Incoming! ‘Megadeth: Death By Design’ Behemoth [20-Page Preview]

The time has come, fans — on Wednesday, August 14, Megadeth: Death by Design hits comics shops everywhere.

An Occasion Worth Celebrating

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the formation of the pioneering thrash-metal band Megadeth, and the group is celebrating the milestone with the release of the 35-track 3-CD collection Warheads on Foreheads. We at Heavy Metal are honored to share in this moment with Megadeth: Death by Design, a 350-page anthology of comic stories inspired by all 35 songs from Warheads on Foreheads. The collection is presented in a 12.25″ x 12.25″ prestige “album” format. The stories are written and illustrated by top talent from the comics, film, television and music world. Carefully curated by Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine and Heavy Metal, Megadeth: Death by Design is a powerful book that gives both insight and understanding into the universe of Megadeth and its mascot, Vic Rattlehead.

Please note that August 14 is the on-sale date for comics shops only. It will be another two weeks before Megadeth: Death by Design is available at Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million. Entertainment chain FYE will also have an edition, which will be out in the second week of September

The book is available in two premium editions — one that comes with a clear vinyl 4-LP pressing of Warheads on Foreheads, and another that includes the four Warheads on Foreheads LPs and is signed by Dave Mustaine.

Killer Talent

The pool of talent we’ve assembled for Megadeth: Death by Design is truly astounding. John Gallagher provides the face-melting cover art. Brendan Small (creator of Metalocalypse) teams with Belen Ortega (Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) for “Hangar 18.” Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them) writes an apocalyptic tale insanely drawn by Andy Belanger (Southern Cross) for “Rattlehead.” An A-list talent pool rounds out the roster featuring Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash), Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night), Brian Wood (DMZ), Justin Jordan and John Bivens (Spread), Leah Moore and John Reppion (Judge Dredd), Joe Keatinge (Popgun), Christine Larsen (Holy Diver), Frazer Irving (Annihilator) and more than 50 other talented creators.

The Roster: Song Titles and Writer/Artist Combos

“Rattlehead” by Dan Fogler & Andy Belanger • “Mechanix” by Ben Meares & DAF • “Killing Is My Business” by Alex de Campi & Mack Chater • “The Conjuring” by Llexi Leon & Kevin West • “Wake Up Dead” by Tony Lee & Gyula Nemeth • “Devils Island” by Sebastian Girmer & Esau Escorza • “Good Mourning / Black Friday” by Leah Moore, John Reppion & Ben Templesmith • “Set The World Afire” by Diego Agrimbau & Agustín Alessio • “In My Darkest Hour” by David Baille & Conor Boyle • “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” by Tim Seeley & Ignacio Calero • “Hangar 18” by Brendon Small & Belén Ortega • “Tornado Of Souls” by Patrick Kindlon & Marco Turini • “Rust In Peace…Polaris” by Hector Lima & Garrie Gastonny • “Five Magics” by Johnathan LaMantia • “Take No Prisoners” by ML Miller & Carlos Granda • “Skin O’ My Teeth” by PM Buchan & John Pearson • “Angry Again” by Homero Rios & Anton Kokarev • “Symphony Of Destruction” by Justin Jordan & John Bivens • “Sweating Bullets” by Sean Lewis & Axel Medellin • “A Tout Le Monde” by Llexi Leon & Richard Friend • “Train Of Consequences” by James Harvey • “Reckoning Day” by Jeff Burandt & Jason Gongour • “Trust” by Frazer Irving • “She-Wolf” by Curtis Pires & Antonio Fuso • “Wanderlust” by Abraham Martínez & Patricio Delpeche • “Dread and the Fugitive Mind” by Jonathan Land & Andrea Mutti • “Blackmail The Universe” by Haylar García & Abel • “Washington Is Next!” by Haylar García & Kevin Enhart • “Head Crusher” by R.G. Llarena & Danijel Zezelj • “Public Enemy No. 1” by John Ostrander & Miguel Mora • “Kingmaker” by Brian Wood, Marco Perugini & Jeromy Cox • “The Threat Is Real” by Joe Keatinge & Anand Radhakrishnan • “Poisonous Shadows” by Chistine Larsen • “Death From Within” by Alex de Campi & Wilfredo Torres • “Dystopia” by David Baille & Simeon Aston •

‘Megadeth: Death By Design’ cover by John Gallagher

A Labor Of Love All Around

“I have always fantasized about Megadeth doing something this gloriously electrifying and gruesome,” Mustaine says. “I hope everyone will enjoy the graphic novel as much as I enjoyed working with Heavy Metal to put it together for you.”

“Since I was old enough to buy records, Megadeth has been one of my favorite bands, not only for the great storytelling in the music, but the world building imagery on the album covers,” adds Heavy Metal CEO Jeff Krelitz. “This opportunity to meld the two world together and tell stories inspired by their songs is a privilege that we are excited to present to the fans.”

‘Rattlehead’ by Dan Fogler & Andy Belanger

‘The Conjuring’ by Llexi Leon & Kevin West

‘Wake Up Dead’ by Tony Lee & Gyula Nemeth

‘Devils Island’ by Sebastian Girmer & Esau Escorza

‘Good Mourning / Black Friday’ by Leah Moore, John Reppion & Ben Templesmith

‘Set The World Afire’ by Diego Agrimbau & Agustín Alessio

‘In My Darkest Hour’ by David Baille & Conor Boyle

‘Rust In Peace…Polaris’ by Hector Lima & Garrie Gastonny

‘Take No Prisoners’ by ML Miller & Carlos Granda

‘Skin O’ My Teeth’ by PM Buchan & John Pearson

‘Symphony Of Destruction’ by Justin Jordan & John Bivens

‘Sweating Bullets’ by Sean Lewis & Axel Medellin

‘A Tout Le Monde’ by Llexi Leon & Richard Friend

‘Reckoning Day’ by Jeff Burandt & Jason Gongour

‘She-Wolf’ by Curtis Pires & Antonio Fuso

‘Wanderlust’ by Abraham Martínez & Patricio Delpeche

‘Blackmail The Universe’ by Haylar García & Abel

‘Public Enemy No. 1’ by John Ostrander & Miguel Mora

‘Dystopia’ by David Baille & Simeon Aston