Got It Covered: Heavy Metal 300 with Agustin Alessio
Aug 20, 2020
by Troy-Jeffrey Allen
This month, Heavy Metal turns 300! Which almost certainly demands an explosive celebration rife with appearances by fan-favorite artists and fan-favorite characters. Expect cult icon Taarna, artist Richard Corben, a rare Moebius story, Vasator, Crunch, Stephanie Phillips, Justin Jordan, Blake Northcott, and Nelson the B52 Bomber. Just to name a few.
PREVIEWSworld could not let such a monstrous occassion go by without fanfare. So, we're turning "Got It Covered" -- our monthly article series -- into a three-parter. Each with a Heavy Metal 300 cover artist. Previously, we've talked with Claudia Iannicello about her Taarna cover. Now, Agustin Alession brings us a battle-ready Nelson for cover B.
Keep scrolling.
PREVIEWSworld: What was your first experience with Heavy Metal magazine?
Agustin Alessio: When I was a kid my father, who was also an illustrator, would take me to bookstores to buy any book that was distributed in our country, Argentina, that came from Spain. That is how I discovered the existence of Heavy Metal, Metal Hurlant, Zona 84, Creepy and some Toutain anthologies. He picked those over other books because of the artistic quality found in them. Everything that had art from Moebius, Corben, Manara, Liberatore etc.
PREVIEWSworld: That's interesting. Here in the U.S., we have to graduate from superheroes to European comics. You started there first.
Agustin: My father kind of hated superheroes so I grew up somehow oblivious to what we call mainstream comics. When I did try to read superhero books, I often thought that stories were mostly shallow, devoid of socio-political content – or in some cases, a totally pro-imperialistic tone – and I immediately returned to read and look at the legendary artists my father was so fond of.
PREVIEWSworld: How did you get involved with Heavy Metal 300?
Alessio: Through R.G. Llarena (Thanks R.G.!)
PREVIEWSworld: What classic Heavy Metal character does your work feature?
Alessio: Nelson, the undead pilot of Dan O'Bannon's segment in the 1981 Heavy Metal animation.
PREVIEWSworld: Any memories of watching the Heavy Metal movie?
Alessio: I was 14 the first time I saw the movie. I can say that this particular segment of the movie really perturbed me.
PREVIEWSworld: What were you trying to convey with this image?
Alessio: To give it an 80's movie poster vibe. I remember that, back in the 80s, I looked at the illustrations in the VHS boxes and I felt a combination of fear and fascination.
PREVIEWSworld: That makes a lot of sense when I look at the cover again. Like, a cross between a war movie poster and a creature feature. What medium / tools did you use on the cover?
Alessio: Pencil and watercolor on paper for line work and texture, then scanned the art and finished it in Photoshop
PREVIEWSworld: What was the challenge when putting together your cover?
Alessio: The greatest challenge was to realize my art was going to be featured on the cover of the same magazine where many of the legendary artists I admire so much were published and introduced to an American audience.
PREVIEWSworld: I think it's a phenomenal cover.
Alessio: I tried my best not to disappoint.
About Heavy Metal 300:
Classic and new comic book creators from all over the world join the magazine to celebrate its 300th issue!
Just to name some of our VIP guests: Moebius attends with a short story published in English for the first time as well as an interview, never released, done by acclaimed comics and music writer Geoff Bucher. Richard Corben, Liberatore, Vaughan Bode, Stephanie Phillips, Justin Jordan, Blake Northcott, Jeff Rebner, Matt Medney, David Erwin, Germán Ponce, and Duke Mighten who are joined by "New Hollywood 21st century" actor/writers Dylan Sprouse & Brendan Columbus.
And this party could not be complete without the fictional characters who attend it. Among the prominent fictional guests, we have confirmation of: Taarna, Nelson the B52 Bomber, Lucy the Australopithecus, the barbarians Vasator and Crunch, and the Dark Wing crew, among many others.
You are cordially invited to join the celebration!
Classic and new comic book creators from all over the world join the magazine to celebrate its 300th issue!
Just to name some of our VIP guests: Moebius attends with a short story published in English for the first time as well as an interview, never released, done by acclaimed comics and music writer Geoff Bucher. Richard Corben, Liberatore, Vaughan Bode, Stephanie Phillips, Justin Jordan, Blake Northcott, Jeff Rebner, Matt Medney, David Erwin, Germán Ponce, and Duke Mighten who are joined by "New Hollywood 21st century" actor/writers Dylan Sprouse & Brendan Columbus.
And this party could not be complete without the fictional characters who attend it. Among the prominent fictional guests, we have confirmation of: Taarna, Nelson the B52 Bomber, Lucy the Australopithecus, the barbarians Vasator and Crunch, and the Dark Wing crew, among many others.
You are cordially invited to join the celebration!
Classic and new comic book creators from all over the world join the magazine to celebrate its 300th issue!
Just to name some of our VIP guests: Moebius attends with a short story published in English for the first time as well as an interview, never released, done by acclaimed comics and music writer Geoff Bucher. Richard Corben, Liberatore, Vaughan Bode, Stephanie Phillips, Justin Jordan, Blake Northcott, Jeff Rebner, Matt Medney, David Erwin, Germán Ponce, and Duke Mighten who are joined by "New Hollywood 21st century" actor/writers Dylan Sprouse & Brendan Columbus.
And this party could not be complete without the fictional characters who attend it. Among the prominent fictional guests, we have confirmation of: Taarna, Nelson the B52 Bomber, Lucy the Australopithecus, the barbarians Vasator and Crunch, and the Dark Wing crew, among many others.
You are cordially invited to join the celebration!
Heavy Metal 300 is available on August 19th at your local comic shop.
For more on Heavy Metal 300, (JUN201153) keep an eye on PREVIEWSworld.com's Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.
****
Troy-Jeffrey Allen is the producer and co-host of PREVIEWSworld Weekly. His comics work includes BAMN, Fight of the Century, the Harvey Award-nominated District Comics, and the Ringo Awards-nominated Magic Bullet.
