Métal Hurlant Returns to Form with "Vengeance"

Métal Hurlant is back, reclaiming its place as a must-read for comic fans. For its latest issue, the iconic magazine delves into the theme of Vengeance.

A Legendary Continuation

Métal Hurlant masterfully blends graphic short stories with cultural commentary. Originally known for its groundbreaking science fiction in the 1970s, the magazine has also explored horror, as seen in its excellent issue on Lovecraft. In this issue, Cthulhu hilariously checks into a high-altitude retreat to heal his lungs. Shifting genres, the latest issue focuses on noir, with stories centered around vengeance. The editor-in-chief contributes a supernatural maritime road trip about revenge, but the issue is not all about violence. Writers Kevin Sullivan and Simon Leclerc offer a moving story about forgiveness.

The theme of vengeance extends to its articles. Yal Sadat builds on his book about vigilante films to explore the origins and evolution of the genre. Director Gaspar Noé revisits his controversial film Irréversible, though without critically examining its depiction of violence and sexual assault. In contrast, the magazine’s "video club" section highlights three masterpieces of genre cinema: Ms. 45 by Abel Ferrara, The Last House on the Left by Wes Craven, and Female Prisoner Scorpion by Shun’ya Ito.

Métal Hurlant also journeys through time. Stories like Hine-nui-te-pō take place in a climate-ravaged future where humanity has become both pathetic and dangerous. Divine Vengeance, by Marvin Paval and Fabio Rutolo, transports readers to ancient Egypt, where a man seeks revenge against a god. Gwendal Bruce recreates 1950s America, where humans coexist with giant insects—or is this merely the twisted perception of a psychopath?

Lizards take revenge in Métal Hurlant.

A Bloody Métal Hurlant

In the preface, editor-in-chief Jerry Frissen humorously pays tribute to Otto Maddox, who offers advice between the comics. This time, Maddox shares his list of must-have items for the apocalypse: a tiki mug, a graphic opera, books, an axe, the legend of Bigfoot, and, more logically, the Bible—but illustrated by Robert Crumb.

Métal Hurlant also highlights emerging talent. Thomas Bidault Letellier crafts a gory medieval tale where a bullied child is approached by a court jester offering revenge. The story culminates in a shocking historical twist. This connection to modern creativity is evident in the links to Métal Hurlant’s spiritual successor, the 619 label. Akeussel, a contributor to Lowreader, also has a presence in this issue.

International creators are prominently featured. Lars Gabel, born in Greenland, contributes to the magazine, while Quebecois creators helm You Will Remember. American writer Matthew Allison sets his story Good Boy in Marseille, and American-Israeli artist Koren Shadmi pens a tale about a scientist seeking revenge on a CEO, exploring themes of masculinity and gender.

Legends of the magazine also make a return. Marc Caro, known for his cinematic collaboration with Jean-Pierre Jeunet, delivers a hallucinatory story with binary-coded dialogue and surreal visuals. His realistic artwork depicts body parts coagulating into grotesque forms.

The tone of the stories is more varied than the title suggests. Force de frappe offers dark satire, where a man’s family interrupts his remote work—piloting drones to attack Estonia. In Underground, Elie Huault crafts a horror story likely set in Ukraine. Simon Roy and Artyom Trakhanov depict an intergalactic merchant duo confronting violence after drunken escapades in a barbaric world. Meanwhile, Matthew Sheean veers off-theme with a philosophical narrative.

Additionally, there are fascinating off-topic features. In his interview, James Ellroy uses his latest book to settle old scores with Marilyn Monroe. Les enquêtes de Métal Hurlant examines the literary phenomenon of cozy crime, while Cyberpunk profiles a documentary about the late DJ Mehdi. The "Mange-disques" section reviews recent album releases, and filmmaker Xavier Dolan reflects on his career in a revealing interview.

Published by Les Humanoïdes Associés, the latest issue of Métal Hurlant delivers another enriching reading experience. These short comics are as bloody as they are entertaining, featuring contributions from prestigious and promising creators alike.