Heavy Metal, one of the most iconic and influential anthology magazines in the comic world, is making a triumphant return to comic book stores. The excitement is palpable, especially after the overwhelming success of its crowdfunding campaign. The much-anticipated new volume of Heavy Metal will hit the shelves on Wednesday, April 30.

Ahead of its release, IGN is thrilled to offer an exclusive sneak peek at Heavy Metal #1. Dive into our slideshow gallery to catch a glimpse of the captivating pages from various stories that will grace the first issue, along with all the stunning covers that have been unveiled so far:

The new volume of Heavy Metal is a vibrant blend of seasoned creators and fresh talent, showcasing a diverse range of narratives. Fans will be delighted to see the return of the iconic character Taarna in new stories. Here's a comprehensive list of the stories and their creators that you can expect in the first issue:

• BUG - Enki Bilal
• Burton & Cyb - Antonio Segura & José Ortiz
• The Mercenary - Vicente Segrelles
• Valentina - Sergio Gerasi
• Sixella: The Last Roots - Janevsky
• Taarna: Rebirth - Leah Moore, John Reppion, Anna Morozova
• Cold Dead War: The Aftermath - Craig Wilson
• Grimaldi - Keron Grant, Josh Sky, Frank Forte
• Legends of Taarna: "Autophonomania" - Matt and Shawn Fillbach, Joseph Michael Linsner
• Gladiatrix - John Stanisci
• Evil Sex Bitch - Steve Mannion
• Lester, That Old Feeling - Fernando Dagnino
• The Bus - Paul Kirchner
• June 2050 - John Workman
• Millstone - Michael Conrad, Ilias Kyriazis
• Transcendestiny - David Quinn, Tim Vigil
• Cobot - Jonathan Wayshak
• All American - Jason Spell, Jok
• Kecksburg UFO - Jim Rugg
• They Dug Too Deep - Dwayne Harris
• Floyd the Giant Killer - Michael L. Peters
• GUNK - Curt Merlo
• Harry Canyon - Josh Sky, Frank Forte
• Zeke & Edsel - Frank Forte
• The Devil's Teeth - Lia Bozonelis, Agustin Alessio

Heavy Metal #1 is set for an impressive print run of 73,000 copies, marking it as the most extensively printed issue of the series in several decades. Priced at $14.99, this issue spans a hefty 232 pages, promising a substantial read for fans.

Mark your calendars: Heavy Metal #1 will be available in comic shops on April 30 and on newsstands starting May 13. Future issues are slated for quarterly release, with the publisher hinting at the possibility of a more frequent schedule should demand soar.

In other comic book news, Mike Mignola is set to revisit the Hellboy universe this summer, and we've had an insightful discussion with the creative team behind Spider-Man & Wolverine.