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Post by MacNimon on Jul 9, 2011 9:24:05 GMT
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Post by Silver Age Fan on Jul 9, 2011 15:37:05 GMT
Read a few of these (wasn't there a crossover with Doctor Who?).
I remember the 80s where it was mainly licensed properties. Spider-Man still had a presence - and I recall a late 80s Hulk title - but there weren't many superhero titles.
At the time, DC was big in the UK. London Editions Magazine, an Egmont company, were publishing Superman and Batman titles, and they had a lot of passion for it. I met the editor once - a man by the name of Brian M. Clarke - and it's clear he had passion for the titles.
In 1988, London Editions Magazines started publishing a fortnightly Superman title, initially reprinting John Byrne's Man of Steel mini-series. It later became monthly, with Green Lantern and Justice League of America reprints.
Also that year, Batman Monthly made it's debut. It started off with 70s reprints, but around the 20th/21st issue, it moved to 80s reprints.
Eventually, the Superman title went bi-monthly around 1991. It merged with the Batman title around 1993 and ended in 1994.
London Editions Magazines also tried publishing two titles in 1990, DC Action and Zones. DC Action published reprints of Teen Titans tales, origin stories and Animal Man; Zones was devoted to darker tales such as Swamp Thing. Neither title lasted long.
And in 1991, there was a title (can't recall what it was called) which reprinted pre-Crisis on Infinite Earth stories featuring Batman, The Legion of Super-Heroes, etc. That didn't last long, either.
Sorry if this seems off-topic, I'm just pointing out that from 1988 until the mid-90s, when British Marvel superhero titles weren't as varied as they are now, DC had a high profile in the UK and were edited with passion.
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Post by MacNimon on Jul 9, 2011 20:17:15 GMT
At the time, DC was big in the UK. London Editions Magazine, an Egmont company, were publishing Superman and Batman titles, and they had a lot of passion for it. I met the editor once - a man by the name of Brian M. Clarke - and it's clear he had passion for the titles. In 1988, London Editions Magazines started publishing a fortnightly Superman title, initially reprinting John Byrne's Man of Steel mini-series. It later became monthly, with Green Lantern and Justice League of America reprints. Also that year, Batman Monthly made it's debut. It started off with 70s reprints, but around the 20th/21st issue, it moved to 80s reprints. Eventually, the Superman title went bi-monthly around 1991. It merged with the Batman title around 1993 and ended in 1994. London Editions Magazines also tried publishing two titles in 1990, DC Action and Zones. DC Action published reprints of Teen Titans tales, origin stories and Animal Man; Zones was devoted to darker tales such as Swamp Thing. Neither title lasted long. And in 1991, there was a title (can't recall what it was called) which reprinted pre-Crisis on Infinite Earth stories featuring Batman, The Legion of Super-Heroes, etc. That didn't last long, either. Sorry if this seems off-topic, I'm just pointing out that from 1988 until the mid-90s, when British Marvel superhero titles weren't as varied as they are now, DC had a high profile in the UK and were edited with passion. I've got a few DC covers from this period, Stephen, and apparently the titles were very well received. But as far as I can tell, while trying to research them, it's almost as if they had never existed!  There's very little detail to be found about them online at all. I was going to post the covers but was holding back in hope of getting a decent selection first. Not that there's much chance of that though unless I come across a site dedicated to the subject...no such luck so far, though! |
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Post by Silver Age Fan on Jul 9, 2011 23:52:49 GMT
Yeah, I had no luck with finding a website.
It's a shame. When I think about the "it's just another title for us to release" aspect that I think sums up how Titan seems to publish DC titles, it's a shame that the passionate DC UK titles from the 80s aren't remembered - it's a shame there's no website devoted to them.
The late 80s/early 90s DC UK titles were published in A4 size. They were often like magazines with fact-files and articles (one of the Batman titles had articles on the 40s Batman serials, complete with photos).
I met Brian M. Clarke at the Bristol Comic Con in 2008, having communicated with him via e-mail previously. We have discussed the DC UK titles. He really was a great editor on those titles. In addition to that, he had a passion for all sorts of British comics.
I don't want to sound like a broken record, but although I don't doubt there are those at Titan Comics who have a passion for superheroes, their DC titles have a "just another job" feel to them. It's hard to put into words, it just feels like their titles are just an extension of their graphic novels part of the business, the passion isn't there.
Egmont/LEM/Fleetway had that passion with DC titles at one point. Panini Comics had it with their Batman comic (Panini Comics Marvel titles do what they do well). I just don't feel Titan's DC titles are as good.
Don't get me wrong, Titan do do some things very well. Their magazines devoted to TV and movie properties are brilliant, there's a passion there. Their other comics (the ones that don't feature reprinted stuff) are very good. However, I don't feel they do the DC UK titles as well as Panini Comics do Marvel titles.
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There's very little detail to be found about them online at all. I was going to post the covers but was holding back in hope of getting a decent selection first. Not that there's much chance of that though unless I come across a site dedicated to the subject...no such luck so far, though!