BEFORE WATCHMEN
DC Comics is doing a series of miniseries this summer and it will be under the banner “Before Watchmen”. So it’s official and fact, Watchmen
prequels are coming.
There has already been a LOT of crybaby behavior and whining about it. I think it’s crazy because one look at the creative teams working on these books and there is no doubt they are putting the top talent to work on this. The Watchmen collections are one of the best selling graphic novels of all time; it reaches comics fans and non-comics fans alike. DC would be crazy not to do something with these characters. And it is simple logic that DC would want it to do well, which is why you see these amazing creative teams on these books.
“What does Alan Moore say?” Well, I don’t care. The fact is these characters are all based on the Charlton characters DC inherited when they bought Charlton. Originally Moore was going to use them for this story and mess them all up. DC decided they had plans for the characters and Moore simply created characters to plug into their places. Comedian = Peacemaker, Dr. Manhattan = Captain Atom and Rorschach is The Question and so on. So in other words, Moore was going to take other peoples characters and run them through the wringer and that was ok, but bringing in people who respect the Watchmen characters and want to do the best they can isn’t? Silly and hypocritical. The diehard fan boy mentality that would get mad before even reading a single issue blows my mind.
Another aspect of this is basic business. If you have a product that sells well, you try to sell more products like it. With the success of the original Watchmen it would be foolish NOT to do the Before Watchmen” project. Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that it should be like having your own printing press that shoots out $20 bills whenever you want them. (On a similar note, why the Hell isn’t Marvel reprinting the Alan Moore Miracleman stuff already???)
So: RORSCHACH by Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo. This looks to me to be pure WIN. The team that kicked ass on both JOKER and LUTHOR together again on what could arguably be called one of the darkest characters in comics. I can’t imagine a better team working on this book, including Moore. And I love Dave Gibbons work, I truly do, but Lee Bermejo doing the art will be sure to cause people to have some messed up dreams after reading. (Can’t wait)
MINUTEMEN by Darwyn Cooke. Damn! This will be incredible. Cooke doing a period piece team book with little or no continuity to hold him back. I predict it we be as good or better than New Frontier.
COMEDIAN by Brian Azzarello and J.G. Jones. OK, again, how can this not be great. Azzarello’s dialogue skills alone will carry this book. And Jones artwork will be spot on! Over the top fun.
NITE OWL with J. Michael Straczynski. and Andy and Joe Kubert, When Straczynski is on he’s really on and with the Kuberts doing the art how can this not be perfect?
DR. MANHATTAN by J. Michael Straczynski and Adam Hughes. Straczynski does a great job with the cosmic type characters and Adam Hughes is a genius. Another great creator team up
SILK SPECTRE: Darwyn Cooke with Amanda Conner on art. How can this not be awesome?
And finally
OZYMANDIAS by Len Wien and Jae Lee. One look at the first cover and you know it will be awesome. And since Wien was editor on the first go around I would feel pretty confident saying that he know the character!
All the books look good, and I for one think this is going to rock. For a sneak peek at the covers go here:
http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2012/02/01/the-covers-for-before-watchmen/
I can’t wait to get my hands on these books. And for the crybabies out there who are bitching, have a nice hot cup of Shut the Hell up.
Jon Jordan – eternal fanboy