"Before Watchmen" - SPOILERS

[Jan]

From the Hollywood Reporter:

In what will surely be a controversial move, DC Entertainment is returning to the universe of Watchmen, the acclaimed 1986 graphic novel by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons.

This summer, the company will publish seven prequel comic book mini-series called Before Watchmen, each week unleashing a new title focusing on the characters’ lives and adventures in the years before the original story.

This has been rumored for some time but now there are some details. CBR has an interview with JMS about "one of his two four-issue miniseries for the project: "Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan" as drawn by Adam Hughes."

As the HR said, it's bound to be controversial but I think JMS makes good points in the interview and is sure to be exploring some interesting ideas.

ETA: Some other links from JMS' Facebook page: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?p...ticle&id=36724 - an overview with a quote from Moore

http://shelf-life.ew.com/2012/02/01/...usive-details/ - Entertainment weekly with different art.

ETA Again: From the DC announcement, some details:

•RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
• MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
• COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
• DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
• NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
• OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
• SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner

Each week, a new issue will be released, and will feature a two-page back-up story called CURSE OF THE CRIMSON CORSAIR, written by original series editor Len Wein and with art by original series colorist John Higgins. There will also be a single issue, BEFORE WATCHMEN: EPILOGUE, featuring the work of various writers and artists, and a CRIMSON CORSAIR story by Wein and Higgins.

Jan

[Jonas]

I adore JMS, but I wish he wasn't part of this insulting abomination. The very existence of this project says everything about the lack of artistic integrity in the comics world. They should've known to leave Moore's (entirely complete) work alone.

Edited to add: It's self-destructive, too. Here we have a work that is finally recognized as the true equivalent of a great novel... so let's utterly cheapen it by turning it into yet another franchise!

[lotjx]

Yeah, I love JMS too plus a lot of these guys expect Azzarello, 100 Bullets maybe great, but his Batman arc was terrible. Watchmen should be left alone. i understand its a prequel and all, but I got a bad feeling they are going to add some shock value to it like Silk Spectre II is actually a half sister to Nite Owl or Rorschach or something equally stupid. Watchmen is a one of a kind book and experience, it should be left alone. I mean look how bad DK2 was. As much as I would love to see a Darwyn Cook take on the Minute Men, I am very skeptical if not insulted by everything else.

[Jan]

There's a great thread from JMS' facebook page from yesterday where he addresses many of the comments and feelings people are experiencing about the Watchmen prequels. Very worth the reading in its entirety:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=336153143086222&id=139652459402959

Jan

[David Panzer]

While it is interesting and the talent that DC has gathered for this is impressive, there's just nothing to convince me to buy it or read it. I felt that the 12-issue series was sufficient in telling the story of these characters and what happened to them prior to the main arc.

[Jan]

Here's an interview with JMS in the Hollywood Reporter:

SPOILERS if you follow the link!!

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-entertainment-watchmen-prequel-7-books-286302

Jan

[chiangalice]

Yeah, before I buy them I will read the reviews first. So many things can go wrong with this and I'm not optimistic about it.

[Jan]

Welcome, chiangalice.

While we're waiting for even a publication date for the first one, maybe we can talk about the original? I've got a copy ordered but maybe some of you folks who already know and love that can give me some clues as to what makes it so special and beloved 25 years later?

Jan

[lotjx]

Mark Waid's, author of DC's Kingdom Come, sheds some light on why Moore is rightfully ticked. http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/0...s=&aolc=BGLE6g

Also, the rest of the article talks about JMS being ok if WB did B5 prequels without him.

[Nadarajahl]

Before Watchmen"?

I'm undecided whether to agree with Alan Moore and stick to the original, or just give DC my money and read about Rorschach!

[Doom Shepherd]

Mark Waid's, author of DC's Kingdom Come, sheds some light on why Moore is rightfully ticked. http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/0...s=&aolc=BGLE6g

Also, the rest of the article talks about JMS being ok if WB did B5 prequels without him.

Dang, lotta trolls on that board.

[Bedskeype]

"Before Watchmen"

i don't think moore would approve of anything he's worked on to be made into some kind of video media. i'm sure he isn't too happy about batman ever being put on to film, even before he was working on it.

[David Panzer]

It wasn't so much that.

From Timeout Sydney:

Alan, why is it that films made from your comics never seem to do them justice? Is it a lack of intelligence or courage on the part of filmmakers?

It's not, it's simply because they weren't ever designed to be films. This is what I've been trying to explain to these stupid bastards for the past 20 years. They were designed to exploit all the things that comic books can do and that no other medium can. I wanted to give comics a special place when I was writing things like Watchmen. I wanted to show off just what the possibilities of the comic book medium were. And films are completely different. This assumption that if something works in one medium it will work as well or better in another, I've got no idea where that comes from.

Now, initially he was quite content with ignoring the films of his work while receiving his part of the creator's share. That changed with Fox settling out of court with Martin Poll and Larry Cohen over an unproduced script of theirs called Cast of Characters which they alleged was plagiarized and turned into The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Moore felt that the settlement by Fox was almost an admission of guilt. Since then, he's requested that his name be removed from all films of works that he doesn't own and that his share be sent to the artists. For the works that he does own that haven't been adapted into films, he refuses to sell the rights.

[Doom Shepherd]

With the level of CGI we're capable of now - de-aging people! entirely CGI characters! - or will be soon, - bringing actors back from the dead using footage and voice samples! - what's really left that comics can do that movies can't?

I mean, aside from chopping a German Shepherd's head in half with an axe (cause that'd piss off PETA)?

Okay, maybe squeezing 3 paragraphs of dialogue into a half-second fight scene. That's one thing movies can't quite do yet.

This is only half-sarcastic. If someone has examples, I'd like to know what they are, for intellectual curiosity's sake.

[David Panzer]

Comics aren't limited by a production budget, the availability of actors/actresses, whether those actors/actresses that are available are in the necessary physical shape, having to train those actors/actresses for fight scenes, having to find a good location to film...

But then, if one is simply comparing comics to movies, all you're left with is movies that stand still.

As an aside: I didn't go to the theater at all last year and was simply content reading trade paperbacks and novels.