Screen Rant is thrilled to present anexclusivefirst look at the return of legendary French sci-fi magazineMetal Hurlant, which comes back into print in time for its 50th anniversary celebration courtesy of publisherHumanoids– somethinglegendary film composer Hans Zimmerhas been waiting forever for.Humanoids' shared a video of Zimmer teasing the book’s new era, giving readers a sense ofMetal Hurlant’spop culture impact.
Humanoids’Metal Hurlantis available to back on Kickstarter now; along with the message from Hans Zimmer, the publisher also shared pages from a brand-new story byartist Mœbius, one of the original contributors to the magazine. Humanoids also offered an exclusive preview of cover art for the series by some of the industry’s top artists, including rising superstar Peach Momoko, done in the style of the original print run.
Additionally, Humanoids provided a detailed list of the incentives for the Kickstarter campaign, and cited some of the hallowed names of comic writers and artists contributing toMetal Hurlant’sreturn.
Exclusive: Groundbreaking Sci-Fi Magazine “Metal Hurlant” Returns From Publisher Humanoid, Fifty Years After Its Original Publication
Preview Pages From New Mœbius Story “Is Man Good?”
In its original incarnation,Metal Hurlantwas a work of daring creative experimentation; reminiscent of underground literary publications, and serving as a forerunner to the punk fanzines that would become a staple of alternative music from the late 1970s onward,the magazine served as inspiration for some of the 20th century’s most recognizable creative names, Hans Zimmer among them.As a teaser for the revival ofMetal Hurlant, Humanoids shared pages for a new Mœbius story entitled “Is Man Good?” Though much sense of a plot remains elusive in the wordless preview, the pages offer strong visceral imagery.
The new volume of the magazine will be published in English, and will include new material from a variety of all-star writers and artists, as well as “archival material from Metal Hurlant’s original run in France.
According to the publisher, “each volume of Metal Hurlant will be a massive 272+ page literary experience,” meaning this is only a tiny taste of whatMetal Hurlanthas in store for readers. Humanoids also revealed that the new volume of the magazine will be published in English, and will include new material from a variety of all-star writers and artists, as well as “archival material from Metal Hurlant’s original run in France, including stories that have never been published before in English or stories that have been out-of-print for decades.”
Humanoids Celebrates The History Of “Metal Hurlant” By Writing An Impressive New Chapter In Its Story
The History & Future Of The Magazine, Explained
In their press release announcing the return ofMetal Hurlant, Humanoids offered a detailed overview of the magazine’s origin story, as well as its significant influence on “generations of artists to come,” writing:
In 1974, filmmaker, writer, mime, and poet Alejandro Jodorowsky was working in Paris on a film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel Dune, with the assistance of the internationally acclaimed artist Mœbius on concept art and storyboards, alongside talents such as H.R. Giger and Dan O’Bannon. At the same time, Mœbius—along with fellow rebellious bande dessinée creators Jean-Pierre Dionnet and Philippe Druillet—wanted to push the boundaries of the comics medium to tell mature, cerebral, and often titillating stories that embraced a punk attitude. Metal Hurlant was their brainchild, a cutting edge comics anthology published under their newly-founded publishing house Les Humanoïdes Associés (Humanoids). The magazine took the sci-fi world by storm, making ripples that would catalyze the creations of generations of artists to come, including filmmakers like Guillermo Del Toro, George Lucas, Hayao Miyazaki, Ridley Scott, Denis Villeneuve, Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, and Nicolas Winding Refn and musicians like Air, Daft Punk, and Hans Zimmer. While Jodorowsky’s Dune never materialized, he and Mœbius created within the pages of Metal Hurlant the groundbreaking series The Incal, which would go on to become the best-selling sci-fi comic of all time and is currently being adapted for the big screen by Taika Waititi.
More than just the 50th anniversary ofMetal Hurlant, in other words,it is also the half-century milestone for the publishing company itself, making the return of its original magazine even more meaningful and exciting.The ripple effect of the magazine on pop culture over the past several decades is clear from the list of filmmakers and musicians whose work drew influence and inspiration fromMetal Hurlant.
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The inclusion of work by leadingcomic book creators including Brian Michael Bendis, Matt Fraction, Mark Waid, and many more, also signifies the importance ofMetal Hurlantto a generation of comic book writers. Their inclusion emphasizes Humanoids' commitment to making the magazine a go-to publication for the most ambitious creators in the medium today, just as it was when it launched in the mid-1970s. In this way,Metal Hurlantwill not just celebrate its legacy, but continue to push the medium of visual storytelling forward.
Humanoids' “Metal Hurlant” Kickstarter Features A Stacked Offering Of Must-Have Incentives
Exclusive Posters, Autographs, & More
Of course, the virtue of backing a Kickstarter campaign is the opportunity to get exclusive merchandise and memorabilia, and Humanoids' is offering more than most. WhileMetal Hurlantwill be widely available upon its release, the list of incentives for Kickstarter contributors is extensive and impressive. According to the publisher:
Metal Hurlant is set to launch with a Spring 2025 issue, 50 years after its French premiere issue in January 1975. Metal Hurlant will be available through newsstands, comic book shops, and bookstores, by subscription, and via the Kickstarter campaign. Backers to the crowdfunding campaign can choose Kickstarter exclusive rewards like:
“Arzach” by Mœbius, the seminal, silent story, presented in a stunning hardcover format, featuring a cutout slipcase for the 50th Anniversary French Edition that has never before been available in the US
A Metal Hurlant cover portfolio of 8 prints of iconic, vintage covers by Philippe Druillet, Mœbius, Caza, François Schuiten, Jean-Claude Mézières, and more, presented in a pocket portfolio
A Roulette-style signature add-on, offering ONE portfolio print signature from Jodorowsky, Nicollet, Dionnet, OR Caza
An All-Star Signature Tier featuring all four portfolio signatures from Jodorowsky, Nicollet, Dionnet, and Caza
With a wide range of exclusive items available,theMetal HurlantKickstarter is a must-back for anyone who is intrigued by the resurrection of the classic series.These limited-time-offer items are an additional way to celebrate the magazine, and to be a part of its comeback from the beginning.
The “Metal Hurlant” Revival Has Already Attracted Some Of The Biggest Names In Sci-Fi Film & Comics For Its Relaunch
Writers Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Waid, & More; Artists Peach Momoko, Enki Bilal, & More
The supersized issues ofMetal Hurlantare set to be over-stuffed with tantalizing material, cover-to-cover – starting with the front covers, which will highlight contributions from some of comics' top-tier creators. Humanoids teased just some of what is to come:
Each issue of the magazine will have covers by international superstar artists, including Mœbius, Peach Momoko, Enki Bilal, and Jean-Michel Nicollet. The magazine will be packed with premier editorial features by independent journalists, such as cultural commentaries, personal essays, and interviews with top talents from across the arts including Ted Chiang, William Gibson, Alan Moore, and Denis Villeneuve.
Particularly intriguing are the interviewsMetal Hurlanthas lined up: readers will recognize Ted Chiang as the author of the story adapted into Denis Villeneuve’s filmArrival, while William Gibson wrote the seminal cyberpunk novelWilliam Gibson, and Alan Moore is, of course, a comic book master in exile.
In this sense,Metal Hurlantoffers a wide range of engaging content to a variety of readers;from genre fiction to meditations on craft and form from some of the best genre artists of the past several decades,Metal Hurlantwill quickly establish itself as one of the preeminent literary publications for comic creatorsupon its return. At the time of the Kickstarter project’s launch,Metal Hurlant’sfunding goal has already been far-exceeded, showing there is palpable enthusiasm for the magazine’s comeback.
Publisher Humanoids Is Ready To Return As A Prominent Literary Outlet Among The Comic Industry Landscape
Metal HurlantReturnsIn Spring 2025
Humanoids Publisher Fabrice Giger put it best, describing the magazine this way:
Metal Hurlant’s ongoing mission is to enthrall readers, explore new paths, and publish bold and transgressive storytellers. 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 comics creators of all time to a new generation. 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.
With a rich history, and a thrilling future,Metal Hurlantwill be one of the break-out publications of 2025 and beyond.Fans of boundary-pushing, breathtaking sci-fi comics will have to back the Kickstarter, and prepare themselves to be taken on a wild ride by the new incarnation of the anthologywhen it debuts in the spring of next year. PublisherHumanoidsknows well that magazine can have an essential place in the contemporary comic book landscape, and they are prepared to unleash it on the world once more.
Source:Metal Hurlantis available to back on Kickstarter now
