From its inception, Dark Horse has also always had an eye on crossing over into producing movies based on these and new Dark Horse properties, as well, and has done so with such films as The Mask, Aliens vs. Predator, Timecop and Hellboy film series. Dark Horse has also gone into book publishing and now also publishes novels of and reference books on its various movie series, including Aliens and Predator novels.
Over the years, Dark Horse has acquired many other prominent movie licenses, such as their most-widely known franchise, Star Wars. But it all began with their Aliens and Predator lines, and much of the talent working on their Star Wars, first began as artists, writers and editors on Aliens or Predator.
In July 1988 Dark Horse released the first issue of its first Aliens mini-series, a direct continuation of the story from the film Aliens. Almost one year later in June 1989, Dark Horse released the first issue of the first Predator mini-series, also continuing the story from the film series. Both series were written by Dark Horse writer Mark Verheiden.
Dark Horse laid the foundation for connecting the Aliens franchise with the Predator franchise 1989, in the company's flagship anthology series Dark Horse Presents, issues #34, #35, featured Alien and Predator stories, and in Dec. 1989 issue #36 featured their first Aliens vs. Predator story (later released as Aliens vs. Predator #0), the first ever officially liscenced material featuring a crossover between the two franchises and prequel to the first full-fledged Aliens vs. Predator mini-series, which followed shortly in June 1990.
