A graphic novel that blends face-melting riffs and fatherhood, Death Metal Duck is a sharp, time-hopping tale of second chances and volume knobs.
Nov. 9, 2025 – ST. JOHN’S, NL, CANADA — Black Panel Press is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of Death Metal Duck, a 70-page, time-hopping graphic novel by Justin Heggs and Cam Hayden, launching on April 14th, 2026. Equal parts chaos and catharsis, this slice-of-life story follows a retired thrash metal frontman trying to balance mosh pits with parenthood—and finding that life only gets louder.
Curtis Paul was once the screaming voice of Puke Hammer, an Alberta thrash metal band known for its raw sound and feral energy. Now, he’s better known for grocery lists and bedtime stories. But when a chance to reunite the band emerges, Curtis must decide whether to reignite the fire—or let it die for good. What follows is a genre-bending, emotionally charged journey through past and present, as Curtis navigates the messy middle ground between diapers and distortion pedals.
Told with irreverent humor and genuine heart, Death Metal Duck features original music by a real Alberta band reimagined as Puke Hammer’s catalog, blurring the line between comic and concept album. It’s a noisy, nostalgic ode to creativity, loud guitars, and second chances.
About the Creators
- Justin Heggs is the co-creator of Wolf Hands with Nick Johnson and a rising voice in indie comics.
- Cam Hayden, a member of the National Cartoonists Society, contributes regularly to Scary Monsters Magazine, Freaky Magazine, and Scene Magazine in Calgary. His work also appears in CAR-Toons Magazine, Spread Love Comix, and various anthologies.
Death Metal Duck will be available through Amazon and all major retailers via IPG. ISBN: 9781990521522.
For review copies, interview requests, or additional information, please contact Black Panel Press at https://www.blackpanelpress.com
Black Panel Press specializes in international graphic novels that challenge and expand the storytelling possibilities of the medium. With a commitment to publishing transformative narratives, Black Panel Press connects readers globally with powerful, thought-provoking works.
