Heavy Metal Magazine Revives with Ambitious Relaunch

Few anthology magazines have left a legacy quite like *Heavy Metal*. Known for its bold art, mature storytelling, and genre-defying content, it has long been a cornerstone of the comics world. Now, after much anticipation and a successful crowdfunding campaign, *Heavy Metal* is officially making a triumphant return to comic book shelves. The new volume launches on Wednesday, April 30, promising an exciting blend of classic spirit and fresh creative voices.

As part of the lead-up to this milestone release, IGN is proud to present an exclusive preview of *Heavy Metal #1*. Scroll through the gallery below to view select pages from several stories featured in the debut issue, along with all previously revealed variant covers:

What's Inside Heavy Metal #1?

This first issue brings together both legendary contributors and exciting new talent. It also marks the return of Taarna, the iconic character who has become synonymous with the *Heavy Metal* brand. Here’s a full breakdown of the stories and creators you'll find inside:

• BUG – Enki Bilal
• Burton & Cyb – Antonio Segura & José Ortiz
• The Mercenary – Vicente Segrelles
• Valentina – Sergio Gerasi
• Sixella: The Last Roots – Janevsky
• Taarna: Rebirth – Leah Moore, John Reppion, Anna Morozova
• Cold Dead War: The Aftermath – Craig Wilson
• Grimaldi – Keron Grant, Josh Sky, Frank Forte
• Legends of Taarna: "Autophonomania" – Matt and Shawn Fillbach, Joseph Michael Linsner
• Gladiatrix – John Stanisci
• Evil Sex Bitch – Steve Mannion
• Lester, That Old Feeling – Fernando Dagnino
• The Bus – Paul Kirchner
• June 2050 – John Workman
• Millstone – Michael Conrad, Ilias Kyriazis
• Transcendestiny – David Quinn, Tim Vigil
• Cobot – Jonathan Wayshak
• All American – Jason Spell, Jok
• Kecksburg UFO – Jim Rugg
• They Dug Too Deep – Dwayne Harris
• Floyd the Giant Killer – Michael L. Peters
• GUNK – Curt Merlo
• Harry Canyon – Josh Sky, Frank Forte
• Zeke & Edsel – Frank Forte
• The Devil's Teeth – Lia Bozonelis, Agustin Alessio

With a print run of 73,000 copies, *Heavy Metal #1* represents the largest initial print run for the series in decades—a clear sign of renewed interest and publisher confidence. Priced at $14.99 and spanning 232 action-packed pages, this is a substantial and collector-friendly launch.

Release Schedule and Future Plans

*Heavy Metal #1* arrives in comic shops on April 30 and will be available at newsstands starting May 13. While future issues are currently scheduled for quarterly publication, the publisher has indicated flexibility, with the potential to increase frequency based on reader demand.

For more updates from the world of comics, stay tuned as we continue to bring you coverage on major releases like Mike Mignola’s upcoming return to the Hellboy universe, along with insights from the creative minds behind titles such as *Spider-Man & Wolverine*.