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METAL HURLANT #1-3
Recommended (8/10)
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Humanoids Publishing
Contributing Writers: Alexandro Jodorowsky, Kurt Busiek, Portela, Geoff Johns, Jim Alexander, Jean-Pierre Dionnet
Contributing Artists: Marc Riou & Mark Vigouroux,Gerald Parel,Das Pastoras, Fred Beltran, Christian Gossett & Snakebite, Igor Baranko,Pascal Alixe & Dan Brown, J.H. Williams III & Dave Stewart
Contributing Writer/Artists: Pierre Wazem
Translations: Justin Kelly & Kirk Anderson
Price: $3.95 US/$6.00 CAN |
I haven't been a huge fan of anthologies for the most part, but as of late, I'm discovering a lot to like in the newest crop. Now, joining the American magazine style of Comiculture and the big fat manga package that is Japan's Raijin is the European style of Metal Hurlant, the magazine that inspired Heavy Metal and which produces a variety of genres and styles in each issue. Like all anthologies, there's a certain hit and miss ratio, and there are certainly features in these first three issues that didn't click with me. However, seeing American writers like Geoff Johns or Kurt Busiek working with European artists on short subjects was a lot of fun, and Alexandro Jodorowsky's two ongoing tales show off the scope of his imagination, almost always serving as a high point of each issue.
The heart of Metal Hurlant is two stories from Alexandro Jodorowsky which serve as the constant amongst the ever-shifting stories from additional contributors. Probably my favorite is the story that follows the "Screaming Metal" that is a translation of the book's name, as it allows Jodorowsky to explore a variety of different stories and genres while having a central concept that ties them together. Whether it's the science-fiction/environmental cautionary tale that reveals the origin of the "Screaming Metal," the high fantasy story of Prince Althor in issue #2 or the story of a vampirologist and the legendary "last Dracula" in #3, they are all some of my favorite stories in the book. I'm reminded somewhat of the Lok-Nar plot device that drove the Heavy Metal movie, as the flight of the doomed core of a dead world serves as the introductory element to various worlds and characters. As a bonus, these feature some fantastic artwork from different contributors; my favorite was probably Igor Baranko's work on "The Invasion," although J.H. Williams's work on "Eucharist Son" was a close second, and the stylized art of "The Word" in issue one was enjoyable as well.
 While the "Screaming Metal" tales move in time and space, Jodorowsky's other continuing feature is "Megalex" with artist Fred Beltran, and it is a continuing serial. This one is reminiscent of Jodorowsky's work on Metabarons or Incal, set in a dark and depraved future that showcases the worst of corporate, governmental and social corruption. The stories of the willfully depraved technicians in the first issue is particularly effective, although the sultry female "drill sergeant" who greets the police in issue #3 is a good indicator of the world as well. The star of this feature, however, is Beltran's artwork, created in a 3-D rendered world that is full of stunning realism but also expresses the twisted sensibilities of Jodorowsky's world.
Unfortunately, the third continuing feature of the book by Pierre Wazem doesn't appeal to my sensibilities as much. Wazem's slice-of-life meanderings with a surreal bent are often too strange or distant for me, and I find myself unable to really relate to the stories. The artwork is beautiful, particularly as he moves on in the second issue and beyond to a full-color approach, and I'm reminded of the deceptively simple style of Andi Watson, and I can see the logic of including a totally different genre to give the book a better mix, but the feature just doesn't grab me. The same can be said for Beltran's pinups, which are well done but don't have much substance or even enough flashy design sense to grab my attention.
 While Jodorowksy's features are a great draw, though, my favorite features are probably the ones that don't repeat from issue to issue. Busiek's werewolf story is a clever use of technology to give an age-old monster tale a neat twist, Johns and Team Red Star tell a gripping story of domination and injustice that comes with a great twist ending as well and Portela and Das Pastoras's story of a tribal warrior who dares to defy his god is probably my favorite story across all three issues. There are disappointments in these stories as well, of course, notably an unfocused and disjointed style that kills the interesting premise of "MPD," but overall, the guest stars are worthy of being called special guest contributors.
My usual complaints about Humanoids censoring the nudity to avoid offending oversensitive American readers who probably aren't reading in the first place apply, and the anthology format means a certain unavoidable ratio of hit and miss stories, but Metal Hurlant strikes me as a pretty solid package. The artwork throughout is simply gorgeous, and many of the stories rival some of the best available in the market right now.
Some of these comic books were not among this week's new releases.
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