hen Heavy Metal magazine was launched in the United States in 1977, it helped introduce American comics and science fiction audiences to the innovative illustrations of European artists like Enki Bilal, Philippe Druillet and Moebius. Some of the works presented in that influential publication also served as the basis for an animated Heavy Metal movie, and this 80-page book offers an advance look at the story and artwork for the long-awaited sequel to that 1981 flick.
Tentatively set for release next summer, the motion picture Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.2 relates the tale of a woman who seeks to find the criminal responsible for the destruction of her idyllic homeworld and the abduction of her younger sister. During her quest, she assumes the name F.A.K.K.2, an acronym which stands for Federation Assigned Ketogenic Killzone (with F.A.K.K.2 being considerably more dangerous than the basic F.A.K.K. designation), and ultimately ends up finding and fighting her enemy on an uncharted and deadly planet called The Melting Pot.
The F.A.K.K.2 book outlines the creation of this saga, showing--primarily through illustrations--how the narrative coalesced from two separate stories generated by Heavy Metal publisher and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman. Sketches and paintings of the various characters by artist Simon Bisley dominate the volume, although there is also a detailed outline of the plot and a 10-page section featuring photographs of actress Julie Strain, who serves as the model for the heroine in the film.
A full-length adult adventure
The original Heavy Metal movie offered audiences a series of related short stories combining adult themes and competent animation. This volume clearly illustrates that while the mature SF subject matter remains a prominent part of the production, many of the other elements associated with the initial film are significantly updated.
The book presents dozens of four-color, full-page renderings of Bisley's Frazetta-esque paintings and drawings, offering readers a marvelous indication of the huge scope and scale of the feature-length tale to come. It's fascinating to view the conceptual development of the protagonist, especially when readers learn that Eastman had trouble fully formulating her character until he met (and eventually married) Strain. Early sketches of other significant individuals in the story, such as the pirate Tyler and F.A.K.K.2's sister Kerrie, are also intriguing, as are nicely detailed images showing some of the sprawling scenes planned for the project.
Unlike similar "art of" tomes, F.A.K.K.2 concerns a work that is still in progress. As a result, some of the final filmmaking decisions have yet to be made, leaving readers with little insight into the reasoning behind many creative choices. The physical layout of the book is also rather puzzling, with explanatory captions that are occasionally unclear and a peculiar design component that at times reproduces text in unintelligible vertical columns. Nonetheless, devotees of both the original Heavy Metal movie and its namesake magazine, or aficionados of well-done speculative artwork, should find this volume entertaining and
worthwhile.
