about how he killed his children, Maria, Matthew, and Josephine. At this, he becomes even more enraged: he and Cambria break their restraints and slaughter the soldiers, in spite of their pleas for mercy. The rampaging couple begin their efforts to seize control of the Gloria Vel Vessa.
At House Atlantic, Wilhelm Ryan watches his plan unfolding; the reader learns that Ryan has become deformed because of the war which he declared.
On Dil-Ariuth in Sector 12, Inferno and his team have discovered a monk transmitting data to the Red Army. Inferno attacks the monk when he tells them that his master has "sent him a message drenching in the blood of his brother," Coheed. Inferno tells the captain to get a report of transports that have left Sector 10 in the last 24 hours and to prepare the Grail Arbor for takeoff.
Back with Coheed and Cambria, Coheed feels a burning in his arm, where gashes appear. In spite of the agonizing pain, he pulls the skin off his forearm to see what is underneath, and what he is. He discovers a metal arm, which turns into a gun. Coheed and Cambria head toward the bridge of the Gloria Vel Vessa; they encounter many Red Army soldiers along the way. Cambria uses telekinesis to fling them against the ship walls, allowing Coheed to kill them with the gun in his arm.
In Jersey City, Patrick is making a phone call, recalling what happened at the Kilgannon home. As he's on the phone, the FBI arrive; Patrick approaches them and starts to drop his gun. Of course, all is not as it seems: the FBI agents fade away, and the priest that remains mutates into a large winged daemon, one of Wilhelm Ryan's firstborn. Stunned, Patrick laments, "What did I do to deserve this?" which is repeated in the song "Blood Red Summer".
On the Gloria Vel Vessa, the crew has sealed the bridge and are trying to contact help. Coheed and Cambria violently blast through the bridge doors; they demand the ship lands if they are not to hurt anyone else.
At the spaceport, Mayo Deftinwolf receives the distress signal from the Gloria Vel Vessa. He orders contact to be made to find out if Coheed and Cambria have escaped. His order is canceled by Admiral Vielar Crom, who then informs Deftinwolf that he has been relieved of his command. Crom orders the Red Army light-fighters to be deployed.
After a harsh interrogation, the crew of the Gloria Vel Vessa inform Coheed and Cambria that the ship is on auto-pilot and there's nothing that can be done. A ship appears behind the Vel Vessa, bearing Inferno, who orders an intercept course.
Issue 5
Original Release: N/AAmory Wars Release: 16 January 2008
The fifth chapter opens with Patrick continuing his fight with Wilhelm Ryan's daemon, which was once one of the 12 Tri-Mages of the Keywork. Patrick tries to fight the monster off, but it freezes his gun with venom before impaling him through the chest with its tail. Patrick's last thoughts are of Josephine, with whom he can now find peace.
Still on the run, Claudio uses his newfound powers to reach through a shop window and steal a gun.
Coheed and Cambria have taken control of the Gloria Vel Vessa, but the ship that follows, The Grail Arbor, fires a warning shot across their starboard bow. Commanding a prisoner to communicate with the ship, Coheed finds himself facing his brother, Inferno, who tersely informs Coheed and Cambria that the Vel Vessa must be stopped one way or another. The prisoners suggest that they could rewire the ship's power to override the autopilot. Inferno tells them to act quickly, and ends communication; he instructs his crew to fire upon the Gloria Vel Vessa if it does not correct its course within an hour.
Wilhelm Ryan informs Deftinwolf that Admiral Crom is trying to recapture Coheed and Cambria, and that he should go work on the dragonflies. If he does well he may regain his position. It becomes evident that Claudio is the one person in Heaven's Fence Wilhelm Ryan fears.
Mariah Antillera rallies troops to wage war at the steps of House Atlantic.
Coheed and Cambria arrive at the engine core of the Vel Vessa. In spite of his best efforts, Coheed fails to rewire the engine; frustrated, Cambria releases a burst of telekinetic power.
Deftinwolf reaches a genetic engineering lab, where he asks if the flies are ready; the doctor in charge of the project confirms that they are. Deftinwolf enters a room containing large chambers filled, ominously, with dragonflies. On Star IV, the Prise sense the fulfillment of the prophecy— Claudio, who is sneaking aboard a ship to escape Paris: Earth—and realize a member of their ranks must serve as his guardian.
Mariah is ensuring everything is ready for the rebellion against Ryan. Disembarking her ship, she finds she is too late: the Red Army have already begun their attack.
The reader learns that Cambria's powers destroyed the Vel Vessas engine, and that the ship has been seized by Ryan's forces. As Inferno resolves to blow the ship up—in spite of the fact it carries his siblings—Coheed and Cambria share a final tender moment.
Six years later, Inferno wakes suddenly. He makes his way to the bridge and looks down upon a planet, thinking of Coheed, Cambria, and Mariah. Wondering what Mariah would want him to do, Inferno decides to seek out what remains of her rebellion.
Volume 2
Volume two of The Amory Wars: Second Stage Turbine Blade was released in June 20082008 in comics
-January:*January 9: Teen Titans: The Lost Annual, delayed since 2003, is published.*January 23: Hellblazer #240, marking the 20th anniversary of the series, is released.-February:...
. Volume two has a new artist, Gabriel Guzman, covers continue to be drawn by Tony Moore.
Issue 1
Original Release: N/AAmory Wars Release: 4 June 2008
The Issue begins with Inferno confronting two children, Chase and Sizer, telling the crying children that "there is no room in our family for malfunctions" due to the destruction of Longcindia. The scene ends with Inferno leaving to continue on his work to seek out Mariah's rebellion
Meanwhile, Ryan oversees the Council of the Eurocons, "twelve opportunists who oversee the Keywork, making sure Ryan's followers are kept in line, while the seeking out the non-believers and crushing them." A Council Member speaks out concerning a disturbance in his sector, which openly describes part of Ryan's plan, that which colonies of subterranean beings have been taken and carried off-world in garbage scows. The Council Member confronts Ryan about the issue, only to be taken away and presumably killed.
The next scene begins with Claudio on the Guile Griever Garbage Carrier. The doors close quickly in the room Claudio steps in, trapping him in. Claudio soon remembers his newfound powers and phases through the door with ease. Upon entering the new room, Claudio discovers what the deceased council member confronted Ryan about in the previous scene. Rows of Alien-esque creatures fill the room in robotic containment jars filled with a green liquid containing the beings in a deep sleep.
On Star IV, Ambellina begins her mission and is burned, hair and wings. As she attempts to escape the pain by flying, her now fire-consumed wings fail her and she drops to the ground. All that remains of her wings are lifeless stumps of bone and small flecks of feathers, while her body is a dark indigo blue.
Fire initiates upon the Notting-Vezer ship by the Grail Arbor, but fails to break the Juggernaut's Hold on the Gloria Vel Vessa, containing Coheed and Cambria. Cambria controls the Ship's crew into gathering explosives in an effort to destroy themselves. As Coheed prepares his Arm Cannon to detonate the ship, the Cannon deactivates from an unknown force, seen in the next panel to be Admiral Vielar Crom. Coheed readies himself for battle, as Cambria controls the Crew to attack Crom. Crom fights back, crushing the faces in of each crew member, leaving each dead on the floor.
As Inferno continues to fire upon the Notting-Vezzer, he is requested by Mariah that he be contacted with while war wages on the planet of Dil-Ariuth. Inferno runs to the cockpit of an escape ship of the Grail Arbor, commanding his soldier to secure the line between him and Mariah while the pod disconnects from the Grail Arbor.
The scene flashes to Dil-Ariuth IX, where Mariah controls soldiers of the Rebellion against the Red Army. Inferno appears to Mariah via transmit screen, and tells her to get off-world as soon as she possibly can to Paris: Earth to defeat the effort of Ryan to unleash the Cache Serum. As Mariah and the soldiers run for the airstrip, she and Inferno share love tidings as Mariah unleashes a huge telekinetic attack which destroys a significant amount of the Red Army. She makes way with the soldiers off Dil-Ariuth IX.
General Mayo Deftinwolf is seen now, inside a ship, commencing a landing on Paris: Earth. Upon landing, he thinks about his demotion and swears revenge on "the dogs" who disrespect him, once he regains his position at the right hand of Ryan.
Back at the Kilgannon House, Newo enters a crime scene of the death of Coheed and Cambria's children. Two detectives scour the scene discussing the reason for the children's death and the reason for it. As Newo enters the house and the detectives attempt to block her from entering any further, a huge comet-like white light bursts from the sky into the house, where an orb hits inside the kitchen. Ambellina appears from the orb, clad in a blue space suit, she eyes Newo, and begins her mission.
Claudio is shown, toying with a computer, reading that the Guile Griever is en-route to Shylos Ten. He searches for answers as he further tampers with a pod in which an alien being is sleeping. As Claudio pushes a button, the being awakes, enraged and breaks from the container. He attempts to attack Claudio, but is shot down by a Red. Claudio escapes using his power of Invisibility, overhearing the disgust of the Planet of Shylos Ten.
Issue 2
Release Date: 2 July 2008The Guile Griever has finally reached Shylos-10, the waste planet of Heaven’s Fence. Claudio watches in awe from afar as the aliens, from the glass tubes, are moved from the ship to Camp: Si-Revody, Ryan’s secret facility designed to cause the genocide of the aliens. As they are being moved the soldiers call the aliens, “Stars.”
Aboard the Gloria Vel Vessa, Coheed and Cambria struggles against Vielar Crom's awesome powers. Just as all seems lost Inferno appears and helps in the fight. Crom calls for reinforcements and all three begin to battle against the small army. As they fight, Inferno thinks back to the days of the K.B.I. and how he came to join Mariah’s rebellion. This leaves him open and Crom impales Inferno in the back with a steel rod. Crom then uses the power from his armor to render Coheed and Cambria unconscious.
Back at the Kilgannon’s home on Hetricius, Ambellina disposes of the detectives and goes on to question Newo. Newo tells her that she does not know anything, but Ambellina believes she is not telling the truth. Newo leaves the house and Ambellina follows. Outside, however, a Priest waits fully transformed.
On Dil-Ariuth IX, Mariah and the last of her soldiers try to escape the planet. Both of the other two pilots give their life for Mariah as she escapes into space. She tries to call Inferno but is met with silence, left crying for those she has lost.
Meanwhile on Paris: Earth Mayo finds out that the Prise are en route to Earth. Mayo contacts Ryan to tell him the news, but is instead scolded for not being prepared for them. Ryan tells Mayo that Crom recaptured Coheed and Cambria and is on his way to meet him; to make him comfortable. Ryan signs off and turns his attention to the two Priests before him. They both transform into grotesque monsters due to Ryan’s experimentations on the fallen Mages after the Mage War. These fallen Mages become the Onstantine Priests. He sends one off to find Claudio and the other to stay with him.
Back on Shylos-10, Claudio wanders inward towards the camp. There he meets a Star known as Cecil. Cecil asks if Claudio was just on the ship that came in. Claudio keeps quiet and Cecil tells him of how one of the Stars tried to escape, taking on five soldiers before being killed. Cecil goes on to tell him that no Star has ever tried to do anything like that before and that that Star is now a hero among them, known only as the “Hearshot Kid.”
Elsewhere in space, Mariah finally hears back from Inferno. He is still alive and tells Mariah to continue to Paris: Earth and they will meet up there. Mariah understands and descends onto Earth.
Issue 3
Release Date: 6 August 2008Coheed and Cambria have finally reached Paris: Earth. They are shackled and then placed into large holding restraints under the observation of Crom. The restraints face each other and both Coheed and Cambria have their head held down and their eyes forced open by a device on the restraints. Mayo then appears, mocking both Crom and Coheed.
Meanwhile on Hetricius, Newo reads the note Claudio has left for her, and realizes it is more than just a break-up letter. As she finishes reading, one of the fully transformed Priests breaks through the window, attacking her and Apollo. Before the full extent of the attack is carried out, Ambellina appears to fight the Priest and protect Newo; as least until she finds Claudio.
Back on Earth, the Prise arrive and tell the citizens that the Red Army is on its way and that they need to evacuate. They were too late, though, as the Red Army fire onto the city just a few seconds later. Meanwhile, Mariah sneaks into the woods outside of the main city on Paris: Earth. She attempts to stop the dragonflies from being released by killing Mayo. However, she misses and Mayo releases the millions upon millions of dragonflies. As they swarm across the planet, one finds Coheed and stings him. As he looks at Cambria, both Coheed and Cambria's eyes start to glow and Coheed begins the transformation into the Monstar. Ryan watches on as Coheed’s body expands to giant proportions with both his blades and cannon fully formed on his arms. Crom’s armor can no longer resist the incredible power Coheed now wields, and he is overtaken. Coheed finally has his vengeance on Crom by tearing him in two. As Cambria stares in disbelief at Coheed, she too starts to transform. Ryan tells her that after he is done with Coheed, she will be there to end him, for she is the “White Ruineer.”
Elsewhere on Shylos-10, Claudio helps a Star being beaten by a soldier. Cecil tells him, however, that it’s unwise to do such things, for it is the way of Shylos-10 and that he should not let the Red Army know that he’s there. As they walk away from the scene they find a mutilated body in the middle of the road. They continue on by, unaware of the Priest lurking in the shadows.
At the House Atlantic, Wilhelm Ryan, knowing that all has gone according to plan, sits confidently on his throne, smiling.
Issue 4
Release Date: 10 September 2008Cambria’s transformation continues as hundreds of near-indestructible plates tear through her flesh. She tries her best to fight the transformation but eventually succumbs, becoming the “White Ruineer”, a being with one purpose: to destroy the Monstar; the being that used to be her husband, Coheed. The Monstar sees the Ruineer and bursts into the sky. As the Prise and the citizens of Paris: Earth fight against the Red Army, they notice the Monstar flying through the sky and they know something is terribly wrong. The Monstar flies toward Star VII with the Ruineer not far behind. As he lands on Star VII, a vapor pours from his body, suffocating the Star and its energy, and soon the Star dies. As the Ruineer lands, she uses psychokinetic vibrations to form a sword and the two begin to fight, matching blow for blow. However, the Ruineer creates a wound large enough for her hand on the Monstar's chest. She reaches in and drains the Monstar virus from his heart, and Coheed dies as he slowly reverts back to normal, not knowing the horrors he has committed. Cambria starts to revert as well, knowing that her role has also ended. Knowing that she could not keep this power to avenge Coheed, she takes what’s left of the sword and kills herself.
With the death of Star VII, the Keywork is interrupted, causing the nine planets in Sector 12 to float freely in space. As the two lay in death, Cambria’s powers are released and she relights the star, turning it into a sun. The Sun’s gravity pulls on the nine planets and the birth of our Solar System begins. However, if the Keywork is not fixed, the other 69 planets will also be pulled in by the sun, causing them to smash into each other and killing the beings of Heaven’s Fence.
Meanwhile on Hetricus, Ambellina continues to fight the “Tentacles” Priest. Though it looks like victory is hers, the tides quickly change as the Priest drips slime onto her as it crushes her with its tentacles. Back on Paris: Earth, Mariah is still fighting against Mayo. She radios Inferno, who is in orbit, for help.
On Shylos-10, Claudio and Cecil feel the effects of the Keywork being interrupted, as massive earthquakes rock the planets of Heaven’s Fence. Things quickly turn from bad to worse as the “Hulk” Priest bursts through the wall, looking to kill Claudio.
Issue 5
Release Date: 22 October 2008While the Monstar is flying towards Star VII...
Back on Paris: Earth, the Prise are losing the battle against the Red Army and Paranoia, a Prise, is killed. After Sector 12 is separated from the Keywork, the Prise sacrifice themselves to restore energy to the remaining stars and prevent the remaining 69 planets from crashing into each other.
Mariah is ambushed by Mayo Deftinwolf while communicating with Jesse. Her throat is slit by Mayo while Jesse looks on in horror.
Mayo brings Mariah's head back to Wilhelm Ryan on Apity Prime and informs him that the Prise are no more. Wilhelm is pleased and reinstates Deftinwolf as General and Commander of the Red Army.
Back at Newo's home:
Ambellina and Newo defeat the priest. After reading Claudio's letter, Ambellina decodes a message within it and says she no longer needs Newo's help in finding him, leaving her alone.
On Shylos-10:
Claudio saves Cecil from the Priest and the Reds destroy it. Cecil reluctantly informs Claudio that he must leave the camp.
Six years later....
Jesse is now a boxer by the name of "The Prise Fighter Inferno". He discovers his opponent in a match is a surviving Prise who is waiting for The Crowing to emerge and save the Keywork. Jesse states that the children now help and that he will rally support to rebuild the rebellion for the sake of Coheed, Cambria and Mariah, whom he thinks about each day.
The story ends with a bearded, homeless Claudio wandering the streets of Shylos-10 and seeking refuge from rain in a sewer, muttering, "Your dreams can't last forever."