‘A long time coming’: Local comic book creators launch ‘Death Metal Duck’ at Calgary Expo

A tale about coming to grips with growing old and revisiting what you left behind is a relatable one.

Writer Justin Heggs and cartoonist Cam Hayden have crafted something so very human... but with ducks.

Death Metal Duck made its debut at the Calgary Comics and Entertainment Expo this past weekend, capping off more than a decade of work.

“Finally having Death Metal Duck finished closes a chapter for me that started in 2014," Heggs told CTV News Calgary.

“I stayed away from writing for too long, but it took that time for me to actually be ready to do it.

“It’s a simple story—no big crazy high-concept plot twists or anything—but it allowed me to say a lot of things I wanted to say.”

Hayden’s been the artist on the book from the start.

He told CTV News Calgary that getting their book out in the world has been “a long time coming.”

“He wanted to finish it, and I wanted to finish it, too,” he said.

“I’m really glad we got the chance to make it a reality.”

Death Metal Duck is about middle-aged duck Curtis Paul, who used to front a band called Puke Hammer.

As it goes, that period of his life eventually ended and gave way to something else.

Heggs says the character is having an epiphany—“the thing missing from his life is the thing he’s been trying to forget about.”

The character wants to go back to playing music with his friends, who Hayden says “have kind of been alienated over the years.”

A QR code in the book will take you to a soundtrack featuring local bands The Cadavor Dog and Ghost Factory.

Death Metal Duck was published by Black Panel Press, based on Canada’s East Coast.

At Calgary Expo, you might have noted the book for its catchy black and gold cover, and you wouldn’t have been alone—a lot of people stopped to check it out, and a lot of people parted with cash to take it home.

“It’s the best-looking book I’ve ever been involved in,” Hayden said.

“It looks good, it is good and I’m excited for people to read it.”

“Knowing that people who have no relationship to me or Cam at all are actually buying the book is pretty mind-blowing,” Heggs said.

“I’m excited to hear what people think of it.”

Death Metal Duck is available through the Black Panel Press website.

It can be ordered as the physical hardcover book that was available at Calgary Expo or as a digital book.