Heavy Metal Entertainment has announced the ‘Metalverse’, a slate of live action and animated TV shows and films at the company’s ‘Forging the Future’ panel on Thursday afternoon at San Diego Comic Con. The publisher, which is celebrating its 45th anniversary, is known for being the home of the legendary illustrated Heavy Metal Magazine and the source for the cult classic animated film Heavy Metal (1981). Now the iconic company looks to the future with a lineup of film and television projects, under its studio division Heavy Metal Studios, as well as its upcoming publishing projects.

Heavy Metal’s President and Head of Studio Tommy Coriale presented a sizzle reel which features new live action test footage of Taarna, the fierce heroine originating from the 1981 Heavy Metal film, arming herself and fighting in battle, replicating the famed pose from the movie poster astride her pterodactyl Avis. The video also includes inspirational clips that bring to life a whole slate of adaptations from Heavy Metal’s vast IP library, including Taarna (by Stephanie Phillips and more), Cold Dead War (by George C. Romero and more), Dark Wing (by CEO Matthew Medney), Arena Mode (by Blake Northcott), The Adventures of Adrienne James (by Matthew Medney and Bruce Edwards), Sun Eater (by Dylan Sprouse and Joe Harris) The Rise (by George C. Romero), and Savage Circus (by Brendan Columbus).

At the panel, attendees were also treated to a sneak peek of the upcoming Heavy Metal animated television series Moon Lake, created by award-winning actor-writer Dan Fogler and based on his anthology graphic novel series. The horror comedy television series, currently in development and seeking distribution, is being co-produced by Heavy Metal, Fogler, Emmy and Peabody-winning

Executive Producer Daniel Powell, and Emmy Award-winning animation studio Bardel Entertainment, the studio behind hit shows like Rick and Morty and Teen Titans Go!. Moon Lake is a thirty-minute animated TV show hosted by the Man in the Moon, a farcical character reminiscent of iconic TV anthology hosts of the past who has been held captive by “moon-men” since childhood. He prevents these aliens from attacking Earth by keeping them endlessly entertained with shocking tales of gruesome horror and hilarity.

The ‘Forging the Future’ panel, which was moderated by Heavy Metal’s Associate Publisher & Chief Sales Officer Kris Longo and included Medney, Coriale, Heavy Metal’s Publisher and Chief Creative Overlord David Erwin, Executive Editor Joseph Illidge, Dan Fogler (Moon Lake, Brooklyn Gladiator, FishKill), and Blake Northcott (Arena Mode), also gave the audience a taste of the future of Heavy Metal publishing. Not only is Heavy Metal Magazine being published monthly for the first time in 35 years, but also the publisher is debuting exciting new series like this summer’s Entropy, written by Christopher Priest (Black Adam, Black Panther). A stunning sci-fi miniseries about what happens when someone gets ultimate power, Entropy is inspired by the likes of Green Lantern and Breaking Bad.

Executive Editor Joseph Illidge also teased a little about Fall Out Boy Joe Trohman and actor-comedian Brian Posehn’s The Axe horror-comedy series, Dan Schaffer’s cyberpunk series Wiremonkeys, Morgan Rosenblum and Øwen Rosenblum’s futuristic Fast & Furious-inspired series Ramgod, and an unsettling horror series about nightmarish deities, A Darker God. Heavy Metal also announced that it will be publishing a 30th anniversary book about Tripwire, the beloved British publication and site that covers all things pop culture. More on these fronts to come soon!

San Diego Comic Con attendees can visit Heavy Metal at Booth #1529 where the company is selling books and merchandise, including convention exclusives like special editions of best selling issues of the magazine and comics and new apparel celebrating the publisher’s 45th anniversary this year. Fans can also purchase tickets for the Heavy Metal Live Hornblower Boat Party, taking place this Saturday July 23rd at 7pm PST in San Diego Harbor. In partnership with iBoatNYC, the concert cruise will feature sets from the popular DJ Matt Steffanina and electronic artist Doll Machine. Ticket packages start at $34.96.

Book signings from Heavy Metal’s acclaimed talent will also take place at Booth #1529 with the following updated schedule:

Saturday, July 23rd Signings

• Gideon Kendall: 11:00am – 12:00pm (writer/artist: WHATZIT, Marley’s Ghost, MAD Magazine)
• Brendan Columbus: 1:00pm – 2:00pm (writer: Savage Circus)
• Dan Fogler: 2:00pm – 3:00pm (writer: Moon Lake, Brooklyn Gladiator, FishKill; actor: Fantastic Beasts, The Walking Dead, The Offer)
• Tehani Farr: 3:00pm – 4:00pm (artist: Heavy Metal Magazine)

Sunday, July 24th Signings

• Brendan Columbus: 11:00am – 12:00pm (writer: Savage Circus)
• Dan Fogler: 2:00pm – 3:00pm (writer: Moon Lake, Brooklyn Gladiator, FishKill; actor: Fantastic Beasts, The Walking Dead, The Offer)
• Matthew Medney: 4:00pm – 5:00pm (Heavy Metal’s CEO; writer: Beyond Kuiper, Dark Wing, The Adventures of Adrienne James)

HEAVY METAL’S PANEL SCHEDULE:

Saturday, July 23rd:

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Room: 28DE: Heavy Metal Launching New Voices
Heavy Metal has launched many careers in the worlds of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. Come meet some of the new faces launching into the world of comics. Learn what it takes to start a career in this industry. Moderated by GlobalComix’s Eric Tapper with the following panelists: Joseph Illidge (Heavy Metal’s Executive Editor; writer: MPLS Sound), Blake Northcott (writer: Arena Mode, Heavy Metal Magazine, Catwoman), Gideon Kendall (writer/artist: WHATZIT, Marley’s Ghost, MAD Magazine), Brendan Columbus (writer: Savage Circus), and Tehani Farr (artist: Heavy Metal Magazine).