Heavy Metal #269

bein' my lazy self again, slow on the draw with the review, but here goes .....

Cover by Eben - 7 - I didn't see it credited in the mag anywhere, but it's noted on the HM website.  An unenergetic pose and composition is improved by the nicely executed coloring, and she's got a rather imaginative getup.

an ad for TMNT vinyl banks?  puh-leeeze

Animal'z by Bilal - 8 - more exposition, only a little action, the cast of characters makes a feeble trek across the wasteland.  Now it might as well be an art film.  It says "concluded next issue!"  I can only imagine that it will remain mysterious.

Bul & Bal by Marko Djesta - 7 -  a fairly imaginative story of two reptilian space pilots is greatly enhanced by a parallel story of two kids playing in wartime Croatia.  Lively art and storytelling with a not-too-heavyhanded message, nice.

Gallery by Renee Robyn - 7 - a handful of enhanced photos with a fantasy bent.  Often too dark to see their detail on the pages, but many are quite lovely.

The Age by Tayyar Ozkan - 5 - not very interesting but it appears he's getting better at his coloring technique.

Apocalypse Chef by Chris Beukes, Greig Cameron, and Clyde Beech - 6 - a reality cooking show in a post-apocalyptic war zone.  Silly but fun.

E.V.A. by Marco Turini - 8 - still fantastic to look at, it attempts to wrap up the story with some success and some stones yet unturned, it still reminds me of HM days long past.  what fun.

and ad for HM Warriors video slot game?  I saw the announcement a while back, I still think this is really dumb, and now I see it's not available in the US.  seems pointless, and not even fun.

TK-47 by Spyros Verykios - 8 - another apparently painted art story with wonderful telling and mystery.  People are turning into giant bugs.  I hope we keep seeing more from Mr Verykios.

Into the After by Nate Furman - 6 - a digitally manipulated photo story.  Somewhat cool to look at, it's so mysterious that I can't even tell what the story is supposed to be.

Artist's Studio by Jeff Brennan - 6 - digital art including a bunch of blue robot girls, I bet he likes Tron.

Lena Gets a Hobby by Jurgen Speh - 6 - there's a bit of fun to be had, wacky sadistic chick takes up arts and crafts.  The comic art is pretty good, the story wasn't all that interesting to me.  This appears to be part of a series, from Germany, from '95(?).

I Was Looking at Things by Tea Strazicic - 7 - a stylized art story, about loneliness in the big city.  It may not be for everyone, the art can be a bit messy in places, the story is rather simplistic, but I liked how it made an impression on me.  It's kind of introspective.

MI9:  Secret Agent Susan Coby by John Dakin and John M. Burns - 7 - a one page spy story, it's pretty simple, but I liked the old-school-looking art, reminded me of Gray Morrow or something from the old days, but it says 2014.

Back Cover by Renee Robyn - 7 - looks like it's from a video game.

A few nice things and a couple I really liked.  I've liked how the mag has been going lately.  I know it's going to change again before too long, but I hope it's for the better and keeps coming.  Apologies to the authors that I can't get the proper accents on their names.