After months of hushed rumors and backroom whispers, Heavy Metal International has announced the official relaunch of its eponymously-titled flagship publication, Heavy Metal magazine, in the new year!

With a rich history dating back to 1977, Heavy Metal began by featuring work by greats such as Enki Bilal, Richard Corben, Guido Crepax, Philippe Druillet, Caza, Jean-Claude Forest, Jean “Moebius” Giraud, and Milo Manara.

Since that time, the magazine has passed through many hands, and faced many challenges, but is returning with a dedicated new team led by Chief Executive Officer Marshall Lees.

Returning to the helm, this time as Editor-in-Chief, is Frank Forte. With over 30 years of publishing experience running Asylum Press, as well as serving with Heavy Metal for parts of the last two decades, Frank brings a wealth of knowledge and connections to the role.

Joining Frank are two new faces to Heavy Metal, though definitely not strangers to the comics industry or brand, as they’ve been vocal proponents for many years.

Dave Kelly has previously enjoyed success with the Ringo-nominated Tales of the Night Watchman through his own So What? Press, but his love of Heavy Metal dates back over twenty years to his high school days, when he began buying back issues at used bookstores across his native Kansas. He joins the team now as Executive Editor.

And former Eisner Award-winning retailer, Chris Thompson—who helped to launch the Statix Press line and other initiatives with Titan Comics before doing the same with other publishers—rounds out the oversight team as Editorial Manager. He read his first issue of Heavy Metal at far too young an age in 1985, thanks to a wayward but influential friend, and immediately became a Philippe Druillet devotee, whom he eventually met and spent time with in his Paris studio.

The super-sized Issue 1 is already well underway, and the first round of pre-orders will be taken via Kickstarter early next month where fans will be able to grab some amazing limited-edition covers and collectibles. With a stellar line up of writers and artists contributing including mind-blowing new cover art from the incredible Greg Hildebrandt, this is set to be the best Heavy Metal magazine in many, many years!

Further details about the triumphant return of Heavy Metal will be shared over the coming weeks.