Review by C.J. Bunce
In the West you’d call him a metalhead. In Japan it’s metaller. When Alexi’s metal band decides they want to move on from playing metal, he decides they won’t kill his dream of world peace through Heavy Metal. As the great Master (Steve) Vai once said, “You are doing just fine.” Only as Alexi begins a scheduled concert without his bandmates, his stage pyrotechnics display electrocutes him. He wakes up… basically in the world of Willow. This kind of transition between worlds is called isekai in Japan. Soon Alexi the Metaller (Level 0) finds himself on a quest to slay an evil dragon, joining Tyro the eye-patched Beastman (Level 21), Lizzy the Mage (Level 9), Lee the Merchant (Level 9), and David the Warrior (Level 16).
Inner Alexi is excited to see the creature who has adorned many a metal band album cover. But how could dragons be real? When Orthrus the two-headed giant dog blazes in, Alexi’s instinct is to defend everyone with the power of his guitar (cue the “Immigrant Song” from Led Zeppelin). Now his newfound friends realize this strange thirtysomething man from another world (striking a pose) is an unheard of Level 999. Is he some kind of rock god? Metal is his Magic–Magic is their Metal. Grab your headphones and get ready to play with the new manga where Heavy Metal gets an upgrade in the manga Isekai Metaller.
Writer-artist Kasuga Ryo blends his heroic Alexi with an Adventure Time fantasy realm, using some fun elements like showing Alexi’s inner metal spirit rocking out. And like Stranger Things’ guitarist Eddie Munson battles the otherworldly Vecna, Alexi’s new fantasy world is upside down, too. But wait–his new band isn’t as noble as they first seemed. What other magic skills can Alexi conjure? What happens when a street thief steals his weapon… er… his Gibson Flying V electric guitar? Zombies, mummies… will Iron Maiden help him? Can this Metaller double as Slayer, or will he just preach Heavy Metal? Just beware the Demon King (Level 666).
It would make good fodder for the next D&D adventure module. It’s one of those fantasy stories that must have started as someone’s RPG night. And it’s a new twist on the “battle of the bands” as Alexi assembles a new roving band of fantasyland misfits, full of metal band Easter eggs.
The book was originally published in 2021 as Another World Metaller Lv.999. Volume 1 of this first English edition was translated by Motoko Tamamuro and Jonathan Clements with new lettering by Tom Williams.
It’s the 1981 Heavy Metal animated movie, only as anime updated for 2025–some good fun as the world witnesses the passing of original KISS band member Ace Frehley and Dungeons & Dragons’ Welcome to the Hellfire Club arrives in game shops. For fans of Metal, fantasy, Stranger Things, anyone who appreciates a good devil’s bargain or crossroads story, and Dungeons & Dragons and other roleplaying games, get ready for the battle of Metal vs. Glam. Don’t miss the first volume of Isekai Metaller. Order it from Elite Comics, your local comic shop, or here at Amazon now. It’s all a big set up for the big rock festival ahead in the second volume, available now for pre-order here.
