Heavy Metal's new imprint expands with the launch of the first comic book from Sideshow Collectibles.

"Court of the Dead," based on the collectible company's most popular original property, is slated to debut in early 2016. The series is written by Corrina Bechko and drawn by Nat Jones, based on a story by Tom Gilliland and Landry Walker.

The series receives a prelude #0 issue as part of December's issue of "Heavy Metal," and CBR has the exclusive debut of the cover below, illustrated by Tom Jilesen and colored by Fabian Schlaga.

"Court of the Dead is described by Sideshow as "dark fantasy epic in which Death, Lord of the Underworld, is mankind's only hope for deliverance from a never-ending war between Heaven and Hell. Death crafted the ghastly and glorious Court of the Dead to aide him in his crusade against the celestials, but the Court is divided into three conflicting factions: Bone, Flesh and Spirit. Will these factions destroy humanity's only hope to stop the celestial war machine, or can the Underworld unite to Rise, Conquer and Rule?"

Official Press Release

Sideshow Collectiblesâ„¢ announces that it will be launching a Court of the Dead â„¢ comic book series in early 2016 with Heavy Metal's new, highly-anticipated, monthly comic book imprint. The Court of the Dead is Sideshow's premier intellectual property.

A special #0 issue of the Court of the Dead comic will be published in the December issue of Heavy Metal magazine. The holiday issue of the famous comics anthology will also feature a special Court of the Dead cover.

On Monday, Nov. 2nd, fans can get a sneak preview of the forthcoming Court of the Dead comic book art and magazine cover at courtofthedead.com, and via the Court of the Dead's Instagram and Twitter accounts.

The creative partnership between Sideshow and Heavy Metal was announced on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo. Court of the Dead creator and Sideshow Chief Creative Officer Tom Gilliland was featured on a Comikaze panel alongside comics legend Grant Morrison, who is slated to take over as Editor-in-Chief of Heavy Metal in April 2016.

Jeff Krelitz, co-CEO of Heavy Metal, moderated the panel. "Court of the Dead was the first property I've seen since The Lord of the Rings that had my mind racing about the world, the characters and the lore.It is a masterwork and Heavy Metal is proud to help launch Sideshow's beautiful and ambitious epic," said Krelitz.

The Court of the Dead is a dark fantasy epic in which Death, Lord of the Underworld, is mankind's only hope for deliverance from a never-ending war between Heaven and Hell. Death crafted the ghastly and glorious Court of the Dead to aide him in his crusade against the celestials, but the Court is divided into three conflicting factions: Bone, Flesh and Spirit. Will these factions destroy humanity's only hope to stop the celestial war machine, or can the Underworld unite to Rise, Conquer and Rule?