46 Iconic Heavy Metal Magazine Covers That Defined an Era in Pop Culture

Author image for John Summers
John Summers • Contributor
Aug 5, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

If you love sci-fi, fantasy, and horror (and between us, who doesn't?) and you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you probably already know about Heavy Metal Magazine, one of the most influential comic magazines of all time. This magazine featured several very distinct stories in each issue - each story presenting a unique art style in a completely different genre. I used to collect these Issues and had an entire section in my comic book collection dedicated to this wonderful magazine. 

One of the greatest things about the magazine has always been its covers. Each more wild, visually stunning and more detailed than the previous. These covers have become iconic in their own right, drawing readers into the fantastical worlds within and setting a high standard for visual storytelling in the industry. In this list, Imgur Users astrotoursorg and Yakamuli444 have curated several of their (and our) favorite Heavy Metal covers of all time.

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  • 01
    The adult illustrated fantasy magazine September 1981 $2.00 WPS 36587 HEAVY
    via astrotoursorg
  • 02
    The adult illustrated fantasy magazine May 1978 $1.50 HEAXY 36587
    via astrotoursorg
  • 03
    LES HUMANOIDES ASSOCIES Deve Communiceon August 1978 $1.50 ET IND 36587 The adult listrated fantalyapanzine
    via astrotoursorg
  • 04
    IRON MAIDEN: SPECIAL PREVIEW METALOCALYPSE'S BRENDON SMALL & JOE SATRIANI EXCLUSIVE STORY GERALD SCARFE INTERVIEW ISSUE 295 NO $9.99 ZARD MEGADETH AMON AMARTH Grimes High on fire CODE ORANGE Slipknot Judas Priest TENACIOUS D 92567 365876 MUSIC SPECIAL MASTODONC H09909 ROB SONIC HEAVYMETAL.COM THE WORLD'S GREATEST ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE
    via astrotoursorg
  • 05
    November 1982 HE $2.25 WPS 36587 MEAXE STARSTRUCK! Interview with MICHAEL MOORCOCK! Michael Kaluta's The adult illustrated fantasy
    via astrotoursorg
  • 06
    LES HUMANOIDES ASSOCIES June 1977 $1.50 The adult illustrated fantasy magazine from the people who bring you the National Lampoon. MEAXY TM MCFENUS
    via astrotoursorg
  • 07
    NEAKY M -1972 T
    via astrotoursorg
  • 08
    IND 36587 HEA The adult illustrated fantasy magazine September 1977 TM $1.50
    via astrotoursorg
  • 09
    HEAXY March 1983 $2.25 WPS 36587 The adult illustrated fantasy magazine
    via astrotoursorg
  • 10
    O LES HUMANOIDES ASSOCIES Distributed by HM Communications June 1979 E/ METAL The adult illustrated fantasy magazine $1.50 000 1890 0000
    via astrotoursorg
  • 11
    December 1980 The adult illustrated fantasy magazine HEAKE $2.00 LES HUMANOIDES ASSOCIES Debunity
    via astrotoursorg
  • 12
    CORBEN MOEBIUS LIBERATORE BODE FREZZATO HICKMAN MEDNEY PHILLIPS COLUMBUS SPROUSE ERWIN E NET of Star SPECIAL #300 $9.99 HEAVY METAL.COM 092567 365876 30021>>
    via astrotoursorg
  • 13
    0989 365871 The adult illustrated fantasy magazine IND 36587 February 1979 $1.50
    via astrotoursorg
  • 14
    ALL-NEW STORIES COMPLETE IN THIS ISSUE MEAXY The adult illustrated fantasy magazine. Now a quarterly! Winter 1986 $3.95 Distributed by Communications, Inc Retailer, display until February 13, 1986 42-page book-length strip in color Daughters of the Night Collector's Item
    via astrotoursorg
  • 15
    December 1978 $1.50 HEAXY The adult illustrated fantasy magazine IND 36587
    via astrotoursorg
  • 16
    September 1979 $1.50 HEAXE The adult illatalantary magazine Zhan mycomicshop
    via astrotoursorg
  • 17
    0 74470 36587 THE ILLUSTRATED FANTASY MAGAZINE GIMENEZ 91> CROSSROADS SPECIAL SPRING 1999 U.S. $4.95 CAN $5.95 WPS 36587
    via astrotoursorg
  • 18
    FEATURING SINKHA: ATMOSPHERE AND PLANET OF THE CLOUDS SUMMER 2010 A TA FORBIDDEN SPECIAL! WORLD'S FOREMOST ADULT ILLUSTRATED FANTASY MAGAZINE ERRY 70992 36587 08
    via astrotoursorg
  • 19
    CORBEN WHELAN MANNION BIVENS CAZA FETHEROLF JOK SINGH BOYLE REPPION MOMOKO #299 $9.99 THE WORLD'S RATED IMAGAZINE 92567 365876 HEAVY METAL.COM 5 3> MYTHICAL WORLDS SPECIAL
    via astrotoursorg
  • 20
    LES HUMANOIDES ASSOCIES Distributed by HM Communications The adult illustrated fantasy magazin July 1979
    via astrotoursorg
  • 21
    Rich MEAXY ET The adult illustrated fantasy magazine
    via astrotoursorg
  • 22
    03 > RETAILER: DISPLAY UNTIL MARCH 10, 1997 FREZZATO'S 44 PAGE EPIC! MARCH 1997 U.S. $4.50 CAN $4.95 HEAVE MEX THE ILLUSTRATED FANTASY MAGAZINE WPS 36587
    via astrotoursorg
  • 23
    0 The adult illustrated fantasy magazine July 1980 $2.00 HEAVY IND 36587 طلاتر
    via astrotoursorg
  • 24
    DIRECT HACSA JNX_SCANZ 12 December 1982 HEAXY The adult illustrated fantasy magazine $2.25 WPS 36587
    via astrotoursorg
  • 25
    Sexploitation Abounds in NO RAGINATION MEAX
    via Yakamuli444
  • 26
    The adult illustrated fantasy magazine HEAXE December 1980 KILLE WPS 36587 $2.00 LES HUMANOIDES ASSOCIES Distributed by HM Communications Inc.
    via Yakamuli444
  • 27
    EA WPS 36587 April 1981 $2.00 The adult illustrated fantasy magazine
    via Yakamuli444
  • 28
    June 1978 $1.50 HEAXY IND 36587 llustrated fantasy magazine
    via Yakamuli444
  • 29
    LES HUMANOIDES ASSOCIES November 1980 $2.00 WPS The adult illustrated fantasy magazine HEAVY mycomicshop
    via Yakamuli444
  • 30
    November 1981 $2.00 WPS 36587 The HEAXY== adult illustrated fantasy magazine HM
    via Yakamuli444
  • 31
    FEATURING THE GRAPHIC NOVEL FELICIDAD: THE OTHER WORLD NOVEMBER 2008 HEAVY М. WPS 36587 RETAILER: DISPLAY UNTIL OCTOBER 20, 2008 NOVEMBER 2008 $6.99 11> 14302 36587 3 WORLD'S FOREMOST ADULT ILLUSTRATED FANTASY MAGAZINE
    via Yakamuli444
  • 32
    CORBEN! BURTON & CYB! EA T THE ILLUSTRATED 1994 $3.95 CAN $4.50
    via Yakamuli444
  • 33
    EA MET THE MATURE ILLUSTRATED FANTASY MAGAZINE MARCH 2000 U.S. $4.95 CAN $5.95 76470 36587 TIM & GREG HILDEBRANDT
    via Yakamuli444
  • 34
    LES HUMANOIDES ASSOCIES December 1978 $1.50 HEAXY The adult illustrated fantasy magazine IND 36587 mycomicshop
    via Yakamuli444
  • 35
    FEATURING BILAL, BENNATO, HAYES, DIAZ, RIVERA, CARDOSELLI AND MORE! HEAV ME THE WORLD'S GREATEST ILLUSTRATED MA $263 WPS36587 ISSUE #263 4 012345 678901 $7.95 08
    via Yakamuli444
  • 36
    MEAM METAL 2000
    via Yakamuli444
  • 37
    FEATURING: BILAL HARMAN, MARTINEZ, TURINI, LLARENA, COBOS, PACE, KRANK AND MANY MORE! #268 BEAXE THE WORLD'S GREATEST ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE ISSUE #258 $7.95 70992 36587 04>
    via Yakamuli444
  • 38
    SUDDENLY.. going places Picture yourself TRUE TALE OF THE DEVIL IN A WOMANS BODI I NEVER HAD IN MY LIFE SO MUCH What kind of a party is YOU'LL SHA EVERY KISS EVERY TEA Aliens, ousing e-mail t KEEP THINGS OUT OF YOUR MOUTH Taste Delight MODS TO THE LEFT seduce Earth- women ITH A SIDE When the bar closes the action may begins! THE MARK WHAT I LOTE ABOUT TONIGHT Friend You riskGRANT MORRISON EXTRA LENGT OVENTURE OF THE MOON COMICE IS THE WAY THEY ALLOW YOU TO GIRLS EAS LIKE FREEDOM. TALE ABOUT BIG
    via Yakamuli444
  • 39
    76670 36587 037 HEAV METAL BLACK DEKER: YELLOW MOON MARCH 1998 U.S. $4.95 THE ILLUSTRATED FANTASY MAGAZINE WPS 36587 mycomicshop CAN $5.50
    via Yakamuli444
  • 40
    The adult illustrated fantasy magazine MEAXY April 1983 R $2.00 Distributed by H Communications, Inc.
    via Yakamuli444
  • 41
    LES HUMANOIDES ASSOCIES Distributed by HM Communications, The adult illustrated fantasy magazine EAV ΕΤΑΙ March 1979 IND 36587 $1.50 હા SL
    via Yakamuli444
  • 42
    FEATURING: SKINNER, MANNION, LARTMAN, FORTE, BROAD, GUCUNJA, PAULOS, HARRIS, SONG AND MORE! THE WORLD'S GREATEST ILLU HORROR SPECIAL ISSUE 277 $7.95 US 70992 36587. #277
    via Yakamuli444
  • 43
    HEAXY #273 FEATURING: ENKI BILAL ERIKA LEWIS MARCO TURINI JOSEPH KELLY & MUCH MORE! THE WORLD'S GREATEST ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE ComicsPROD Comics Prolonal Pal Organisation BARRY GELLER & JACK KIRBY'S LORD OF LIGHT
    via Yakamuli444
  • 44
    FEATURING: WILKINS, NELSON, ELLIOTT, EASTMAN, MARCELLIUS, GRANT, HAWARD, GASTONNY & MORE! HEAXY "265 THE WORLD'S GREATEST ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINE SSUE 24 70992 36587 17.96 10
    via Yakamuli444
  • 45
    Fright Night's director Tom Holland interviewed! The adult illustrated fantasy magazine September 1985 $2.50 WPS 36587 70989 36587 09
    via Yakamuli444
  • 46
    FEATURING BORGIA #2 BY MANARA & JODOROWSKY JULY 2006 U.S. $5.99 CAN $6.99 HEAVY THE ADULT ILLUSTRATED FANTASY MAGAZINE 14302 36587
    via Yakamuli444

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