Perhaps some movement on the Heavy Metal Magazine front? Not a political movement, or a cultural movement, nor a bowel movement, though it might yet turn to shit.
Though Bleeding Cool seems to only have rumors, lately about overheard bar gossip and more, they've been closer to right than not, over the last couple years, during Heavy Metal Magazine's demise.
The facts of the Heavy Metal website indicating "under construction" now, and a note on the "shop" page expressing contrition and vows to do better, are indeed encouraging.
Snapshots from the pages, hoping they change to something more real:
I want to believe the rumors are true, that Heavy Metal Magazine will really rematerialize, but it's hard for me to imagine that HM can successfully regenerate, make right with the many who were ripped off, and produce a print magazine again. And that it won't suck. I worry about who really owns it, what their intentions are, and which direction(s) it will take. The miserable failures of the previous regime make me worry it will try and fail again to become another comic and merchandising franchise, even beyond my concerns that even the ill advised forays into digital properties and other grifts will not be avoided.
Worst, if they forgo print entirely. If Heavy Metal Magazine is not a print magazine, what's the point?
I doubt there will be another Kevin Eastman, who came with good intentions and lots of cash, to save Heavy Metal Magazine as before. For one thing, Kevin Eastman didn't wait until the mag was dead and gone. (I still think Mr Eastman should be credited with keeping Heavy Metal Magazine alive long past its expiration date.) Indeed, he came in and made it his own, for over 20 years. But it's too much for me to hope for a similar heroic effort this time around.
If in fact they do restart the magazine, and actually address wronged customers, and it's great, I will be very happy to be wrong. One can hope, I suppose.
So best wishes Mr Forte, and if you're really taking this on, thanks for trying.
