Before Watchmen: Thus Far (June Publications + Ozymandias)
Whether you’re for it or against it, DC’s prequel to Watchmen – Before Watchmen – is here. I realize a lot of hardcore Alan Moore fans are quite miffed that DC opted to launch a prequel series written by other creators after Moore turned down the option to write the prequels himself. DC owns the rights to Watchmen and I’ll be the first to say I was pissed off when I heard they were doing a prequel series without Moore’s input. Being a creator myself, I can understand why Moore wants no ties to the prequels since he didn’t feel he was allowed the creative freedom with DC that he is being granted at Avatar and other independent publishers. As Moore has stated, DC missed the boat on him writing prequels or sequels to Watchmen by about 20 years as he would have liked to continue with the series on the heels of the original Watchmen’s release.
Sympathies for Moore – one of my favourite creators and someone I look up to as a writer – aside, I stopped to consider what having another creative team would mean for these prequels. Moore’s Watchmen was one of the most influential comics of the past quarter century and these other writers have had that quarter century to digest and form their own ideas and notions of the world of Watchmen. Having that long to read and re-read the original countless times and being that it is every writer’s dream to reshape popular characters people care for in order to carve a name for themselves in the annals of comic history, would you not think that perhaps this Before Watchmen launch will help recreate the world of Watchmen and allow other writers the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings on these monumental characters?
Moore’s Watchmen was one of the most influential comics of the past quarter century and these other writers have had that quarter century to digest and form their own ideas and notions of the world of Watchmen.
First off, let’s talk creative teaming on this project. To avoid death threats and speak from the heart on this, no pairing besides Moore and Gibbons would have done the project TRUE justice. However, I think DC has done an excellent job of forming creative teams for these limited series. On Minutemen we have Darwyn Cooke performing double duties as both artist and writer. Silk Spectre is written by Cooke but art duties are Amanda Conner (she’s brilliant; I loved the art for this issue). Comedian boasts what I consider the second best pairing in the prequels with the king of crime comics, Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, The Joker, WonderWoman, Spaceman) scarring readers with his sharp and witty poison pen while JG Jones’ artwork for the series lends itself to some pretty epic interior artwork in issue 1 (particularly liked the panels of Comedian playing football with a certain President). Nite Owl is written by J. Michael Stracynski with Andy and Joe Kubert handling the artwork. Ozymandias, one of the more important characters from Moore’s Watchmen, is written by comic veteran Len Wein and artwork by Jae Lee. The previously mentioned titles are the only ones that will be covered in any detail in this posting due to the other titles not being released until later this summer. Looking forward, Dr. Manhattan is also written by Nite Owl writer J. Michael Stracynski though artwork is by Adam Hughes. Being a fan of gritty, hardboiled crime fiction, I’m most looking forward to Rorschach which will be written by Brian Azzarello and drawn by Lee Bermejo. I don’t think I have to explain why I consider this to be the pick of the litter, having not even read it yet: have you read The Joker? Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo were meant for each other. The Joker was a NY Times GN best seller and I don’t doubt that Rorschach will follow in the Joker’s footsteps. Brian Azz has a knack for exploiting the most grotesque character flaws and twisting them into something so sick and deranged its horrifying, as exemplified by Joker. Bermejo is an EXTREMELY talented artist that has earned his stripes en time and again not only on Joker but also his own take on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a Batman twist: Batman Noel, which was released in November of 2011.
A sneak peak at the interior art for the Before Watchmen series.
All of the issues of Before Watchmen come with a few pages of Crimson Corsair in the back of the issue, though I won’t be discussing that at length until the conclusion of the series.
I should also mention that there is a 1 shot epilogue by various writers and artists to sum up the series. DC also gives fans the option of buying a digital combo pack edition for $4.99, only $1 more than the magazine format!
Minutemen #1
Before Watchmen Minutemen #1
Minutemen is a 6 issue series focusing on the pre-Watchmen team of Sally Jupiter, the original Nite Owl, Dollar Bill, Mothman, a younger version of Comedian Edward Blake and Silhouette. Usually I’m more taken in by story as opposed to art but I feel the story in this series wouldn’t work at all without the Golden Age inspired art by Darwyn Cooke that gives Minutemen its dated/oldies feel. If you’re unfamiliar with Moore’s Watchmen then a lot of subtle hints that Cooke drops as to the impending doom of the Minutemen will be lost on you. Though I wasn’t as excited for this title as with some of the other Before Watchmen titles, I’d still give this issue a 4/5, though it goes without saying it can only get better as Cooke moves along in this particular storyline.
Silk Spectre #1
Before Watchmen Silk Spectre #1 Variant
I’d like to state for the record here that I think Comic Book Resources’ review of Silk Spectre short-changed it and that there is a LOT of substance here. What the @!#$ were you guys reading? Cooke plays on the relationship between original Silk Spectre (Sally Jupiter) and her younger protégé, daughter Laurie Jupiter. Cooke’s art would not lend itself well to this title and I think having the womanly touch of Amanda Conner’s art helps paint a very sad picture of Laurie Jupiter who is constantly at odds with her overbearing mother. This particular issue dealt with Laurie meeting a boy who she has a crush on and the strain her mother, their familial situation and the spotlight have affected not only Laurie, but Sally as well.
Comedian #1
Before Watchmen Comedian #1
Of the two titles written by Brian Azzarello, I think this serves as a good introductory issue to Comedian but it left me wanting more. Not that JG Jones’ artwork wasn’t great and the story wasn’t good but I perhaps went in with high expectations of Rorschach and the Comedian series seemed to me an afterthought. I am glad that Azzarello will be writing Rorschach and Comedian because I feel both characters can be done exceptionally well by such a talented writer. I am hoping that Comedian will take off in the next few issues and was just slow to start. This issue also comes in variant cover by 100 Bullets artist Eduardo Risso. In this issue we get to see Comedian’s beginnings and now that I’ve read the 5 titles released thus far, I can tell you they all follow a rather formulaic introduction of the character in their younger years, a few pages in their teens and young adulthood and then an adult portrait. By formulaic I don’t mean this is a boring means to re-introduce Watchmen, the back-story to all of these characters is unique and interesting, though so far every issue 1 has introduced the character in their early years and moved forward to adulthood which is usually the last few pages.
As of yet, Comedian doesn’t seem as sick and evil as twisted as Moore portrayed him but I do think Azzarello will have some interesting revelations coming into play as the story arc progresses. The relationship of the Kennedy’s and Jackie O. to Comedian plays an important part in this issue and sets the stage for what is to come in next month’s issue.
Nite Owl #1
Before Watchmen Nite Owl #3
Dan Drieberg is depicted much as he was in the original Watchmen by Moore and the transition from original to the prequel as it pertains to Drieberg/Nite Owl II is virtually seamless as far as I am concerned. Young Danny is a fascinating character with his head in the clouds and an obsession with Nite Owl (Hollis Mason). His abusive father is portrayed differently than Sally Jupiter though it becomes quite clear by the portrayal of parenting figures in Dan and Laurie’s lives that they suffer a rather similar fate in terms of being ostracized for their shortcomings in their individuality. Andy and Joe Kubert’s art for issue 1 was pretty stellar, I especially liked pages 6 and 7 which boasted no dialogue and were excellent examples of sequential art storytelling. These pages show Danny entering Hollis Mason’s fortress – the Owl Cave – undetected and exploring the wondrous. Of the origin stories so far I think Silk Spectre, Nite Owl and Ozymandias have done the best jobs of re-interpreting and re-imaging the characters differently from Alan Moore’s work. Nite Owl also has gripping action sequences and beautiful character growth. As Danny grows older, it is glaringly evident to readers that he is in need of a father figure as his own father’s praise will never be gained, nor does Danny want it. Hollis Mason takes the boy under his wing after the death of Danny’s father and trains him to become Nite Owl II. I’m quite excited by the promise of this issue and would highly recommend the series to anyone who likes loner/nerdy type heroes who you can’t help but sympathize with.
Ozymandias #1
Before Watchmen Ozymandias #1
Jae Lee’s art for Ozymandias was hella good! Page 1 is my favourite splash page in the series thus far and I really like Lee’s sequentials. Ozymandias is the most sublime and surreal hero art I’ve encountered in a while and I was hooked from the splash page and in need of a fix like a fat kid in a candy shop. Len Wein truly understands Adrian Veidt’s life motto, “I have goals to achieve, dreams to make come true”. While Ozymandias is undoubtedly villainous in his efforts to secure world peace, Wein helps readers come to an understanding of his origins that makes sense and would be agitating factors in Ozymandias later life decisions to force the world into peace by pulling the wool over its eyes. This issue also has the introduction of the villain Moloch as he takes something precious from Adrian Veidt, prior to Adrian taking up the mantle of Ozymandias inspired by his idol Alexander the Great. I don’t want to spoil it and ruin things for you if you have not read, and I won’t, but remember that thing Rorschach writes in his journal in Moore’s Watchmen? “Adrian Veidt, possible homosexual? Need to investigate further” Well, just keep that in mind in this issue. Ozymandias ends with Veidt donning the Ozymandias costume for the first time. I am eagerly awaiting the next issue and was pleasantly surprised by the success of this issue and the way in which Len Wein and Jae Lee have set in motion some awesome plot devices in this limited series.
You can follow James on twitter at @JamesMClark87
Posted on July 11th, 2012
Category: 50 SHADES OF BLOOD AND VISCERA, REVIEWS
Tags: Alan Moore, Before Watchmen, Comedian, Comic Reviews, Crimson Corsair, DC Comics, James M. Clark, Minutemen, Nite Owl, Ozymandias, Rorschach, Silk Spectre