It seemed the perfect union. But it was unfortunately not to be. Bleeding Cool understands that the relationship between Titan Comics and Games Workshop over the Warhammer 40K license has broken down.

Titan Comics has been publishing comic books based on the popular tabletop gaming franchise sold by Games Workshop for some time now. However, I understand that there have been a lot of tension, principally down to copious notes from Games Workshop over what been described as minutea, to the extent that Games Workshop have told Titan that the fees earned from comics license don't pay for the amount of attention they have to give the comic books for approval.

This has also led to late shipping comic books which has hurt sales for Titan Comics. The recent Warhammer 40K: Deathwatch four-issue mini-series saw its third issue scheduled for August ship in October.

Also there seems to have been a flat refusal from Games Workshop across the country to sell Warhammer 40K comics in store – where there may be an audience most open to picking up copies, and where Games Workshop would earn an additional income from the comic. This is while Games Workshops continue to sell Warhammer 40K prose novels.

This apparent conflict between the two parties has led to Games Workshop choosing not renew the license when it comes up and Titan Comics to publish any more original comics in the interim.

I understand that it is likely that Games Workshop will publish its own Warhammer 40K comic books in 2019. It is possible it may have an easier relationship with itself than with Titan Comics. Although of course there's no guarantee of that.

Titan Comics did not reply to e-mails sent earlier today.