Description
Collector's Note – Why This Issue Matters
Heavy Metal dated December 1985 comes from one of the magazine’s classic monthly periods, when it was helping define adult-oriented illustrated science fiction and fantasy for American readers. For collectors researching vintage issues of Heavy Metal magazine, exact-dated issues from the mid-1980s matter because they preserve the publication at a point when its mix of European-influenced comics, surreal imagery, and speculative storytelling was already well established. The December 1985 issue fits squarely into that identity, making it useful both as a collectible object and as a reference point in the magazine’s longer visual history.
This issue is especially notable because the listing’s “Jessie, This is Sahamis Base Calling” reference is a verifiable interior story rather than just a seller’s flourish. Published issue listings for December 1985 identify “Jessie, This Is Sahamis Base Calling” as a Carlos Giménez story in the issue, which gives the magazine a much clearer collector identity than a vague thematic description would. That matters because Heavy Metal is often collected not only by month and cover, but by specific serialized or stand-alone stories and by the artists associated with them.
The date matters as well. December 1985 falls just before the magazine shifted from monthly to quarterly publication in 1986, which gives late-1985 issues an added place within the publication’s original monthly run. For readers interested in magazines from 1985, this issue reflects the mature 1980s phase of Heavy Metal, when fantasy, science fiction, satire, and graphic experimentation were all coexisting in a single title with a recognizable identity.
About the Publication
Heavy Metal was an American illustrated science fiction and fantasy magazine first published in 1977. It became known for its blend of dark fantasy, speculative fiction, adult-oriented comics, surreal artwork, and strong European influence, especially through its connection to Métal hurlant. In the 1980s, its audience included comics readers, fantasy and science-fiction fans, artists, and collectors looking for material that sat outside the conventions of mainstream American comic books. A typical issue from this era combined serialized stories, stand-alone features, and visually ambitious art in a format aimed at older readers.
Key Highlights Inside
- Dated December 1985, placing it within Heavy Metal's original monthly publication era.
- The issue includes “Jessie, This Is Sahamis Base Calling,” identified in published issue listings as a story by Carlos Giménez.
- Published listings for the issue also identify additional contents including work by Joost Swarte, John Findley, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Cadelo, Rod Kierkegaard, Jr., Al Voss, Paul Kirchner, Matt Howarth, Drew Friedman, Ribera, and Caza.
- The issue belongs to the magazine’s established blend of science fiction, fantasy, satire, and adult illustrated storytelling.
- The listing notes that surviving examples may appear as no-label copies, an important point for collectors who value uninterrupted cover presentation.
Condition & Rarity
The provided condition notes describe surviving examples of this issue as being in good condition overall, with minor wear and later storage in a plastic protective covering. In collector terms, that profile suggests a solid vintage magazine copy with ordinary age-related handling rather than major structural compromise. A no-label cover is especially desirable on a visually driven title like Heavy Metal, where uninterrupted artwork is central to display appeal and issue identity. Protective plastic storage is not an original publication feature, but it does indicate later preservation. Collectors generally evaluate copies like this by completeness, cover freshness, edge wear, spine integrity, and how cleanly the artwork and issue contents survive.
Looking for More Issues Like This?
Collectors who begin with a story-driven issue like this one usually want to see how it fits into the larger run of the magazine. The broader Heavy Metal collection is the best place to compare other issues, recurring creators, and the magazine’s evolving visual style across different periods.
It also helps to place the issue alongside other magazines published in 1985. That wider year-based context gives a clearer sense of how this December 1985 issue fits into the print culture of the mid-1980s, when illustrated genre magazines occupied a distinctive place between comics, fantasy art, and adult periodical publishing.