The long-running adult-oriented. sci-fi comics anthology, Heavy Metal has a new editor-in-chief: Grant Morrison!

In a surprise pre-Comic-Con announcement, Morrison revealed his plans to write comics and prose for Heavy Metal, in addition to editing the magazine and recruiting talent from the traditional American comic book industry. Morrison is best known for his work on All-Star Superman, Doom Patrol, Animal Man, and Justice League in addition to his creator-owned books We3, The Filth, and The Invisibles.

“We’re trying to bring back some of that ’70s punk energy of Heavy Metal, but update it and make it new again,” said Morrison. “The idea of immersing myself in the aesthetic of Heavy Metal is exciting. It’s going to change the clothes I wear, the way I create; it’s like a performance for me. Beyond that, just the idea of being able to curate stories, decide the direction of the magazine, and work with great talent and develop new talent is an exciting opportunity.”

Morrison also confirmed that he plans to spend the next year or two focusing his comic output on Heavy Metal. “I want to give my attention over to making something that’s unique and provocative, a bit more scary for people and challenging.”

 The first issue of Morrison’s Heavy Metal will hit in February 2016. That issue will also feature the Heavy Metal debut of the late Jack Kirby. The artwork drawn by Kirby for the abandoned adaptation of Roger Zelazny’s Lord of Light will be published in color for the first time. Kirby’s artwork from this project was famously used as part of a CIA plot to smuggle Americans out of Tehran during the Iranian Revolution, as depicted in the movie Argo.

Morrison will also be at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, July 9 at the Rewriting History: The Next Chapter of Heavy Metal panel in Room 7AB at 3pm alongside Heavy Metal publisher Kevin Eastman and co-CEO Jeff Krelitz as they lay out their plans for Heavy Metal’s future. Morrison is slated to sign autographs on Friday, July 10 at 2pm in a ticketed event at the Heavy Metal booth.

Comic fans, is the addition of Grant Morrison getting you excited for the new era of Heavy Metal? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

[HT: Entertainment Weekly]