The central plot of The Watchmen, written by legendary comic writer Alan Moore, focuses on two questions: “what happens when you license costumed vigilantes” and “what if Superman were real”. Moore created grittier, more true-to-life versions of several classic comic book heroes—Batman, Superman, The Question, etc. There was Nite-Owl, Dr. Manhattan, and Rorschach, along with The Comedian, Silk Specter, and Ozymandias.
The prequel will deal with each severely-damaged character in a six-issue run. Some of the best writers and artists in comics are tackling the prequels, but there is a genuine concern that they aren’t Alan Moore. His own unique eccentricies and conceits aside, The Watchmen is a very good read, even for someone who isn’t into comics. It confronts a lot of issues of the philosophy of civil society, and asks the very important question: Who watches the watchmen? The book has even inspired full length non-fiction novels devoted to the Moore’s philosophy and characters.
I’m personally sure that this will be more of a loving tribute to a man’s mastery of craft than it will be an equal. I’ll also probably read it. But until it hits the shelves, I cannot recommend the graphic novel to any crime fan highly enough.
Can you think of any master-writers that have had their work successfully, or unsuccessfully, carried on?
I loved The Watchmen. I will probably eventually get around to reading these if only out of curiosity. It might be interesting, or it might turn out to be just trying to capitalize on a franchise that finally escaped the confines of the comic community. I wish my comic TBR pile wasn’t as large as it is.
I feel the same way. I know that the writers and artists probably have the greatest respect for Moore, but I feel that DC is just captilizing as you said.
The problem with the comic TBR pile is that you cannot really take them into the bath with you.
I had absolutely no interest in this project until I read the names of some of the creators involved, notably Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Connor. Now I do kind of want to see what they’re going to do with the characters…don’t know if I’ll go so far as to buy the comics, though.