Story here. DC is releasing a slew of Watchmen prequel comics this summer, 4 or 6 per character. Alan Moore is of course completely opposed to it -
Personally I think it’s an interesting idea that will probably turn out lousy in execution, but at least they’re not doing a sequel to Watchmen.
I think this is a terrible idea, personally. I mean…I love Watchmen, but I love it because the story is fantastic and well-executed. I don’t love it because the characters are all so interesting and likable. There is really not a single character from the entire comic that I feel I need to see a prequel story about, and frankly, showing some of the backstory for, say, The Comedian, is just going to be lame and stupid. (Remember how we implied that it was The Comedian on the grassy knoll! Now we are going to actually show it! Won’t that be even better? :rolleyes: ) I suspect this will be Star Wars-prequel-level bad.
I don’t know if they will be as bad as the Star Wars prequels, but I’m expecting it won’t be good. They are certainly unnecessary. The only thing that would interest me if they stories were about other people in the Watchmen universe. It might be interesting to me to see what the average person in their America thought about crazy people dressing up like superheroes and all these crimefighter groups running around. But just back story on The Comedian and Dr. Manhattan and those characters doesn’t interest me, especially with Alan Moore not being involved, and I don’t know if I’ll read them unless everyone else raves about how amazing they are.
Although I do think this is a bad project (and noticeable by the absence of some of the bigger names from the DC roster of creators), Moore is being a bit of a tit here.
25 years is relatively new. That’s a teenager compared to Batman and Superman. The big Marvel comics came about mostly in the 60s and 70s but some are older than that.
25 years? That’s nothing. Get over yourself.
I think it could work. It looks like they picked some Talent and they know all eyes are on them so it probably won’t be a cash in. I wouldn’t mind seeing more stories in that world.
I have mixed feelings about it, but I just clicked on the link in the OP and wow, some of the commenters on that story are real wankers. You’d think DC was literally shitting on a sacred text, the way some of those folks are reacting.
Not to mention that League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and much of his other work, is dependent on ideas much older.
Even Watchmen wasn’t a Moore original, strictly speaking. His characters are based on (and if not for copyright issues, would have been) Charlton characters, and his basic premise is virtually identical to that Outer Limits episode, though if he says he wasn’t familiar with it, I’ll take him at his word.
But still, I think this is a bad idea. The backstories of the characters were already firmly established and maintained internal consistency. Trying to revisit them now will mean the stories either have no relevance (i.e. just stand-alone adventures) or will end up contradicting existing material.
The best thing would be if DC decided to totally Alan Moore Alan Moore.
Do a reinvention of the characters that totally changes the themes. Ozymandias is the loyal, self-sacrificing hero; the Comedian is a nice guy; Osterman is not depressed; Nite Owl eats kittens; etc.
I’ll pass. Sometimes the story is already complete and stands by itself, and the urge to expand it over and over and do prequels and sequels just gives you stuff you didn’t need.
Make the Tick one of the Watchmen! "Eating kittens is just plain wrong. And no one should do it, EVER!
Terrible idea.
It’s a complete fucking story. It doesn’t need anything else. Do we need fucking prequels to, I dunno, Hamlet? No.
And without Alan Moore it isn’t Watchmen anyway. Fucking thieves…
I’m certainly willing to take a look, loving Watchmen as I do, but my expectations are low.
Love Watchmen, have absolutely no interest in expanding the story whatsoever, especially since the principals are not involved.
If you think Hamlet’s mopey now, just wait for the prequel where he’s a teenager.
“I want to ask Ophelia to be my date for the dance, but I’m such a loser. My dad don’t get me. I wish he was dead.”
The issue wasn’t copyright. DC had bought Charlton and hence owned the characters. Moore wanted to use them for his project but DC decided to introduce them to the DC universe proper meaning Moore had to come up with similar ones.
Yes, I knew that but said it wrong.
OK, I’ll let you off then. But just this once, mind. Watch your step.
Hey, don’t make me go all skillful feint - devastating uppercut on you.
Moore’s feelings (i.e. he’s about as pleased as Lewis Carroll, L. Frank Baum, and J. M. Barrie would be if they saw some git writing a porn story about their heroines) are predictable enough.
Personally, my expectations are relatively low, and I don’t feel any impulse to seek out the finished product.