Métal Hurlant #9

This 2023 issue of the revived Métal Hurlant tackles one of science fiction's richest obsessions — utopias, dystopias, and the slippery promise of the future — with contributors including Olivier Vatine, Coline Serreau, Kim Stanley Robinson, Brouette Hurlante, Christian Durieux, Richard Guérineau, and Lolita Couturier. The cover sets the theme perfectly: a group of prehistoric humans, hunched and furred, trudge through a barren desert landscape toward a billboard advertising "Utopia — Prochainement" (Coming Soon), the gleaming futuristic city on the poster a sharp, wry contrast to their dusty surroundings. It's a sharp visual joke and a genuine provocation all at once, capturing the magazine's signature blend of wit and speculative unease.