METAL HURLANT

   French BEDSHEET-size, glossy colour COMIC-strip sf magazine launched Jan 1975 by Bernard Farkas, Jean-Pierre Dionnet (1947-) and illustrators Jean GIRAUD and Philippe DRUILLET; published by Les Humanoids Associees. Conceived as a high-quality showcase for the growing number of French sf artists, MH was an instant success, combining many aspects of sf narrative with particular stress on the erotic, the grotesque and the horrific in illustrated form. Although it was accused of putting emphasis on graphics rather than content, its influence was notable throughout Europe and North America, and translations of its contents appeared in similar magazines inthe USA (HEAVY METAL), Italy, Spain, Holland and elsewhere. Major contributors included Druillet, Giraud, Alexis (Dominique Valler (1946-1977)), Enki BILAL, Vaughn BODE, Caza (Philippe Cazaumayou (1941-)), Nicole Claveloux (1940-), Serge Clerc (1957-), Richard CORBEN, F'Murr (Richard Peyzaret (1946-)), Jean-Claude Forest (1930-), Jean-Claude Gal (1944-), Dominique He (1949-), Jacques Lob (1932-1990), Sergio Macedo (1951-), Nikita Mandryka (1940-), Francis Masse (1948-), Jean-Claude Mezieres (1938-), Rene Petillon (1945-) and Jacques Tardi (1946-). Quarterly from its inception, MH became a monthly with \#9 (Sep 1976), at which time it began to carry a warning forbidding sale to minors. In Oct 1976 it spawned a companion magazine devoted exclusively to female illustrators, Ah! Nana (9 issues, Oct 1976-Sep 1978). HM also published a series of Hors Serie (specials) on themes such as the END OF THE WORLD and H.P. LOVECRAFT. In 1985 Hachette bought the title andDionnet was replaced as editor by C. Fromental. With \#123 (Sep 1986) a new team took over, but by this time MH had declined in quality and popularity, and the new editor-in-chief C. Generot succeeded only in prolonging its life as a pale imitation of its early self. Its last issue was \#133 (Aug 1987).

   RT/MJ

   See also: ILLUSTRATION.