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. 

Jurassic Park Comics UK

 Dark Horse International published 16 issues of Jurassic Park in the early 90s, reprinting Topps comics movie adaptation, prequel and sequel stories. Much like their Alien and Terminator comics which would feature supporting strips from relevant franchises such as Predator for Alien and Robocop for Terminator, Dark Horse International included Xenozoic Tales and Age of Reptiles in their Jurassic Park comic.

After 13 issues however, the title rights changed to Manga who sold the comic direct to consumers rather than it appearing in newsagents. This only lasted three issues and the comic was cancelled at issue 16. The comic rights then changed hands to Titan Publishing who also acquired the rights to Alien and Terminator from Dark Horse International. Titan would release their own Jurassic Park comic to tie in with Lost World. This was a four issue series reprinting the Topps Lost World comic adaptation from the US. As with Titans Alien Resurrection and Terminator Salvation movie tie in comics, after four issues it was cancelled,

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.

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.