Originally published in 1986, Watchmen changed the comics industry by deconstructing superhero archetypes in a surreal and gritty saga that has consistently been a best-selling trade paperback ever since, even before the Zack Snyder film of 2009.
Branded Before Watchmen, the sure-to-be controversial release will consist of seven miniseries created by an all-star creative lineup.
Brian Azzarello and Lee Burmejo will handle Rorschach in four issues. Azzarello will also tackle six issues of The Comedian with J.G. Jones.
Superwriter J. Michael Strczynski will cover Dr. Manhattan (four issues) with Adam Hughes, as well as Nite Owl (four issues), with art by the father and son team-up of Andy and Joe Kubert.
Original Watchmen editor Len Wein will work on Ozymandias (six issues) with artist Jae Lee.
Darwyn Cooke will give us The Minutemen, a six issue cycle about the early days of the Watchmen's formation.
Cooke will also work on four issues of Silk Spectre, with art by Amanda Conner.
That Before Watchmen is happening despite Alan Moore's wishes is bound to stir up controversy, and that's bound to sell. DC publishers have announced, "It's our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant." Our characters.
While Alan Moore may be planning an assault against DC from the back of some giant leviathan, a statement from Watchmen co-creator and artist Dave Gibbons sounds like an endorsement: “The original series of Watchmen is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted tell. However, I appreciate DC’s reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire.”
I want to support Moore - but I'm torn. And I suspect that with this roster of creators, many of us will find it impossible to stay away. The mayhem gets started this summer.
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