''Métal Hurlant'' (; literal translation: "Howling Metal," "Screaming Metal") is a French comics anthology of science fiction and horror comics stories. Originally created in 1974, the anthology ceased publication in 1987, but was revived between 2002 and 2004 in multilingual editions, and then again in 2020. Emphasizing complex graphics, cinematic imagery and surreal storylines, ''Métal Hurlant'' was highly influential throughout the world as one of the first mature expressions of "adult" comic book making. Apart from comics, the original ''Métal Hurlant'' contained articles about science fiction books and movies, as well as music and videogame reviews.

History

''Métal Hurlant'' was created in December 1974 by

comics artist A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comics illustrators/artists in that they produce both the literar ...

Jean Giraud Jean Henri Gaston Giraud (; 8 May 1938 – 10 March 2012) was a French artist, cartoonist, and writer who worked in the Franco-Belgian comics, Franco-Belgian ''bandes dessinées'' (BD) tradition. Giraud garnered worldwide acclaim predomin ...

(better known as ''Mœbius'') and Philippe Druillet together with journalist-writer Jean-Pierre Dionnet and financial director Bernard Farkas. The four were collectively known as " Les Humanoïdes Associés" (United Humanoids), which became the name of the publishing house releasing ''Métal Hurlant''. Content from ''Metal Hurlant'' was republished in English in the United States by National Lampoon under the title '' Heavy Metal''. It was published in Germany under the title ''Schwermetall''. The magazine was originally released quarterly; it consisted of 68 pages, of which only 16 were in colour. Contributors included Moebius and Druillet, depicting such characters as Arzach and Lone Sloane. Later issues featured Richard Corben,

Alejandro Jodorowsky Alejandro Jodorowsky Prullansky (; born 17 February 1929) is a Chilean and French Experimental film, avant-garde filmmaker. Known for his films ''El Topo'' (1970), ''The Holy Mountain (1973 film), The Holy Mountain'' (1973) and ''Santa Sangre'' ...

Enki Bilal Enki Bilal (born Enes Bilal; born 7 October 1951) is a French comic book creator and film director. Biography Early life Bilal was born in Belgrade, PR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia, to a Czech mother, Ana, who came to Belgrade as child from Karlovy ...

, Caza, Serge Clerc, Alain Voss, Berni Wrightson, Nicole Claveloux, Milo Manara, Frank Margerin, Masse, Chantal Montellier, and many others. The magazine went bankrupt in 1980 but managed to keep publishing. It became bi-monthly with issue #7 and monthly with #9. ''Métal Hurlant'' ceased publication in July 1987.

2002 revival

''Métal Hurlant'' began publishing again in July 2002 by Humanoids Publishing, with a French, English, Spanish and Portuguese version, under the French name. As a "two-headed", transatlantic (France-US) magazine, led by Fabrice Giger in Los Angeles, it published original short stories, sometimes related to existing or to be published comic books. Its aim was to discover young creators and promote the products from the publisher. This incarnation of the magazine ceased publication with issue #14, dated November/December 2004.

2021 revival

Vincent Bernière launched ''Metal Hurlant'' for 2021. This third volume of ''Métal Hurlant'' was launched via

crowdfunding Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and Alternative Finance, alternative finance, to fund projects "withou ...

, on the KissKissBankBank platform. The first issue was published 29 September, with four issues a year (two with new content and two with classic content) planned. The third issue was published in March 2022, and included the story "Aquarium" by French author Léo Quievreux. A Polish edition of the relaunched magazine, overlapping with reprints of classic issues, premiered in December 2021.

2025 revival

In November 2024, Humanoids announced that they would be relaunching an English version of the magazine, and began a

Kickstarter Kickstarter, PBC is an American Benefit corporation, public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York City, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative project ...

campaign for the first issue on November 13, 2024. The magazine returned to print in June 2025 as a quarterly edition.

Stories

Stories that were published in the original ''Métal Hurlant'' include: * '' Arzach'' * '' Exterminator 17'' * ''Fragile'' by Stefano Raffaele * ''

Jeremiah Jeremiah ( – ), also called Jeremias, was one of the major prophets of the Hebrew Bible. According to Jewish tradition, Jeremiah authored the Book of Jeremiah, book that bears his name, the Books of Kings, and the Book of Lamentations, with t ...

'' * '' Lone Sloane'' * '' Milady 3000'' * '' The Zombies That Ate the World'' by Guy Davis and Jerry Frissen * '' The Long Tomorrow'' by Dan O'Bannon and

* ''1996'' by Chantal Montellier

Adaptations

Some of their titles have gone on to be adapted into other media. In November 2009, a film based on Stefano Raffaele's ''Fragile'' was in development. A live-action TV series based on ''Métal Hurlant'' titled '' Métal Hurlant Chronicles'' was released in France in 2012–2014. A French-United Kingdom co-production, the series consists of 12 half-hour episodes over two seasons. Featured actors include

Rutger Hauer Rutger Oelsen Hauer (; 23 January 1944 – 19 July 2019) was a Dutch actor, with a career that spanned over 170 roles across nearly 50 years, beginning in 1969. In 1999, he was named by the Dutch public as the Best Dutch Actor of the Century. H ...

, Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, Karl E. Landler, Joe Flanigan, David Belle, Matt Mullins, and

James Marsters James Wesley Marsters (born August 20, 1962) is an American actor, musician, singer, comic book writer, and audiobook narrator. He is best known for his role as the British punk vampire Spike in The WB series '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' and ...

. In the United States, the series began airing on the Syfy Channel on 14 April 2014.

Notes

References

''Métal Hurlant''
at BDoubliées

at Bedetheque

at Bedetheque * * *

External links

Metal Hurlant
at Humanoids Publishing

Les Humanoïdes Associés
Publisher of new issues (2023+) of Métal Hurlant and other graphic novels. {{DEFAULTSORT:Metal hurlant 1974 establishments in France Comics magazines published in France French science fiction Magazines established in 1974 Magazines disestablished in 1987 Magazines established in 2002 Magazines disestablished in 2004 1974 comics debuts 1987 comics endings 2002 comics debuts 2004 comics endings Defunct magazines published in France Defunct comics Magazines about comics Comics adapted into television series Monthly magazines published in France French-language magazines