Métal Hurlant

Métal Hurlant
Cover for issue number 1 of Metal Hurlant
Publication information
Publisher	(vol. 1) Les Humanoïdes Associés (vol. 2) Humanoids Publishing/DC Comics
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Science fantasy
Publication date	(vol. 1) December 1974 - July 1987 (vol. 2) July 2002 - November/December 2004
Number of issues	(vol. 1) 45 (vol. 2) 14
Creative team
Creator(s)	Jean Giraud Philippe Druillet Jean-Pierre Dionnet Bernard Farkas

Métal Hurlant (literal translation: "Screaming Metal") is a French comics anthology of science fiction and horror comics stories, created in December 1974 by comics artists Jean Giraud (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. It was published in the United States by National Lampoon under the title Heavy Metal.

Overview

The magazine was originally released quarterly; it consisted of 68 pages, of which only 18 were in color. Contributors included Moebius and Druillet, and such characters Arzach and Lone Sloane. Later issues featured Richard Corben, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Enki Bilal, Caza, Serge Clerc, Alain Voss, Berni Wrightson, Milo Manara, Frank Margerin and many others.

It became bi-monthly with #7 and monthly with #9. Apart from comics, the magazine contained articles about science fiction books and movies, as well as music and videogame reviews. Metal Hurlant, emphasizing complex graphics, cinematic imagery and surreal storylines, was highly influential throughout the world as one of the first mature expressions of "adult" comic book making. It ceased publication in July 1987.

Metal 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-USA) 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.

Stories

Stories that were published in Métal Hurlant include:

• Arzach
• Exterminator 17
• Fragile by Stefano Raffaele
• Jeremiah
• Kraken
• Lone Sloane
• Milady 3000
• The Zombies That Ate the World by Guy Davis and Jerry Frissen

Adaptations

Some of their titles have gone on to be adapted into other media.

It was announced in early October 2007, that Stefano Raffaele's Fragile would be made into a film to be directed by Eduardo Rodriguez.^[1]

In October 2011, it was announced that a live-action TV series based on Métal Hurlant titled Métal Hurlant Chronicles went into production in France. A French-United Kingdom co-production, the series will consist of 24 half hour episodes to be shown over two seasons. Featured actors include Rutger Hauer, Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, Joe Flanigan and James Marsters.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ Zombie story for Rodriguez, Variety, October 3, 2007
2. ^ "Cast Announced For "Metal Hurlant" TV Series". darkhorizons.com. 2011-10-03. http://www.darkhorizons.com/news/21960/cast-announced-for-metal-hurlant-tv-series. 

References

• Métal Hurlant at BDoubliées (French)
• Métal Hurlant at Bedetheque (French)
• Métal Hurlant (Hors Série) at Bedetheque (French)
• Métal Hurlant (vol. 2, Humanoids) at the Grand Comics Database
• Métal Hurlant (vol. 2, DC) at the Grand Comics Database
• Métal Hurlant (vol. 2) at the Comic Book DB

External links

• Metal Hurlant at Humanoids Publishing
• 2002+ checklist