Metal Hurlant returns from Humanoids with a Kickstarter

Metal Hurlant, the French SF/Fantasy magazine that inspired the US Heavy Metal, is coming back as a quarterly magazine, The Wrap reports. Humanoids will soon launch a Kickstarter to bring Metal Hurlant to the US as a quarterly anthology, with contributions from comics superstars Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, James Stokoe, Peach Momoko, Mark Waid and more. 

The moves comes at the same time that Heavy Metal, the long running US variation of the magazine, is also coming back as…a Kickstarter anthology.

The original Metal Hurlant was co-founded by comics legends Mœbius and Philippe Druillet in 1974 and became known for its singular brand of mind bending fantasy, running such classics as The Incal. Heavy Metal launched from National Lampoon in 1977, licensing work from Metal Hurlant and inspiring a whole new generation of young America readers to get high…with comics.

Metal Hurlant ran until 1987 in France, got a brief American revival in 2002, and enjoyed a successful French rebirth in 2021. 

Metal Hurlant also launched the publishing house Humanoids, which was purchased by the 23-year-old publisher Fabrice Giger in 1988…and relaunched into the US market in 1999, where it has remained ever since.  

Humanoids’ new edition of Metal Hurlant will be a thick quarterly anthology, with issues set to run 272 or more pages. “Metal Hurlant’s ongoing mission is to enthrall readers, explore new paths and publish bold and transgressive storytellers,” Humanoids Publisher  Giger said in a statement.

According to the Wrap, this revival will include out of print and rarely seen material by Mœbius, Philippe Druillet and Jean-Pierre Dionnet, as well as vintage tales that were previously unavailable in English.

“The vast majority of the material in Metal Hurlant will be original, but bringing archival content — such as Mœbius’ short stories — back into print allows us to introduce some of the most iconic cartoonists of all time to a new generation,” Giger said. “Our intention is to curate the reading experience with gems from Metal Hurlant’s storied past in France, alongside insightful cultural reportage and new, complete stories by contemporary masters.”

Other content includes: 

• All-new stories by such folks as Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Karla Pacheco, James Stokoe, Fabien Vehlmann, and Mark Waid. 
• Robert Crumb’s iconic comic about Philip K. Dick.
• Features, essays and interviews from top creators such as Ted Chiang, William Gibson, Alan Moore, and Denis Villeneuve. 

Launch cover artists include Mœbius, Peach Momoko, Enki Bilal and Jean-Michel Nicollet.

See below for a complete list of contributors. 

Art by Jean-Michel Nicollet 

Art by Mœbius 

Art by Enki Bilal 

Announced contributors:

Alias
Mathieu Bablet
Brian Michael Bendis
Enki Bilal
Lisa Blumen
Pim Boss
Marc Caro
Caza
Nicole Claveloux
Michel Crespin
Robert Crumb
Jean Dalin
Jean-Pierre Dionnet
Philippe Druillet
Matt Fraction
Aimée de Jongh
Paul Gillon
Elie Huault
Afif Khaled
Chantal Montellier
Carole Maurel
Angus McKie
Jean-Claude Mézières
Mœbius
Karla Pacheco
Luc & François Schuiten
James Stokoe
Jacques Tardi
Toru Terada
Fabien Vehlmann
Jorg De Vos
Mark Waid
Edith Zha
The forthcoming “Metal Hurlant” is available for fans to support on Kickstarter now at this link.