After its enormously successful Kickstarter campaign last year, Heavy Metal Magazine has officially relaunched with its brand new Issue #1 (Legacy #321) out now. Featuring a monumental 232 pages of mind-bending visuals and boundary-pushing content from both returning legends and breakout creators from around the globe, the debut issue marks a bold return to the magazine’s roots as the definitive illustrated anthology. Heavy Metal #1 is available for purchase today (via Diamond) and May 7 (via Lunar) in local comic shops, with the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror magazine hitting newsstands in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and many other countries worldwide starting May 13.
“As someone who grew up with the magazine during its golden age of European classics, it’s an honor to help recapture that spark and usher in a return to greatness to further expand the reach of both the Heavy Metal magazine and brand,” shared Editorial Manager Chris Thompson.
With over 10,000 Kickstarter pledges, over $1 million in pre-order sales, and 73,000 copies ordered, Heavy Metal #1 is the magazine’s largest print run in decades. The relaunch will follow an all-new quarterly release schedule, with the potential for publishing more frequently based on fan response and sales.
Heavy Metal’s relaunch also brings vastly expanded distribution through partnerships with Diamond Comic Distributors, Lunar Distribution (through Massive Indies), Universal Distribution, Southern Hobby, ACD Distribution, and Bud Plant. Beyond comic shops, Heavy Metal #1 can be found in select gaming and TTRPG stores and—for the first time in over 10 years—will be available at newsstands in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many more countries worldwide.
New and longtime fans alike can enjoy over 20 groundbreaking stories from genre-defining creators in Heavy Metal #1, ranging from brand-new material to long-awaited English translations of acclaimed international works. The magazine will also feature fresh content blocks in its new era with irreverent fake ads, retrospectives on some of the most bizarre and controversial Heavy Metal content over the years, world-building prose teasers for upcoming issues, and much more.
“I’m very excited to be working with a great editorial team and amazing creators with this relaunch of Heavy Metal,” said Editor-in-Chief Frank Forte. “We’ve curated an anthology that includes many legacy creators who made Heavy Metal great, as well as writers and artists who are brand new to the U.S. comics scene. Heavy Metal has always taken pride in introducing readers to amazing up-and-coming creators”.
Heavy Metal #1 returns to its European roots with translations, restorations, and first-time publications of iconic European creators, showcasing the following stories:
- “BUG” by Enki Bilal (The Carnival of Immortals)
- “Burton & Cyb” by Antonio Segura (Eva Medusa) and José Ortiz (Apocalypse)
- “The Mercenary” by Vicente Segrelles (The Fortress)
- “Valentina” by Sergio Gerasi (Dylan Dog)
- “Sixella: The Last Roots” by Janevsky (Lilith, Sixella)
Original Heavy Metal characters make a comeback in the relaunch issue, including:
- “Cold Dead War: The Aftermath” by Craig Wilson (Iron Man)
- “Grimaldi” by Keron Grant (Action Comics, Fantastic Four), Josh Sky (Masters of the Universe), and Frank Forte (Bob’s Burgers, Warlash, DTOX)
- “Legends of Taarna: Autophonomania” by Matt and Shawn Fillbach (Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures), and Joseph Michael Linsner (Cry for Dawn, Vampirella, Red Sonja)
- “Gladiatrix” by John Stanisci (Batman Beyond: Hush Beyond)
- “Taarna: Rebirth” by Leah Moore (Iron Maiden, 2000 AD), John Reppion (Iron Maiden, 2000 AD), and Anna Morozova (2000 AD, Judge Dredd)
Additional featured stories for Heavy Metal #1 are as follows:
- “Evil Sex Bitch” by Steve Mannion (Fearless Dawn, Warlash)
- “Lester, That Old Feeling” by Fernando Dagnino (Supergirl, Wonder Woman)
- “The Bus” by Paul Kirchner (Dope Rider)
- “June 2050” by John Workman (Batman: Year 100, Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham)
- “Millstone” by Michael Conrad (Hello Darkness, In Bloom) and Ilias Kyriazis (Collapser, What We Wished For)
- “Transcendestiny” by David Quinn (Faust, Addiction) and Tim Vigil (Faust, Gothic Nights)
- “Cobot” by Jonathan Wayshak (Bloodstream, Lost Boys, Reign of Frogs)
- “All American” by Jason Spell and Jok (The Body Trade, In Hell We Fight!)
- “They Dug Too Deep” by Dwayne Harris (John Henry: The Steam Age, Amnesia)
- “Floydd the Giant Killer” by Michael L. Peters (Crescent City Magick)
- “GUNK” by Curt Merlo (That Distant Fire)
- “Harry Canyon” by Josh Sky and Frank Forte
- “Zeke & Edsel“ by Frank Forte
- “The Devil’s Teeth” by Lia Bozonelis (Sorry Not Sorry, Safer At Home) and Agustin Alessio (Thor)
- “Kecksburg UFO” by Jim Rugg (Street Angel)
Check out all the variant covers for Heavy Metal #1 below. For more information on Heavy Metal, visit www.heavymetal.com and follow the magazine on Facebook, X/Twitter, Discord, Instagram, and YouTube.
HEAVY METAL #1
Cover A – Greg Hildebrandt
Cover B – Frank Frazetta
Cover C – Tula Lotay
Cover D – Keron Grant
Cover E – Janevsky
Cover F – Blank Sketch Cover
Cover G – David Palumbo
Cover H – Tehani Farr – Webstore Exclusive Taarna Variant
Cover I – Tony Moore – Massive Select Retailer Variant
Images via Heavy Metal
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