Exhibit / October 18, 2016

Object Name: “Bring Heavy Metal Home With You” advertisement
Maker and Year: HM Communications, Inc., 1984
Object Type: Print advertisement
Image Source: The PorPor Books Blog
Description: (Richard McKenna)

By the mid-1980s, the outside world had to some extent caught up with the aesthetic of Heavy Metal, an American science fiction and fantasy comics magazine originally licensed from the French magazine Métal Hurlant beginning in 1977. Aided by films, TV series, role-playing and video games—and the more widespread use of recreational drugs—fantasy, science fiction, and comics were becoming increasingly visible components of mainstream culture. From its beginning as little more than an American translation of the French title, Heavy Metal gradually evolved into its own creature, featuring more original writing and comics, including those of Frank Thorne, creator of the characters Red Sonja (for Marvel Comics) and Ghita of Alizarr, the latter seen here leveling a challenging gaze at “Andrew B” as part of a subscription campaign. At the time the advertisement appeared, Heavy Metal was attempting to garner a wider audience, offering more approachable (and more salacious) illustrated stories as well as features on music videos and other popular media of the day.