With all the upheavals and changes in the industry, it’s hard to keep track of some of the best comics no one knows about. Especially when something comes along that is fantastically extraordinary, like Metal Hurlant from Humanoids, a French publisher that has been around since 1974. And, Metal Hurlant,their science fiction and anthology magazine, has also been published since 1974, with a few breaks along the way. In 2025, they relaunched the magazine, and I reviewed that first issue a couple of months ago.
If you’re a comic book fan with a taste for the surreal, the cerebral, and the visually explosive, Metal Hurlant #2 should beyour next essential read. The legendary French sci-fi anthology, reborn in English by Humanoids, continues its triumphant revival with a second issue that’s as daring and dazzling as its legacy demands.
This issue, subtitled Space Stares Back, is a 24-story odyssey through the infinite weirdness of the cosmos. It’s not just a comic—it’s a curated experience, a gallery of speculative fiction that challenges the boundaries of narrative and art. From the moment you crack open the cover—an Afif Khaled original that pulses with retro-futurist energy—you’re plunged into a universe where the rules of reality are rewritten with every turn of the page.
What makes the issue so compelling is its fusion of old-school legends and modern visionaries. Founding fathers Moebius and Philippe Druillet lend their iconic touch, while heavyweights like Jean-Claude Mézières and Enki Bilal remind us why European comics have long been the vanguard of sci-fi storytelling. But it’s the inclusion of contemporary creators—Mark Waid, Daisuke Ozasa, Matthew Sheean, and others—that gives this issue its electric pulse. Their contributions don’t just honor the past; they push the anthology into bold new territory.
Thematically, this issue is obsessed with space—not just as a setting, but as a metaphor for isolation, exploration, and existential dread. Stories range from sleek cyberpunk thrillers to abstract meditations on time and memory. One standout tale imagines a sentient starship grappling with the morality of its mission. Another plunges readers into a black hole of recursive realities, illustrated with dizzying precision.
And it’s not just fiction. Metal Hurlant #2 includes a fascinating interview with astrophysicist Dr. Erin Macdonald, science advisor to the Star Trek franchise. Her insights bridge the gap between speculative imagination and real-world science, grounding the issue’s cosmic themes in tangible wonder.
Visually, the magazine is a feast for the eyes. Each story boasts a distinct style—from hyper-detailed linework to painterly surrealism—yet all share a commitment to pushing the medium’s limits. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to read twice: once for the story, and again just to soak in the art.
For longtime fans, this issue is a love letter to the original Metal Hurlant, a reminder of its influence on everything from Blade Runner to Love, Death & Robots. For newcomers, it’s an invitation to explore one of the most visionary corners of comic history. In short: Metal Hurlant #2 is not just a comic—it’s a cosmic experience. Whether you’re a sci-fi junkie, an art aficionado, or just someone craving something genuinely different, this issue delivers. Don’t miss it.
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