Dan Dare to celebrate their 20th anniversary, "2000 AD" published two issues with additional free comics, the first a reprint of the first issue of "2000 AD", which starred Dan Dare. The second free comic was a speculative issue called "3000 AD" which contained strips partially based on the first issue of "2000 AD". One strip was entitled "The Return of Dan Dare", which also featured the return of the Mekon. In 1982 "Eagle" was re-launched, with "Dan Dare" again its flagship strip. The new character was the great-great-great-grandson of the original hero—the only surviving character from the original strip being the
Vermont Eagle practices." Antagonistic editorials continued back-and-forth into the beginning of 2002. Around that time, facing financial troubles, the "Eagle" announced that it would begin charging readers .50 per copy. In 2003, because of ongoing financial struggles, the "Vermont Eagle" was purchased by New Market Press. New Market Press was co-founded by Dan Coats and Dan Alexander, who went on to own Denton Publications, which now owns the "Vermont Eagle". Denton Publication is considered a sister publication group to the New Market Press. In 2009, the Vermont Times was absorbed into the "Vermont Eagle". In 2016, the Green Mountain Outlook was absorbed