After the release of the new 52 comics last September, DC Comics has decided to have something special planned for the summer of 2012. On February 1st DC Entertainment announced Before Watchmen which is a series of prequels to the groundbreaking 1986 miniseries, which has become the best selling graphic novel of all time. The book has been adapted by Zack Snyder into a film in 2009. However DC Comics could learn from the lessons from the 2006 Superman Returns film, which is keep up-to-date with today’s audience instead of following 25 year-old continuity and The Dark Knight Strikes Back a sequel to The Dark Knight Returns.
Watchmen writer Alan Moore accuses DC Comics of being dependent on 25 year-old ideas. However Moore himself has used public domain characters from 100 years ago in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Moore Moore
Meanwhile Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons gave his blessings for the prequels. The current talent associated with Before Watchmen consists of quality creators expanding the original with eight new stories as well as a one issue epilogue.
Rorschach (4 issues) by writer Brian Azzarello and artist Lee Bermejo
Minutemen (6 issues) by writer/artist Darwyn Cooke
Darwyn Cooke was responsible for DC: The New Frontier which portrayed DC superheroes at the end of the Golden Age and the beginning of the Silver Age.
Comedian (6 issues) by writer Brian Azzarello and artist J.G. Jones
Dr. Manhattan (4 issues) by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Adam Hughes
Nite Owl (4 issues) by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Andy and Joe Kubert
Ozymadias (6 issues) by writer Len Wein and artist Jae Lee
Silk Spectre (4 issues) by writer Darwyn Cooke and artist Amanda Conner
Curse of the Crimson Corsair (back-ups) by writer Len Wein and artist John Higgins. Both creators worked on the original Watchmen as Wein worked as editor and Higgins as the colorist.
Before Watchmen: Epilogue (one-shot) by various writers and artist
The Watchmen is a complete story with no further prequels or sequels needed to expand on the original. One of the problems of being the best selling graphic novel of all time is to repeat its success. Entertainment conglomerates want to take safe risks instead of finding the next generation of artists and writers instead of extending previous ideas. Each issue would be priced at $3.99 for a Before Watchmen book adding up to a total cost of $139.65 for the entire series consisting of 35 books. If sales exceed expectations for Before Watchmen then expect a sequel in Beyond Watchmen soon.
