Metal Mascots
Metal Mascots
Mascots are an established and popular part of metal fan culture. In contrast to sports team mascots, they are no cute talismans, but are regarded as personification of the band and its music (or even as some kind of evil band member) that adds enormously to the identification of the fans with the band.
This alphabetical list presents well known examples by showing the album cover where the corresponding mascot first appeared, along with one or two sentences as general information.
Please feel free to suggest more examples of metal mascots or share relevant information on the presented mascots.
[Updated 01.06.2026]
This alphabetical list presents well known examples by showing the album cover where the corresponding mascot first appeared, along with one or two sentences as general information.
Please feel free to suggest more examples of metal mascots or share relevant information on the presented mascots.
[Updated 01.06.2026]
1.
Alestorm
- Captain Morgan's Revenge
CAPTAIN MORGAN is an undead pirate with octopus tentacles as beard. He was named after the 17th century privateer Sir Henry Morgen – or more likely after the brand of rum of the same name. His unofficial name is JIMMY McFUCKNUGGET, while his undead rat is called BARRY SHITPEASE.
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2.
Annihilator
- Alice In Hell
ALICE is based on Alice In Wonderland and appears on some album covers as scared little girl and on some others as seemingly possessed or undead version.
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3.
Anthrax
- Inside Out
Most mascots start on an album cover and later become a part of merchandise. However, the grinning NO MAN was first featured on t-shirts and became a prominent mascot without ever showing up on an album cover. This picture is a rare appearance on a single cover.
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8.
Beast In Black
- Berserker
The BEAST was inspired by the Berserk mangas from Kentaro Miura. The mascot was already established by Anton Kabanen for Battle Beast and continued after his departure with his recent band Beast In Black.
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9.
Black Majesty
- Silent Company
The band has a nameless female warrior with a lightsaber-like sword on all of their seven albums, who is accompanied by at least one lion since the second album.
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10.
Black Sabbath
- Never Say Die
HENRY is a flying demon (or fallen angel) and first appeared in the artwork of the Never Say Die album and the corresponding single cover. Even though he was an official mascot used for merchandise, he never appeared on the cover of a regular Black Sabbath studio album. He did appear on the cover of the final Black Sabbath live album (The End) and as logo on the cover of the Heaven And Hell studio album (The Devil You Know)
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11.
Black Veil Brides
- Black Veil Brides IV
LEGION is a winged creature thar first appeared on the cover of their fourth album.
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12.
Blind Guardian
- Battalions Of Fear
The BLIND GUARDIAN is a hooded figure that appears regularly on album covers.
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13.
Blitzkrieg
- A Time Of Changes
MARIO, THE BIRD OF ARMAGEDDON, is a flying insect-like demon creature. The name was given in order to honor a loyal fan of Blitzkrieg, named Mario Corbello.
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15.
Brujeria
- Brujerizmo
COCO LOCO ("crazy bogeyman" or "crazy head") is a severed head. The album Matando Güeros (1993) showed the real severed head of a drug dealer, which then returned in stylized form on the cover of Brujerizmo (2000) and subsequent albums.
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17.
Castle
- Carrie Chains
The character CARRIE CHAINS represents an underdog rising up against all odds.
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18.
Children Of Bodom
- Something Wild
THE REAPER appears not as the expected skeleton but looks like a human, possibly hinting at the real-life backstory of the Lake Bodom murders.
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19.
Cirith Ungol
- Frost And Fire
ELRIC OF MELNIBONÉ is the antihero character of Michael Moorcock's novels and Michael Whelan's paintings.
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20.
Dangerous Toys
- Dangerous Toys
BILL Z. BUBB is a killer clown that was inspired by a jack-in-the-box toy clown.
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22.
Death Angel
- Relentless Retribution
A trio of skull-wearing wolves appears on several album covers.
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23.
Demon Hunter
- Demon Hunter
The mascot of the band is the hunted demon that appears as bull-head skull with a bullet-hole on all of their albums.
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24.
Destruction
- Mad Butcher
The MAD BUTCHER started as a song on the debut EP Sentence Of Death (1984) and later was shown one some of the band`s EP and album covers.
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25.
Devin Townsend
- Ziltoid The Omniscient
The extraterrestial being ZILTOID THE OMNISCIENT is the mascot since the eponymous album in 2007.
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26.
Dio
- Holy Diver
MURRAY, whose actual name is supposed to be MURALSEE, is a red-eyed and bull-headed demon that is present on several album covers. The dragon shown on some pictures is called Denzil.
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27.
Disturbed
- Ten Thousand Fists
THE GUY is a cloaked figure that first appeared in artwork of The Sickness (2000) and made its first appearance on the cover art of Ten Thousand Fists (2005). In the song The Vengeful One, he is described as “The Vengeful One, The Dark Messiah, The Hand of God".
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28.
Dr. Living Dead!
- Dr. Living Dead
The eponymous DR. LIVING DEAD is the result of a failed experiment that should have created a super soldier with two brains.
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29.
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31.
Evildead
- Annihilation Of Civilization
EVILFRED is a strange elderly guy that could be your creepy neighbour.
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34.
Five Finger Death Punch
- The Way Of The Fist
KNUCKLEHEAD is a muscular demon with a blood-red hand print on its forehead.
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35.
Flotsam And Jetsam
- Doomsday For The Deceiver
FLOTZILLA is a sea monster that appears on some of their album covers.
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36.
Gama Bomb
- Sea Savage
SNOWY THE GAMABOMBINALE SNOWMAN is a yeti that first appeared for the storyline of the album Sea Savage.
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37.
Gamma Ray
- Land Of The Free
Just like singer Kai Hansen, FANGFACE started with Helloween, where he was on the cover of their debut EP and of the album Walls Of Jericho. With Gamma Ray, Hansen stayed main singer and FANGFACE became the main mascot.
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40.
Green Lung
- Woodland Rites
The band mascot is a figure that resembles a devilish goat rearing up on its hind legs (or a person that wears a Dorset Ooser mask)
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41.
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42.
Grim Reaper
- See You In Hell
The classic GRIM REAPER appears on the album covers of this band and on the ones of its continuation, Steve Grimmet's Grim Reaper.
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46.
Helloween
- Metal Jukebox
JACK O. LANTERN is a pumpkin-headed spirit that started as stylized “O“ in the name of the group on the Helloween EP (1985) and then developed into a full character since the album cover Metal Jukebox (1999).
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47.
Helloween
- Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I
While Jack O. Lantern is the official band mascot, another recurring figure on several album covers is the KEEPER OF THE SEVEN KEYS.
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48.
Iced Earth
- Something Wicked This Way Comes
The mummy-like SET ABOMINAE, who is the prophesied saviour of the Setian race and the Antichrist for mankind, is prominently featured on the covers of the five albums of the Something Wicked series and in the artwork of several other releases.
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49.
In Flames
- The Jester Race
The mascot JESTER HEAD has been included in all albums since The Jester Race (1996) in different variations on the cover or in the artwork.
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50.
Iron Maiden
- Iron Maiden
The zombie-like EDDIE, THE HEAD is present on all album covers. He may be the most iconic mascot whose name is also known by people that are no metal fans.
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51.
Iron Monkey
- Our Problem
The MONKEY was chosen as "juxtaposition between the ugliest and perhaps the goofiest imagery of both punk and metal to reflect the sound" (Jim Rushby).
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52.
Job For A Cowboy
- Doom
The mascot GOAT SKULL is a figure that wears an animal skull with big horns as a mask.
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54.
Judas Priest
- Screaming For Vengeance
Judas Priest do not have one exclusive mascot but created several sci-fi inspired figures. THE HELLION is a winged mechanical eagle.
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56.
Judas Priest
- Painkiller
THE METALLIAN (sometimes called The Painkiller) is the best known figure that is treated like a mascot by the fans. It has a muscular form, which is entirely mechanical and made of polished chrome and steel, blending human anatomy with machine parts.
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57.
Kanonenfieber
- Menschenmühle
The picture on the cover of the first album is based on an anti-war (WWI) poster by then contemporary artist Mihály Biró. The skeleton in soldier uniform was used by the group on the cover art of the following EPs and album.
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58.
Kataklysm
- In The Arms Of Devastation
The HEARTBEAST mascot appeared 15 years into their career. It represents a two-faced and winged demon with a ripped out heart.
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60.
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61.
Kreator
- Endless Pain
VIOLENT MIND started as a brutal demon warrior on the cover of Endless Pain (1985) and later became a more complex symbol for the ill and merciless society with the cover of Coma Of Souls (1990).
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63.
Lich King
- Necromantic Maelstrom
The band has the undead wizard LICH KING on all of their album covers. The name was inspired by a character from the role-playing tabletop game Dungeons & Dragons.
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64.
Manowar
- Kings Of Metal
The Conan-like band mascot has no official name, but is often referred to as MANOWARRIOR, FACELESS WARRIOR or KING OF METAL.
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65.
Megadeth
- Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
VIC RATTLEHEAD is a skeletal figure that personifies the phrase "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil". The preliminary version was shown as photography of a decorated skull on the cover of Megadeth's debut (1985), while the full figure is shown on nearly all of the following releases.
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66.
Metallica
- Live At Wembley Stadium
SCARY GUY was created by James Hetfield. The mascot first appeared on the 1992 'Live at Wembley' single but never on the cover of a studio album.
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67.
Misfits
- American Psycho
The CRIMSON GHOST wears a red cloak and has a skull face with eyes. He is based on a film serial from 1946.
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68.
Miss May I
- Apologies Are For The Weak
The band had a lion as logo and on the cover of most of their albums.
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71.
Mushroomhead
- Call The Devil
The X -FACE logo has evolved to a ghost-like mascot. It was commonly worn on the masks of most members, as well as on clothing and merchandise. The best appearance on an album cover is on "Call The Devil", where the logo can be seen on the back of the phone.
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72.
Nekrogoblikon
- Goblin Island
JOHN GOBLIKON is a goblin mascot that is also present in person during live shows.
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74.
Overkill
- Under The Influence
CHALY resembles a demon skull-like creature with bat wings. The appearance and its deadly green eye beams might associate it with industrial pollution and nuclear hazard.
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75.
Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons
- Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons
SNAGGLEBEARD is the mascot of the band founded by former Morörhead guitarist Campbell and his sons.
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78.
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79.
Queensrÿche
- Rage For Order
TRI-RYCHE is actual more a logo or symbol than a traditional mascot. However, it is omnipresent in the artwork of the group and appears in different, sometimes three dimensional variations. It is based on the superimposed silhouettes of peregrin falcons.
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80.
Quiet Riot
- Metal Health
IRON MASK`s hidden face, wide open eyes and straitjacket point to issues of mental illness. However, this could also be understood as a situation that the figure was forced in against its own will by the views of the majority.
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81.
Rage
- Perfect Man
SOUNDCHASER is a biomechanoid creature that appears on several album covers since 1988. The corresponding backstory is told on the concept album of the same name (2003).
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83.
Running Wild
- Port Royal
CAPTAIN ADRIAN started as a logo, but became a regular mascot with his mixture of satanic and pirate symbols.
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84.
Rush
- Hemispheres
The STARMAN first appeared in the booklet artwork for the album 2112 (1976) and made it's first appearance on an album cover with Hemispheres (1978).
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85.
Sacred Reich
- Surf Nicaragua
The mascot has a gas mask on his skull and is officially named OD, which stands for OUR DUDE (probably in the context of fans calling the previously unnamed mascot SACRED REICH DUDE).
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88.
Slayer
- Show No Mercy
The BAPHOMET goat warrior was on the debut album. Moreover, Slayer has The Slaytanic Wehrmacht, which is a skeleton with soldier clothing, and an eagle as mascots.
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89.
Sodom
- Persecution Mania
KNARRENHEINZ (“Rifle Heinz”) is a gasmask-wearing soldier that started as simple human on the cover of Persecution Mania (1987) and has developed to a literal war machine like on the cover of Code Red (1999).
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90.
Spirit Adrift
- Chained To Oblivion
The female mascot BRENDA was named after Nate Garrett's mother, who died when he was four months old. The second mascot is the dog LIZZY, named after the comic character Tin Lizzy.
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91.
Stormtroopers Of Death
- Speak English Or Die
SARGENT D is an undead soldier. Moreover, he is supposed to be the founder of PETZ (People For The Ethical Treatment of Zombies)...
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92.
The Accüsed
- The Return Of... Martha Splatterhead
MARTHA SPLATTERHEAD is the zombie queen of splatter rock.
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93.
Trivium
- Silence In The Snow
IBARAKI is shown as a horned skull. Ibaraki-dōji is a japanese demon. Moreover, Matt Heafy named his side-project after Trivium`s mascot.
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94.
Uncle Slam
- Say Uncle
UNCLE SLAM is a comic-like version of the famous US personification Uncle Sam.
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95.
Voivod
- War And Pain
The mascot KORGULL, THE EXTERMINATOR is a cyborg that fits well to the often futuristic themes of the band.
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99.
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Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by Plattner ]
[ More lists by Plattner ]
Comments
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Posts: 1265  |
Posts: 1265
Please feel free to suggest more examples of metal mascots or share relevant information on the presented mascots.
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Posts: 1265 Written by Redel on 03.10.2023 at 21:22 Thank you very much for your nice comment, Redel.
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Posts: 3580 Written by Plattner on 28.09.2023 at 00:43 How about... Anthrax's Not Man, Destruction's Mad Butcher, Dethklok's Facebones, In Flames’ Jesterhead, Kataklysm's Heartbeast, Stormtroopers Of Death's Sargent D and Voivod's Korgüll The Exterminator ?
---- signatures = SPAM
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Posts: 1265 Written by Starvynth on 03.10.2023 at 23:28 Thank you very much for your suggestions, Starvynth. I will try to include them in the list.
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Posts: 1265 Written by Starvynth on 03.10.2023 at 23:28 Thank you again, Starvynth. I have added the examples that appear on album covers, along with the NO MAN, who is at least on a single cover. Therefore, I could not add FACEBONES, as he does not seem to be on the covers of their releases (or did I overlook something?)
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Posts: 3580 Written by Plattner on 07.10.2023 at 23:49 Nah, you haven't overlooked anything. Although Facebones is undoubtedly some kind of mascot of the band and although he's a quite well known figure within the Metalocalypse universe, he has never made it onto any album cover. That's just bad luck, I guess.
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Riot's seal should be number one because that's by far the weirdest metal mascot out there.
---- Liebe ist für alle da.
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Posts: 1265 Written by Nejde on 08.10.2023 at 02:27 You are right, Nejde. Riot's seal is definitively one of the most disturbing mascots. If this was not an alphabetical list, I would put him in one of the top spots.
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Posts: 1695 Written by Plattner on 08.10.2023 at 08:28 I totally missed that it was in alphabetical order but now that you mention I see it. Fun list.
---- Liebe ist für alle da.
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Posts: 1265 Written by tintinb on 08.10.2023 at 15:09 Thank you very much for your suggestion, tintinb. You are right, they have the grim reaper prominently on the cover of their last two albums. However, they have the skeleton soldier with the pickelhaube helmet (who would also be an interesting mascot) on their first album and on the EP, so it's a draw. Do you know any more or less official statements concerning 1914's mascot?
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Posts: 1265 Written by tintinb on 08.10.2023 at 18:49 I agree. Let's keep this in mind and see what they will do next. In any case, they are an interesting death/doom metal band.
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Not sure if they're officially mascots, but Black Majesty has had a lion on every album cover, and what looks like lightsaber wielding ninja on all but one cover.
---- "I'm here to nunchuck and not wear helmets. And I'm all out of helmets." "I'll fight you on one condition. That you lower your nipples." " 'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!"
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Posts: 1265 Written by M C Vice on 09.10.2023 at 23:24 Thank you very much for your suggestion, M C Vice. Indeed, the cover art is very coherent across their albums. I have seen that the famous Dirk Illing designed the first five album covers (until his death in 2014). It seems that the band has a recurring theme in its cover art that strongly points to these figures having the role of recognizable mascots. I also could not find more information or names right now. I will have another look and try to add your suggestion.
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Definitely not the best pic for a Megadeth album cover for an example of Vic. He looks better on the remastered version of KIMB, or on Peace Sells. My favorite Vic is probably the one from the single version cover for Holy Wars
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 1265 Written by Auntie Sahar on 11.10.2023 at 18:48 Thank you for your comment, Apothecary. I also like the cover art of PSBWB or RIP better. I just decided to use the first cover that the corresponding mascot appeared on as picture for this list in general. Maybe I think about this point once more.
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Posts: 1265 Written by Auntie Sahar on 11.10.2023 at 18:48 Thank you again for you suggestion, Apothecary. I have included the Peace Sells... album cover now, which basically shows the first "full version" of Vic. The 1985 cover art of KIMB... seems to be preliminary anyhow, because it was drastically changed for the remastered album version. Thank you for pointing this context out.
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Posts: 1265 Written by M C Vice on 09.10.2023 at 23:24 In addition to several other updates, I have also included your suggestion, M C Vice. I agree that this figure serves as mascot, even though we do not know a name. Thank you again, M C Vice.
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