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Second Printing Of Taarna, The Last Taarakian #1 To Debut Exclusively From Heavy Metal

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Graphic Policy Team

Heavy Metal has announced that they will be exclusively selling a second printing of Taarna, The Last Taarakian #1, the first issue of the bestselling series about the venerable science fiction, fantasy, and horror magazine’s flagship character from the 1981 animated film, brought to life by writer Stephanie Phillips and art by Patrick Zircher. This special edition will also have eight pages of additional content, including a special “Script to Final Page” feature with script excerpts by writer Stephanie Phillips.

The first printing of the first three issues of the hit series Taarna, The Last Taarakian have completely sold out. With overwhelming demand from retailers and fans, Heavy Metal will be releasing the second printing of Taarna, The Last Taarakian #1 to retailers exclusively as a direct order. This special printing will include a one-of-a-kind cover, illustrated by mega-popular cover artist Peach Momoko.

This August will mark the 40th anniversary of Taarna’s debut in the landmark Heavy Metal film. In Taarna, The Last Taarakian #1, writer Stephanie Phillips breathes powerful new life into the iconic and beloved character, bringing her into the modern era with a strong voice. In Phillips’ groundbreaking series, the flagship character returns in a new story of cosmic mystery, as she battles throughout the multiverse in her war against Kako, the embodiment of chaos. This is the tale of a millenia-old battle between godlike beings, with all sentient life caught in their path.

The second printing of Taarna, The Last Taarakian #1 will only be available exclusively from Heavy Metal and will not be carried by any other distributors, so please reach out to your Heavy Metal representative to place your order. Retailers can also use the signup form on Heavy Metal’s website.

Individual copies of the second printing of Taarna, The Last Taarakian #1 can also be purchased on the Heavy Metal shop page.

Taarna, The Last Taarakian #1 Peach Momoko cover

Comics

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Posted on January 26, 2021 by Graphic Policy Team

Wednesdays (and now Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in

Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.

Batman: Black & White #2 (DC Comics) – Amazing art made the first issue stand out and we’re hoping for more of the same with the second.

Dead End Kids: The Suburban Job #1 (Source Point Press) – Three friends are brought back together when they find themselves in the crosshairs of a local drug dealer.

The Eighth Immortal #1 (Source Point Press) – And immortal must choose between protecting humanity and her own sanity.

I Survived Vol. 3 Nazi Invasion 1944 (Graphix) – In a Jewish ghetto, Max Rosen and his sister, Zena, struggle to live after their father is taken away by the Nazis.

Kaiju Score #3 (AfterShock) – Things are of course going sideways when it comes to the heist and it’s thankfully entertaining watching things go wrong.

Loot #1 (Scout Comics/Scoot) – Emily D. Jackson works for her newly retired mom in loss prevention at a big box superstore by day and turns her passion for theft into part-time treasure hunting on the side.

Nailbiter Returns #9 (Image Comics) – The series has been a fantastic “horror sequel” taking all of the tropes and expectations of being one and mixing it up. If you’re a fan of the genre, the series as a whole is worth checking out.

The Other History of the DC Universe #2 (DC Comics/DC Black Label) – The first issue was jaw dropping and the second has us just as impressed. This series continues to look at the history of DC through the perspective of its minority characters. This issue, the Teen Titans.

Stake #1 (Scout Comics) – As a member of the Vampire Bounty Hunter Union, and with the help of her ancient vampiric mentor Jessamy, Angel’s out to track down the bloodthirsty monsters who destroyed her life.

Strange Academy #7 (Marvel) – The series has been a lot of fun with fantastic artwork. The danger is increasing now as we’re past the introduction and this is becoming one of Marvel’s best regular releases.

Taarna #2 (Heavy Metal) – The first issue delivered a cosmic trippy story and we’re excited to see where this series goes from here. With solid visuals and grand scope, the series feels like an homage to Jack Kirby.

Review: Taarna #1

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Brett

Taarna is a property I know so little of. Other than some images, it’s a character I haven’t read comics of or seen on the big/small screen. So, with Taarna #1, I thought it’d be a good opportunity to check it out and can say, it’s not what I was expecting at all.

Taarna is a character that I expected to be a female Conan. I went in to read the comic and was taken back when it wasn’t so much sword and sorcery as it was Kirby cosmic.

Writer Stephanie Phillips uses Taarna #1 as an introduction to the character delivering an epic scale of a story involving a dying sun threatening to engulf a planet. It’s the type of bombastic, over the top, imagery that you’d expect in a big budget film.

From a sun dying and people being saved, to a “god” falling from the sky, the story is an epic scale of a start. It cements Taarna as a powerful being. It also establishes her as one who works on a grand scale. Starvation of the people or lack of medicine aren’t pleas she hears. A world about to be engulfed in flames is. She’s aloof in a way creating an interesting character to explore and see more of.

The art by Patrick Zircher is solid. Zircher is joined by Jessica Kholinne on color and those pop from the page. There’s a great combination of the two. They capture both the tender moments of a people witnessing their death and that of an individual taking on a sun. On a marco and micro scale the visuals work and it works well switching between the two without it seeing a bit silly. Marshall Dillon handles the lettering. Dillon brings a flair of sword & sorcery fantasy to the comic with narration boxes whose lettering evokes that a bit. It adds a bit of classic fantasy to a cosmic adventure.

Taarna #1 isn’t what I expected and that’s not a bad thing at all. It fuses classic fantasy with futuristic cosmic adventures. It does it on a massive scale. It’s not the rogue warrior battling on the landscape that I’d expect. Instead it’s a deity like being protecting an entire planet and taking on a dying sun. I was off in those expectations. It’s an interesting start. It doesn’t reveal too much but gives you just enough to come back. The details and depth are traded for spectacle resulting in a first issue that makes me want to come back for more.

Story: Stephanie Phillips Art: Patrick Zircher
Color: Jessica Kholinne Letterer: Marshall Dillon
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Heavy Metal provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Heavy Metal

Graphic Policy’s Top Comic Picks this Week!

Posted on December 15, 2020 by Graphic Policy Team

Wednesdays (and now Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in

Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.

Black Cat #1 (Marvel) – The previous volume of the series was a lot of fun so that alone has us interested. The fact that it immediately ties into King in Black has us a bit nervous. But, crossing our fingers!

Blade Runner 2029 #1 (Titan Comics) – The cult series gets a new volume.

Canuck Beyond #1 (Chapterhouse Comics) – Captain Canuck has been a bit more of a wholesome superhero series and this new series throws the Canadian hero into another dimension!

The Expanse #1 (BOOM! Studios) – The television series comes to comics. The new limited series takes place between season 4 and 5 of the Amazon series.

Post Americana #1 (Image Comics) – The elite are who have made it to survival bunkers and there’s one person standing in the way of their attempt to subjugate the survivors.

Power Rangers #2 (BOOM! Studios) – If you’re new to the property, it’s still a great time to dive in! The first issue was a lot of fun with some great art.

RAI #10 (Valiant) – One of the best monthly comics coming out right now. It’s never too late to find out why!

Red X-Mas #1 (Scout Comics) – When Mrs. Claus dies in a tragic toy accident, Santa vows to make all those little brats pay!

Sam & His Talking Gun #1 (Scout Comics) – A tale of revenge. Brother vs. brother!

Second Coming: Only Begotten Son #1 (AHOY Comics) – The first volume of the series was fantastic mixing humor with enough to make you think. We’re hoping for more in this new volume.

Sh*tshow #1 (Scout Comics) – A mysterious force destroyed the world’s heroes and when it returns, one of the remaining must get sober to stop it.

Taarna #1 (Heavy Metal) – The classic Heavy Metal property is back!

Taskmaster #2 (Marvel) – The first issue was a lot of fun mixing action and humor.

We Live #3 (AfterShock) – One of the best new series of the year continues! Amazing art, great storytelling, this is one to catch up on if you haven’t.

Wolverine: Black, White, & Blood #2 (Marvel) – An anthology series from Marvel, the first issue was fantastic and we’re expecting more of the same.

Around the Tubes

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Graphic Policy Team

It’s new comic book day tomorrow! What’s everyone excited for? What do you plan on getting? Sound off in the comments below! While you’re waiting for that day to begin and new comics to be had, here’s some news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.

Sequart – An Open Letter to Guys – A must read.

Kotaku – Spider-Man, One Month Later – Who’s still playing?

Rocksound.tv – Andy Black Has Announced His New Album, And Accompanying Graphic Novel – Musicians doing comics isn’t new but there seems to be a lot of them lately.

CBLDF – Fun Home Victory in New Jersey! – Yay! Now, to not have to have these fights anymore.

IGN – Every Big Marvel Series Just Revealed – This does sound like an awesome line up of comics for 2019!

Reviews

Talking Comics – Rainbow Brite #1

Comics Bulletin – Taarna #3

Around the Tubes

Around the Tubes

Posted on January 15, 2018 by Graphic Policy Team

It’s a new week and we’re recovering from DC in D.C. which we’ll have lots of news out of coming in the next few days. While you wait, here’s some comic news and reviews from around the web in our morning roundup.