The iconic dark fantasy/sci-fi anthology magazine HEAVY METAL is back with a brand new super-sized issue. The publisher will be launching a Kickstarter campaign for the project early next month, offering limited-edition covers and other collectibles.
The first issue will feature a Greg Hildebrandt cover with the iconic hero of the magazine, Taarna the Tarakian! There will also be other big-name writers and artists. It’s already set to be the “best HEAVY METAL magazine in many, many years.”
The magazine is unique because it reads like a traditional comic book but is published in a larger magazine format. It also featured explicit nudity, sexual situations, and graphic violence. Making it more adult-oriented at a time when comics were mostly dismissed as kid’s stuff.
HEAVY METAL was first published in 1977 and ran until 2023 when Massive Publishing ended its deal with the magazine. The publication has featured work by artists like Eki Bilal, Richard Corben, Guido Crepax, Philippe Druillet, Caza, Jean-Claude Forest, Jean “Moebius” Giraud, and Milo Manara.
The Crew Behind HEAVY METAL
Chief Executive Officer Marshall Lees will head up the re-launch, with Franke Forte returning as Editor-in-Chief. Dave Kelly and Chris Thompson will be new to the team acting as Executive Editor and Editorial Manager, respectively.
“I have always been a huge fan of Heavy Metal and the way it influenced art and culture and exposed incredible creators to the world,” Lees said in a press conference. “The new team and I stepped in after quite a tumultuous period, so we’ve been working quietly behind the scenes to make things right and pave a way for the magazine’s return to its original boundary-pushing roots. Following that, we have a host of exciting new plans for the brand that we hope fans will be really interested in.”
“We wanted to assemble a team of passionate professionals who had complementary skills and shared our vision for the brand,” he continued. “We believe we’ve found that in Frank, Dave, and Chris, as well as the other team members across all facets of the business.”
More details about the return of HEAVY METAL will be announced in the coming weeks. Updates about the magazine’s return will be shared via the Kickstarter campaign once it launches, and a Discord server.
