Aliens Magazine Volume 3 (UK)

The UK Aliens magazine had run from 1991-1994 spanning 32 issues as well as a three issue mini series printing the comics adaptation of Alien 3 to tie in with the release of that movie. Initially it was published by Trident for volume 1, then when Trident went out of business Dark Horse International picked up the license for volume 2. Sadly Dark Horse International didn't last many years before also going under and Titan comics picked up most of their licenses such as Jurassic Park, Terminator and Aliens.

Titan started Volume 3 of the Aliens magazine in December 1997 to tie in with the release of Alien Resurrection. The first two issues printed the comic adaptation of the film as well as Earth Angel. Both stories concluded in issue 2 with issue 3 beginning two new stories, Aliens: Berserker and Aliens: Mondo Pest. 

Sales proved poor though and issue 3 became the final issue, abruptly ceasing publication with no announcement or official final issue released. It is unclear if the comic was intended to be an ongoing or just a mini series for five or six issues. Aliens Berserker would have been a four issue story which indicates Titan had planned at least three more issues after issue 3. 

Titan didn't have much better luck with the other titles they picked up from Dark Horse. Only releasing four issue mini series of The Lost World Jurassic Park and Terminator Salvation to tie in with the release of those films. 

Batman Guardian of the Night Panini Comic

Panini Comics UK began publishing Batman comics in 2003 with Batman Legends which would feature three US issues in one, bound in a cardboard cover like Paninis Marvel Collectors Editions. They eventually lost the license to Titan Comics but in 2020 regained it and released the one and only issue of Batman: Tales of the Dark Knight. Unfortunately the global pandemic quickly put an end to what was to be a new series. This one issue still had the cardboard cover but now only included two US comic issues rather than three to reduce costs, coming in at £4.50

 Panini made a second attempt to return Batman to UK comic stands with Batman Guardian of the Night. Featuring two US comic issues but without the cardboard cover the Collectors Editions are known for. This change knocked the cover price down to £2.99. It was sad to see the cardboard covers go but £4.50+ per issue was getting a little high for many readers. Especially if they bought multiple titles from Paninis Marvel and now DC range every month.

Unfortunately Batman Guardian of the Night was cancelled after issue 22 in 2023. Not quite lasting two years. It's sad to be without a UK Batman comic on shelves again like the late 1990s. 

Batman Legends Ends

After 15 years and four volumes, the UK Batman Legends comic title has sadly come to and end.

In 2003, almost ten years after the last Batman comic ended in the UK, Panini picked up the license for the character and gave us Batman Legends. The comic was styled like the popular Marvel collectors edition comics Panaini have published in the UK since the mid 90s, collecting three issues of the American comics in each issue, starting with the popular Hush story line. The comic lasted 41 issues till Panini lost the license to Titan Magazines. Titan relaunched the title as Batman Legends volume 2, keeping the same format as Panini had used. 57 issues later the title was relaunched yet again as volume 3. Simply called ‘Batman’ the comic was relaunched to tie in with the release of Dark Knight Rises in cinemas and the launch of the New 52. It primarily reprints the US Batman and Batman and Robin comics. In September 2016 the title was again relaunched in it's 4th volume as Rebirth Batman, later dropping the Rebirth to simply be Batman again. It was during this time that the title, along with all of Titans DC reprints became bi-monthly releases. An indicator of poor sales. Batman having been the only Titan DC reprint series to show any level of success. Others Such as Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Suicide Squad, Green Arrow etc had all fallen by the wayside after only a few issues each. Even the Batman title had begun to suffer after poor distribution from Titan. A title change in one of the Batman comics had caused it to totally disappear from the W.H Smith database. A mistake Titan never seemed to rectify despite multiple customers informing them that their local Smiths no longer stocked the Batman comic.  The poor reception of most of the recent DC shared universe movies also can't have helped matters. 
Finally, at issue 14 of what was essentially Batman legends volume 4, the title along with all the Titan DC comics were cancelled. 

There was little send off for the DC universe from Titan. Not even an editorial inside the front cover lamenting the end of the series or thanking the customers for their loyalty. This really reflects Titans attitude towards the comics they produce. Little real care or passion seems to go into what they do. With little to no customer interaction on social media or through editorials. 

15 years isn't a bad run for a UK comic, however it is sad to think that there is once again no Batman comic in the UK. There was a span of 9 years between 1994 and 2003 where the UK had no Batman title on the shelves. Hopefully it won't be as long this time before another publisher picks up the license. Perhaps Panini will regain the rights to publish Batman as they had in 2003. 

Titan All Star Batman

 Titan Comics UK have launched a new Batman title, Rebirth All Star Batman. This is one of two ongoing Batman comics in the UK. The other being Batman Rebirth. All Star Batman is volume 4 in a series that began in 2012 with Batman The Dark Knight to tie in with the then current Nolan Dark Knight Rises movie. This then became Batman Arkham to tie in with the popular game.Volume 3 was retitled Batman Gotham Central to accompany the TV series. Now in it's forth incarnation as All Star Batman it coincides with the Rebirth DC titles hitting the UK.

Titans other Batman series is also in it's forth volume. Starting with the initial Batman Legends published by Panini back in 2003. This was the first Batman comic in the UK for ten years. In 2007 Titan gained the rights to publish DC comic in the UK and continued the Legends series with volume 2. In 2012 as the New 52 hit the UK the title was changed to simply Batman for volume 3. With the recent DC event of Rebirth, the series has entered it's 4th volume with Batman Rebirth.

Harley Quinn Issue 1

Harley Quinn issue 1 of her 3 issue mini-series and now ongoing title from Titan UK. After a successful test run starting in August with a three issue mini-series, Harley gets her own ongoing UK comic starting from November 2016.

Batman Rebirth

Titan UK has relaunched their Batman title as Batman Rebirth. This serves as a volume 4 to the Batman Legends title that began back in 2003 under Panini publishing, taken over by Titan in 2007 and then re-titled simply Batman in 2012 to tie in with the New 52.

Batman Adventures

Batman Adventures volumes 1 and 2 UK releases. Based on Batman: The Animated Series. Volume 1 was published by Fleetway in the early 90s lasting 22 issues, then volume 2 by Titan ten years later in 2004.

Terminator Comics UK

                                Trident Comics Terminator run of Dark Horse reprints in the UK

                     After Trident folded, Dark Horse International took up the license in the UK

                   A four issue mini-series to tie in with Terminator Salvation was released by Titan in 2009

Terminator Comics UK

The first Terminator comic to be released in the UK was in 1991 by Trident Publishing to tie in with the then newly released Terminator 2. reprinting the US Dark Horse comics, this series lasted 17 issues with the last 5 being published by Dark Horse International who took over the license when Trident went out of business. The last four issues began incorporating Robocop into the comic much in the same way the UK Aliens comic included Predator.

In 2009, a second UK Terminator comic was released, this time by Titan to cash in on the latest movie in the franchise coming out in cinemas, Terminator Salvation. Lasting a mere four issues and reprinting the comic strips from the American IDW prequel series to the movie.

Flash UK Comic

For the first time since the 60s, The Flash has his own ongoing UK comic published by Titan. They tested the waters in June 2015 by releasing a 100 page one shot souvenir issue of the Flash. This must have sold well as in November an ongoing 76 page Flash series began titled DC Superheroes: The Flash. Perhaps so that they can alternate the lead hero if Flash's popularity dies down. Harley Quinn also features in a back up strip in each issue. Titan have never had much luck with titles not containing Batman. Their four long running comics being Batman, Gotham Central, Batman & Superman and Justice League Trinity all of which feature Batman. Around the same time The Flash ongoing comic debuted, Green Arrow and Supergirl also had a comic each begin. Neither of which lasted more than a few issues. So far the Flash has outrun sharing their cancellation fate.

Jurassic Park Comics UK

In 1993 a Jurassic Park comic was published in the UK by Dark Horse International to tie in with the release of the original movie. Reprinting the Topps comic strips from the US which began with an adaptation of the movie and continued with original stories set before and after the events of the film. Xenozoic Tales and Age of Reptiles were also included, making it more of an over all dinosaur comic rather than purely Jurassic Park. The comic lasted 16 issues, the last three of which being distributed by Manga Comics rather than Dark Horse.

In 1997, to tie with Lost World hitting the cinemas, a second Jurassic Park comic appeared on UK shelves published by Titan. Once again reprinting US Topps comic strips. This time a comic book adaptation of the Lost World film. This title only lasted four issues.

Batman UK 50th Issue

This week see's the 50th issue of the current Titan UK Batman comic hit store shelves. The title is in essence, volume 3 of the Batman Legends comic that began back in 2003 under Panini publishing. Volume 1 lasted 41 issues before Titan took the license and began volume 2 which ended with issue 57. Volume 3 was re-titled to simply 'Batman' to coincide with the release of Dark Knight Rises at the cinema. So you could class the latest issue as 148 which is quite impressive for a UK comic in this day and age.

Transformers Comics UK

So far there have been five Transformers titles released in the UK since the early 80s. The original Marvel UK comic that lasted 332 issues from 1994-1992. This was a much beloved and high quality comic that gave fame to writer Simon Furman along with artists Geoff Senior and  Andrew Wildman. As well as reprinting the American comic strips it also had original UK material that was of a higher quality, eventually leading to the UK creative team moving on the the US title. After the Marvel UK comic ended there was a short lived Generation 2 comic published by Fleetway that lasted a mere 5 issues in 1994/95. Almost a decade later Panini comics released a Transformers Armada comic that managed to last 9 issues in 2003. Though Simon Furman had returned, the stories felt simplistic and far too ‘kiddie’ as well as the art work being poor.
In 2007 to tie in with the first live action movie a fourth Transformers comic was printed by Titan comics UK. This lasted 75 issues in total and spanned 7 years from 2007-2014. After the first 25 issues the title was re-branded as volume 2, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen to once again tie in with the currant movie at the time. Vol 2 lasted 21 issues before becoming volume 3 and re-titled Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Volume 3 was short lived as after just four issues it then became Volume 4, Transformers Prime. It stayed this way for 20 issues, limping along with low sales and longer gaps of time between each issues release until Transformers Age of Extinction came out. In one last ditch effort to stay afloat the title became volume 5 and tied in to the new movie. 5 issues later the comic was finally cancelled.
It had started off strong with original UK material set in the movie universe as well as reprints of various US titles such as Beast Wars and All Hail Megatron. However the US reprints were dropped and the UK strips became more simplistic and lacking in much continuity as well as suffering with poor artwork.
During the Titan UK comic run, a spin off comic entitled Transformers Animated was released. This was the first time two Transformers titles had ran concurrently in the UK. (Not including the Collected Comics which were just reprints of the main Marvel UK title). Animated was swiftly cancelled after three issues.

 In October 2015 a 6th UK Transformers comic came out from Signature Publishing. Based on the Robots in Disguise cartoon and toy line, it reprints the American IDW strips, thought the first issue did feature a UK original story.

Bane

The front cover of issue 9 of Fleetway Editions UK Batman & Superman comic. 20 years later the cover of issue 6 of the Titan UK Batman the Dark Knight comic pays homage.

Batman Annuals UK

Batman Annuals from the UK. 1981, 82, 83, 85, 89, 91, 92 and 93. Published by London Editions who at the time also produced the UK Batman comics.

Batman annuals in the UK had been constant for several decades until 1998. It was then 8 years till the UK saw another Batman annual in 2006. This could be seen as the fault of the terrible Batman and Robin movie with a new annual not appearing till the Nolan Batman Begins movie came out. Between 2006 and 2014 only one other Batman annual was produced to tie in with the Dark Knight. This however was basically just a puzzle book and not what I consider a ‘real’ annual.
Titan Magazines who publish the UK Batman comics produced two annuals for 2014 and 2015 but unfortunately a 2016 book was not released.

Batman Comics UK

 

 A brief look at the history of Batman comics in the UK. The Batman magazine from London Editions which ran through the 80s ended in 1993 after 56 issues. This was followed by Fleetway Editions Batman volume 2 which began by printing the Batman Year One and Two story lines. The comic also printed the under rated Dark Knight, Dark City story line which is in my opinion the best Riddler story the comics have seen. This comic ran a mere 11 issues only to be replaced with the Batman & Superman comic which was marketed as the fall of the superheroes. Reprinting the now classic Knightfall and Doomsday story lines showing the breaking of the Batman and the Death of Superman. Batman & Superman ran 11 issues before being cancelled. It would be almost ten years before the UK saw a proper Batman comic again.

 In the early 00s, almost ten years after the last Batman comic ended in the UK, Panini picked up the license and gave us Batman Legends. The comic was styled like the popular Marvel collectors edition comics Panaini have published in the UK since the mid 90s, collecting three issues of the American comics in each issue. It started with the popular Hush story line. The comic lasted 41 issues till Panini lost the license to Titan Magazines. Titan relaunched the title as Batman Legends volume 2, keeping the same format as Panini had used. 57 issues later the title was relaunched yet again as volume 3. Simply called ‘Batman’ the comic was relaunched to tie in with the release of Dark Knight Rises in cinemas. It primarily reprints the US Batman and Batman and Robin comics.

At the same time as this, another Batman title was added to the Titan UK range. Batman: Dark Knight was a larger format comic to differentiate it from the main Batman comic. This comic reprinted the US Dark Knight and Detective Comics. After 19 issues it was transformed into Batman Arkham to tie in with the popular game. This new volume was reduced to the same size format as the main Batman title which pleased collectors. After issue 26 the title was relaunched a third time as Batman: Gotham Central to tie in with the popular Gotham TV show.
During Batman Arkhams run, a third Batman title was released called Batman Superman featuring cross over stories between the two characters as well as individual stories. This replaced the Superman comic which was unable to hold enough sales on it’s own without Batmans inclusion.

 Titan UKs larger format DC titles. The Dark Knight reprints the UK Dark Knight and Detective Comics and ran 19 issues before being replaced with Batman Arkham in the smaller US comic size. Superman came out to tie in with the Man of Steel film but ran a mere 5 issues before being cancelled and replaced with the Batman/Superman comic. Arrow did not last long either though a new collectors edition style Green Arrow comic has recently begun to cash in on the TV show along with Flash, Supergirl and Wonder Woman.