The latest controversy to spread around comic shops around the world is DC’s decision to take those old Watchmen characters off the shelf, dust them off, and send them back into print. DC Comics announced on the first of the month that Summer 2012 would mark the release of a new 35-part series. The new series, Before Watchmen, is a prequel to the original Alan Moore graphic novel, and will be comprised of 7 mini-series, all leading up to the Before Watchmen:Epilogue. In addition, a new character, the Crimson Corsair, will be introduced in a separate story similar to The Black Freighter, having 2 pages per issue. The series brings in writing legends from both DC and Marvel, and has managed to upset readers and staff alike.
Alan Moore, the author of the original series, does not support DC’s decision at all. He harshly states in New York Times that he “tends to take this latest development as confirmation that [DC] are still apparently dependent on ideas that I had 25 years ago.” He ironically goes on to mention that Moby Dick didn’t have any prequels, as he authored The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which teams up many characters from classic novels such as The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dracula, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
I, for one, am ecstatic about this decision. DC has put together one of the best writing teams that I have ever seen for this project. The Rorschach and Comedian series will be written by Brian Azzarello, who wrote two of the best graphic novels, Joker and Lex Luthor:Man of Steel. Dr. Manhattan and Night Owl will be written by J Michael Straczynski, author of Amazing Spiderman and Thor. Catwoman’s Darwyn Cooke will be the talent behind Silk Spectre and Minutemen. And last, but not least, Len Wein, editor of the original Watchmen, and creator of Swamp Thing, will take care of Ozymandias and Crimson Corsair. The epilogue will be written by multiple authors, which DC hasn’t specified, though one can assume it will be an amalgamation of the 4. Personally I’m most excited about Rorschach and the Comedian, as Azzarello is my favorite on the list, and those are also my two favorite Watchmen.
While many readers may believe that this is sacrilege, that Alan Moore, and only Alan Moore, shits gold, I believe these prequels can be done well. It is true that the writers will be treading through a minefield, as the original series is so popular after the release of the movie. However, this doesn’t take away from the fact that the chosen writers know how to write a good comic. Azzarello, Cooke, and Straczynski have handled previously created characters flawlessly. Wein’s Swamp Thing was later worked on by Moore himself. I look at this series as a fantastic expansion of a stagnant franchise, and not as a Phantom Menace to the series.
Bobby K
I’m a student in Gainesville, FL. I am majoring in advertising and communications. I’m quite a fan of all things music, comics, and gaming. In my off time, if I’m not writing, I am playing guitar and singing, or practicing with one of my three music projects, VeloSKAraptor, MotherCulture, and an unnamed project.
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3 Comments
While I agree with Moore that “The Watchmen” should be left alone, he needs to realize two things.
1. If DC sees the potential for $$$$, they’re going to go for it. It’s a business first and foremost. One that caters to the nerds of the world, but still a business. They’re in it for the money.
2. It’s COMICS!!! There is always a need for an origin story. His arguments utilize poor examples. Moby Dick is a novel from an era where the standards were much different. A story stood on its own merits. As for utilizing the TLOEG, of course he didn’t need origin stories. The authors from which he “borrowed” the characters did all of that leg work. Lastly, while Cooke’s work is good, I would’ve gone after John’s to write Silk & Minutemen due to his ability to turn secondary character’s relevant again. (eg Hawkman, GL, and Aquaman) I know that Johns is all over everything these days, but with good reason. His stories sell.
Addressing my opening comment. I don’t believe Moore is the shit. I think these days he isn’t relevant. He tells great stand alone stories, or even mini-series, but he isn’t a long term author. And while I am a fan of the Watchmen story, I don’t particularly care for another jaunt down their lane. It was well told, but the characters themselves weren’t what made it a great story. The material was. You could just as easily plug a multitude of DC or Marvel’s second or third tier characters in their slots and the story would’ve been just as well. (Well, maybe keep Rorschach.
That’s just my opine, feel free to agree/disagree as you like.
I wasn’t excited about the prospect of these stories until I read who would be working on them. Now I am crazy excited. If your going to do something like this, mess with such well known characters, at least they are making sure and putting actual talented people on them. I think these have the potential to be really good.
Daniel of Kabletowava Films
I love the watchmen, I do feel the movie was lack luster though