Doctor Who Magazine Doctor Who Magazine is the world ' s longest running magazine based on a television series . It is currently published every four weeks and offers " Doctor Who " news , reviews , articles and comic stories . There are also occasional standalone publications . The abbreviation " DWM " is widely used in fandom to refer to the magazine , even though it has had other names that do not fit the acronym . The magazine was born as " Doctor Who Weekly " , published by the UK branch of Marvel Comics in mid - October 1979 . The first issue arrived on newsstands midway through broadcast of " City of Death " , and Tom Baker spent some time promoting it while in the midst of production of the ultimately cancelled " Shada " . At this time , a weekly magazine was still a popular format in the United Kingdom . Marvel republished several of its US comic books ( such as " Star Wars " ) in the black and white weekly format . " Doctor Who Weekly " s initial cover price was 12 pence , at the time roughly equivalent to 25 American cents . With its 44th issue in September 1980 , Marvel switched the magazine to monthly publication . Its title was changed to " Doctor Who - A Marvel Monthly " , then in 1982 to " Doctor Who Monthly " . In 1984 , the title was changed again , to " The Official Doctor Who Magazine " and in 1985 to " The Doctor Who Magazine " . Since issue 107 , published in December 1985 , the title has been , simply , " Doctor Who Magazine " . The title changes , very broadly speaking , reflected a change of editor or direction for the title . The continuity of the numbering system — largely the indication of whether a title is considered " continuously published " — has remained intact from October 1979 to 2018 . Since its first issue , a major feature of each issue has been an ongoing comic strip based upon the series . It has featured adventures of every incarnation of the Doctor and many of his TV companions . There have also been , from time to time , back - up comic strips featuring different characters . During the 1990s DWM was affiliated with the Virgin New Adventures book line , publishing short stories ( dubbed " Brief Encounter " ) related to the books and comic strips that linked closely with current New Adventures novels . The magazine ' s logo generally resembles the current on - screen series logo . Notable exceptions include the period from 1991 to 1999 , when the magazine reverted to the " diamond logo " associated with the late Jon Pertwee and most of the Tom Baker era ; DWM belatedly switched to the logo introduced in the Paul McGann TV movie in 1999 and it remained in use until it adopted a variation of the logo used for the revived TV series in 2005 . Marvel continued to publish the magazine until the mid 1990s when it was sold to Panini Publishing Ltd . which continues to publish it . Over the years , many writers connected with the series have written for the magazine and others who have written for DWM have contributed to " Doctor Who " or its spin - offs . Correspondence collected over the course of several years between " Doctor Who " producer and lead writer Russell T Davies and DWM writer Benjamin Cook were collected in the book " " in 2008 ; an expanded second edition was published in early 2010 . The comic strip has , to date , been used as source material for one episode , 2010 ' s " The Lodger " . Contributors to DWM have also been featured in other similar publications such as " Doctor Who " annuals , Yearbooks and Storybooks . In October 2008 , DWM published its 400th issue . It celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in October 2009 . It published its 500th issue in June 2016 . It is currently the longest - running professionally published and licensed magazine based on an English - language television series ; its associated comic strip is the longest - running comic based upon an English - language television series to be published without interruption . In an appearance on " Friday Night with Jonathan Ross " in October 2006 , Billie Piper revealed she was a regular subscriber to DWM and that she loved the magazine , defending it when Ross attempted to dismiss it as " only for geeks " . ( CD " " ) More recently , actress Alexa Havins , in an interview published in DWM 437 , said she was a fan of the magazine , which was often available for reading on the set of " Torchwood : Miracle Day " . In addition to these superlatives , " Doctor Who Magazine " is a survivor of the print medium , having now outlasted many long - running science fiction - based publications such as " Starlog " , which have in recent years abandoned print for website - only productions or closed down completely . In January 2010 the magazine was relaunched with a new look . In 2011 , it published its first 100 - page issue . In January 2013 , the magazine was again redesigned , with the physical dimensions of issues being changed . In late 2013 , a Doctor Who Magazine app was launched , allowing users to purchase easily navigable digital versions of issues . Regular issues . Further information relating to the various periods of the magazine ' s publication can be found through the links below . They are sorted first by " eras " of the magazine when the magazine was titled by a specific name . From issue 107 it was titled " Doctor Who Magazine " , the title by which it is still known . By " era " . From 1979 through to November 1985 the magazine was known by a variety of titles , including " Doctor Who Weekly " and names that referred to its monthly status . In December 1985 with issue 107 , the magazine became known as " Doctor Who Magazine " . Issues in the following pages are arranged by the " eras " when the magazine was known by a slew of titles . By year . From issue 107 in December 1985 , the magazine was retitled , dropping " The " from its name to become , as it is known today , " Doctor Who Magazine " . All issues following this change are arranged by " year " based on their ; this is the date that is listed on the front of the magazine and indicates the last date the issue was current . It is " not " a publication date , rather it can be viewed as an expiry date . Comic strip reprints . Over the years , the " Doctor Who " comic strip has been reprinted – often with colour added ( it was published in black and white prior to late 2001 ) – in a number of different publications . In the United States , Marvel Comics and , more recently , IDW Publishing have issued reprint titles in comic book and graphic novel format . Panini has reissued the comic strips in deluxe omnibus form and in magazine - sized publications ( see Doctor Who Magazine graphic novels ) . Distribution outside the UK . Distribution of DWM and its forebears outside the UK has been sporadic . In areas where " Doctor Who " has been popular it has found limited distribution through specialty stores such as comic book shops and cult / fantasy shops . During the " Doctor Who Weekly " era of the magazine it was not circulated in North America , but regular distribution through Marvel US occurred during the 1980s , following its move to monthly publication . This continued into the late 1990s . When ownership of the magazine shifted to Panini , distribution in North America became less widespread . Few magazine shops and comic book retailers carried it month - to - month , only occasional issues . The re - emergence in the popularity of " Doctor Who " post - 2005 has meant that " Doctor Who Magazine " can be found in most newsagents within Australia . Due to distance considerations for areas such as North America and Australia , ( two of the larger markets for the magazine ) the magazine is often available on or after its cover date , rather than the few weeks prior the magazine is distributed locally in the United Kingdom . Whilst this lag time often means articles intended to promote upcoming episodes in the United Kingdom arrive overseas out of sync with their UK broadcasts , they sometimes fall into sync with their local broadcasts . However the lag time does impact on a reader ' s ability to participate in deadline - specific activities such as contests , polls and surveys . Aside from this , the magazines generally arrive intact , including giveaways and premiums such as free CDs and cards included with the original UK release . Inserts and special features . From the very beginning , occasional magazine issues have featured special bonus items and inserts . The first few issues in 1979 came with free transfers and many issues have come packaged with posters and other paraphernalia . These premiums have become less frequent in recent years , but still occur at least a couple times a year . Notable items included with DWM releases over the years have included flexi - discs of soundtrack music , CDs of specially commissioned audio dramas by Big Finish Productions and in the summer of 2008 , issue 397 came packaged with one of twenty - seven vintage Target novelisation s ( or related books ) . Issue 411 in August 2009 included a code that allowed readers to download an exclusive Big Finish audio drama , " The Mists of Time " , for a limited time . All issues following this issue that included a free or exclusive audio story with the magazine included it in this matter , as a digital download rather than as a physical CD . Unusually , as many magazines strip inserts before shipping overseas due to licensing issues ( or are prevented from international distribution as a result such as " Doctor Who Adventures " ) , DWM ' s international distribution includes most inserts , including the Big Finish CDs / downloads and Target Books bonus . Special editions and other publications . " Doctor Who Magazine " has been in continuous publication since its launch , offering special editions each year in addition to its regular issues . A number of sister publications have been published at various times . Some ongoing features alternated between titles . In addition , DWM editorial staff also oversaw a spin - off publication , " Doctor Who Insider " , which Panini initially published exclusively for North American markets . Fanzine . In January 2010 , " Doctor Who Magazine " became one of – possibly the only – fan magazine to itself become the subject of a fanzine , with the launch of " Vworp Vworp ! " , a fanzine dedicated to the " Doctor Who " comic strips and the history of DWM .