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Before Watchmen
Before Watchmen: Minutemen/Silk Spectre
The controversial, long-awaited prequels to the best-selling graphic novel of all-time are finally here: BEFORE WATCHMEN! For over twenty years, the back stories of the now-iconic characters from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon's landmark graphic novel had been the subject of much debate and theorizing. Now, DC Comics has assembled the greatest creators in the industry to further paint the world of WATCHMEN, starting with this first volume starring MINUTEMEN and SILK SPECTRE
The critically acclaimed and Eisner Award-winning creator of DC: THE NEW FRONTIER Darwyn Cooke lends his talents MINUTEMEN. As the predecessor to the Watchmen, the Minutemen were assembled to fight against a world that have more and more rapidly begun to spin out of control. Can these heroes from completely different backgrounds and with completely different attitudes on crime come together? Or will they fall apart before they begin?
SILK SPECTRE takes an introspective look at the WATCHMEN feature player's struggles with her overbearing superhero mother and her scattered path toward taking the mantle of the Silk Spectre. With gorgeous art by co-writer and illustrator Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL, The Pro), SILK SPECTRE takes a very different perspective at the world of BEFORE WATCHMEN.
Collects BEFORE WATCHMEN: MINUTEMEN 1-6 and BEFORE WATCHMEN: SILK SPECTRE 1-4.
The critically acclaimed and Eisner Award-winning creator of DC: THE NEW FRONTIER Darwyn Cooke lends his talents MINUTEMEN. As the predecessor to the Watchmen, the Minutemen were assembled to fight against a world that have more and more rapidly begun to spin out of control. Can these heroes from completely different backgrounds and with completely different attitudes on crime come together? Or will they fall apart before they begin?
SILK SPECTRE takes an introspective look at the WATCHMEN feature player's struggles with her overbearing superhero mother and her scattered path toward taking the mantle of the Silk Spectre. With gorgeous art by co-writer and illustrator Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL, The Pro), SILK SPECTRE takes a very different perspective at the world of BEFORE WATCHMEN.
Collects BEFORE WATCHMEN: MINUTEMEN 1-6 and BEFORE WATCHMEN: SILK SPECTRE 1-4.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published July 2, 2013
106 people are currently reading
1560 people want to read
About the author
Darwyn Cooke
246 books356 followersDarwyn Cooke was an Eisner Award winning comic book writer, artist, cartoonist and animator, best known for his work on the comic books Catwoman, DC: The New Frontier and Will Eisner's The Spirit.
In 1985, Cooke published his first comic book work as a professional artist in a short story in New Talent Showcase #19, but economic pressure made him leave the career and he worked in Canada as a magazine art director, graphic and product designer for the next 15 years.
In the early 1990s Cooke decided to return to comics, but found little interest for his work at the major publishers. Eventually he was hired by Warner Bros. Animation after replying to an ad placed by animator Bruce Timm.
He went on to work as a storyboard artist for Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, and in 1999 he animated the main title design for Batman Beyond. He then worked as a director for Sony Animation's Men in Black: The Series for a year.
DC Comics then approached Cooke about a project which he had submitted to the publisher years earlier which eventually became Batman: Ego, a graphic novel published in 2000.
The critical success of that project led to Cooke taking on more freelance work, such as X-Force, Wolverine/Doop and Spider-Man's Tangled Web for Marvel Comics and Just Imagine... Stan Lee for DC.
In 2001, Cooke and writer Ed Brubaker teamed up to revamp the Catwoman character. They started with a 4 issue serial "Trail of the Catwoman" in Detective Comics #759-762 in which private detective Slam Bradley attempts to investigate the death of Selina Kyle (AKA Catwoman).
The story led into a new Catwoman title in late 2001 by Brubaker and Cooke, in which the character's costume, supporting cast and modus operandi were all redesigned and redeveloped. Cooke would stay on the series, which was met with critical and fan acclaim, up until issue #4. In 2002 he would write and draw a prequel, the Selina's Big Score graphic novel which detailed what had happened to the character directly before her new series.
Cover to DC: The New Frontier #6.
Cover to DC: The New Frontier #6.
Cooke's next project was the ambitious DC: The New Frontier (2004), a six issue miniseries which sought to tell an epic storyline bridging the gap between the end of the golden and the start of the silver age of comic books in the DC Universe. The story, which was set in the 1950s, featured dozens of super-hero characters and drew inspiration from the comic books and movies of the period as well as from Tom Wolfe's non-fiction account of the start of the US Space Program The Right Stuff. The major DC characters are introduced in "The New Frontier" in the same order that DC originally published them, even down to the correct month and year in the story's timeline. In 2005, Cooke won an Eisner Award for "Best Limited Series", and a Joe Shuster Award for "Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Cartoonist" for his work on the series.
Most recently, Cooke contributed to DC's artist-centric anthology project Solo. His issue (#5, June, 2005) featured several different stories in different styles with a framing sequence featuring the Slam Bradley character. In 2006, Solo #5 won an Eisner Award for "Best Single Issue."
In July 2005, it was announced that in 2006 Cooke and writer Jeph Loeb would produce a Batman/Spirit crossover, to be followed shortly afterwards by an ongoing Spirit series written and drawn by Cooke. Batman/The Spirit was ultimately published in November 2006, followed in December by the first issue of Cooke's The Spirit. In June 2007, Cooke and J. Bone won a Joe Shuster Award for "Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Artists" for their work on "Batman/The Spirit", and Cooke won "Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Cartoonist" for his work on "The Spirit".
In July 2006, it was announced that Warner Bros. Animation and DC Comics would release a series of direct-to-DVD animated movies based on important DC com
In 1985, Cooke published his first comic book work as a professional artist in a short story in New Talent Showcase #19, but economic pressure made him leave the career and he worked in Canada as a magazine art director, graphic and product designer for the next 15 years.
In the early 1990s Cooke decided to return to comics, but found little interest for his work at the major publishers. Eventually he was hired by Warner Bros. Animation after replying to an ad placed by animator Bruce Timm.
He went on to work as a storyboard artist for Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, and in 1999 he animated the main title design for Batman Beyond. He then worked as a director for Sony Animation's Men in Black: The Series for a year.
DC Comics then approached Cooke about a project which he had submitted to the publisher years earlier which eventually became Batman: Ego, a graphic novel published in 2000.
The critical success of that project led to Cooke taking on more freelance work, such as X-Force, Wolverine/Doop and Spider-Man's Tangled Web for Marvel Comics and Just Imagine... Stan Lee for DC.
In 2001, Cooke and writer Ed Brubaker teamed up to revamp the Catwoman character. They started with a 4 issue serial "Trail of the Catwoman" in Detective Comics #759-762 in which private detective Slam Bradley attempts to investigate the death of Selina Kyle (AKA Catwoman).
The story led into a new Catwoman title in late 2001 by Brubaker and Cooke, in which the character's costume, supporting cast and modus operandi were all redesigned and redeveloped. Cooke would stay on the series, which was met with critical and fan acclaim, up until issue #4. In 2002 he would write and draw a prequel, the Selina's Big Score graphic novel which detailed what had happened to the character directly before her new series.
Cover to DC: The New Frontier #6.
Cover to DC: The New Frontier #6.
Cooke's next project was the ambitious DC: The New Frontier (2004), a six issue miniseries which sought to tell an epic storyline bridging the gap between the end of the golden and the start of the silver age of comic books in the DC Universe. The story, which was set in the 1950s, featured dozens of super-hero characters and drew inspiration from the comic books and movies of the period as well as from Tom Wolfe's non-fiction account of the start of the US Space Program The Right Stuff. The major DC characters are introduced in "The New Frontier" in the same order that DC originally published them, even down to the correct month and year in the story's timeline. In 2005, Cooke won an Eisner Award for "Best Limited Series", and a Joe Shuster Award for "Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Cartoonist" for his work on the series.
Most recently, Cooke contributed to DC's artist-centric anthology project Solo. His issue (#5, June, 2005) featured several different stories in different styles with a framing sequence featuring the Slam Bradley character. In 2006, Solo #5 won an Eisner Award for "Best Single Issue."
In July 2005, it was announced that in 2006 Cooke and writer Jeph Loeb would produce a Batman/Spirit crossover, to be followed shortly afterwards by an ongoing Spirit series written and drawn by Cooke. Batman/The Spirit was ultimately published in November 2006, followed in December by the first issue of Cooke's The Spirit. In June 2007, Cooke and J. Bone won a Joe Shuster Award for "Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Artists" for their work on "Batman/The Spirit", and Cooke won "Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Cartoonist" for his work on "The Spirit".
In July 2006, it was announced that Warner Bros. Animation and DC Comics would release a series of direct-to-DVD animated movies based on important DC com
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August 26, 2015
The Minutemen were the group that preceded Watchmen. They were: Hollis Mason/(the first)Nite Owl, Sally Jupiter/(the first)Silk Spectre, Nelson Gardner/Captain Metropolis, Hooded Justice, Bill Brady/Dollar Bill, Byron Lewis/Mothman, Ursula Zandt/The Silhouette and Eddie Blake/The Comedian.
Darwyn Cooke takes us back to the beginnings when they first formed and began fighting crime, to the “present day” when it’s years later, the group has been disbanded, and Mason is about to publish his memoirs, “Under the Hood”. The Minutemen story jumps from the present to the past as we see the promising start and the ugly end of the doomed superheroes.
Cooke doesn’t really have a story here, just fragments of one. Besides the Minutemen forming and learning to fight crime, there’s a side story about someone abducting and murdering children and the jaded, cynical flavour of Watchmen continues as the Minutemen become obsessed with fame and money instead of justice. Because there’s no real plot and everything sort of meanders, it’s a really slow read - six issues was way too long for this mini-series. I was so bored for most of Minutemen.
Not that it doesn’t have good moments like The Comedian’s redemptive story he tells Sally, and The Silhouette’s backstory and quest was good (she was one of two Minutemen who could be called a real hero and she got the worst fate; see what I mean about cynical?).
Cooke’s art is great as well and I loved the wide establishing shots on the first page of each issue, centring around a circle - the iconic Smiley Face outline - while also setting up the story. But the Minutemen’s story is super-dark and Cooke’s art is a bit too cartoony. It doesn’t match the misery and inadvertently makes light of the darkness. A more realistic art-style, like Lee Bermejo’s in the Rorschach mini, would’ve suited and brought home the Minutemen’s tragic story a lot harder.
Cooke is joined by Amanda Conner on the four issue Silk Spectre series with Conner on art. The series focuses on Sally Jupiter’s daughter, Laurel Jane, as a teenager. She’s being groomed by a retired (and too often drunk) Sally to become the new Silk Spectre but she doesn’t want to be a superhero and decides to run off to San Francisco with her boyfriend Greg instead.
There, she discovers a fiendish plot to dose hippies with LSD that turns them into mindless consumers spearheaded by Frank Sinatra and the music industry?!
Yeah, the Silk Spectre story is a bit of a mess too. Cooke’s Minutemen was too thin and slow; Cooke/Conner’s Silk Spectre is just crap, completely throwaway. I have no idea what they were thinking when they came up with this ridiculous story but it’s the worst one of the Before Watchmen line-up I’ve read yet. Laurie’s kind of convincing as a girl who can handle herself in a street fight but a superhero? Alongside Doctor Manhattan and The Comedian? Not even slightly convincing. Why would they need a teen girl in the group? I guess that’s the “Black Widow problem” all over again.
Conner’s art though is incredible. She always produces excellent pages but this is the best stuff I’ve seen from her in years. She has an uncanny ability not just to capture an image, an evocative expression, but give it a vibrancy as to almost animate it - it’s the suggestion of life that she gives the reader who does bring the image alive when they see it. Body language and movement are rendered perfectly and the panels flow together beautifully. Laurie’s acid trip sequence is great, her fantasy cut-aways are fun, and Conner’s ‘60s Silk Spectre outfit is outstanding, surpassing Dave Gibbons’ original design for the character.
The Minutemen and Silk Spectre stories are very dull though Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner’s art is nothing short of excellent - clearly an enormous amount of effort went into this book. It might be worth checking out if you’re a fan of these artists’ work, especially Conner’s, but the comics themselves don’t make for a compelling read at all.
Darwyn Cooke takes us back to the beginnings when they first formed and began fighting crime, to the “present day” when it’s years later, the group has been disbanded, and Mason is about to publish his memoirs, “Under the Hood”. The Minutemen story jumps from the present to the past as we see the promising start and the ugly end of the doomed superheroes.
Cooke doesn’t really have a story here, just fragments of one. Besides the Minutemen forming and learning to fight crime, there’s a side story about someone abducting and murdering children and the jaded, cynical flavour of Watchmen continues as the Minutemen become obsessed with fame and money instead of justice. Because there’s no real plot and everything sort of meanders, it’s a really slow read - six issues was way too long for this mini-series. I was so bored for most of Minutemen.
Not that it doesn’t have good moments like The Comedian’s redemptive story he tells Sally, and The Silhouette’s backstory and quest was good (she was one of two Minutemen who could be called a real hero and she got the worst fate; see what I mean about cynical?).
Cooke’s art is great as well and I loved the wide establishing shots on the first page of each issue, centring around a circle - the iconic Smiley Face outline - while also setting up the story. But the Minutemen’s story is super-dark and Cooke’s art is a bit too cartoony. It doesn’t match the misery and inadvertently makes light of the darkness. A more realistic art-style, like Lee Bermejo’s in the Rorschach mini, would’ve suited and brought home the Minutemen’s tragic story a lot harder.
Cooke is joined by Amanda Conner on the four issue Silk Spectre series with Conner on art. The series focuses on Sally Jupiter’s daughter, Laurel Jane, as a teenager. She’s being groomed by a retired (and too often drunk) Sally to become the new Silk Spectre but she doesn’t want to be a superhero and decides to run off to San Francisco with her boyfriend Greg instead.
There, she discovers a fiendish plot to dose hippies with LSD that turns them into mindless consumers spearheaded by Frank Sinatra and the music industry?!
Yeah, the Silk Spectre story is a bit of a mess too. Cooke’s Minutemen was too thin and slow; Cooke/Conner’s Silk Spectre is just crap, completely throwaway. I have no idea what they were thinking when they came up with this ridiculous story but it’s the worst one of the Before Watchmen line-up I’ve read yet. Laurie’s kind of convincing as a girl who can handle herself in a street fight but a superhero? Alongside Doctor Manhattan and The Comedian? Not even slightly convincing. Why would they need a teen girl in the group? I guess that’s the “Black Widow problem” all over again.
Conner’s art though is incredible. She always produces excellent pages but this is the best stuff I’ve seen from her in years. She has an uncanny ability not just to capture an image, an evocative expression, but give it a vibrancy as to almost animate it - it’s the suggestion of life that she gives the reader who does bring the image alive when they see it. Body language and movement are rendered perfectly and the panels flow together beautifully. Laurie’s acid trip sequence is great, her fantasy cut-aways are fun, and Conner’s ‘60s Silk Spectre outfit is outstanding, surpassing Dave Gibbons’ original design for the character.
The Minutemen and Silk Spectre stories are very dull though Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner’s art is nothing short of excellent - clearly an enormous amount of effort went into this book. It might be worth checking out if you’re a fan of these artists’ work, especially Conner’s, but the comics themselves don’t make for a compelling read at all.
August 13, 2021
Minutemen ★★★ - Story and art by Darwyn Cooke
The Minutemen were the Golden Age superheros of the Watchmen universe. Some of the Watchmen characters like Comedian and the original Silk Spectre were part of the team. Cooke doesn't have much of a story to tell other than most of the members were frauds, faking cases, killing bad guys. That's the problem with these 6 issues though it that there isn't enough of a story. His art is fantastic though.
Silk Spectre ★★★★ - Story by Darwyn Cooke. Art by Amanda Conner
I thought this story was a lot of fun. Laurie is fed up with her overbearing mother and runs away from home with her boyfriend to San Francisco. The story is goofy in places but that actually works in favor of Amanda Conner's art. This is the best art of her career as far as I'm concerned. I love the mod designs. Her Silk Spectre costume is spectacular, blowing away Dave Gibbons's original design. Her characters are so life life and animated that this story could have been longer.
The Minutemen were the Golden Age superheros of the Watchmen universe. Some of the Watchmen characters like Comedian and the original Silk Spectre were part of the team. Cooke doesn't have much of a story to tell other than most of the members were frauds, faking cases, killing bad guys. That's the problem with these 6 issues though it that there isn't enough of a story. His art is fantastic though.
Silk Spectre ★★★★ - Story by Darwyn Cooke. Art by Amanda Conner
I thought this story was a lot of fun. Laurie is fed up with her overbearing mother and runs away from home with her boyfriend to San Francisco. The story is goofy in places but that actually works in favor of Amanda Conner's art. This is the best art of her career as far as I'm concerned. I love the mod designs. Her Silk Spectre costume is spectacular, blowing away Dave Gibbons's original design. Her characters are so life life and animated that this story could have been longer.
May 14, 2016
I may have only been a Watchmen fan since 2010 but because of my 45-minute per episode podcast Reading Watchmen with Eka, you better believe I know my Watchmen and that for two years since starting that podcast, I wake up and go to sleep thinking of ways to analyze and celebrate Moore/Gibbon's revolutionary masterpiece. However, I will never consider myself a purist who would spurn any other adaptation from a favorite work since I claim to be a prolific reader, so being shortsighted in my literary tastes would be an embarrassing hypocrisy. Admittedly, I shared the fears of the Watchdom when DC announced their release of Before Watchmen prequels. But I never had expectations, nor was I that quick to dismiss the idea out of anxiety and mistrust. I'm always willing to give the benefit of the doubt and, as far as I can see it, anything that could add to the wonderful mythos of Watchmen should not be met with attacks before even reading the content itself. And that was my mental condition once the issues came pouring in, and I have more disappointments than actual praise for the BW series as a whole, but Darwyn Cooke's Minutemen and Silk Spectre stories are arguably the best that Before Watchmen has to offer.
In the advent of BW, my initial reaction was, "Hey, okay. I've always wanted to know more about the Minutemen. So this is great," and I was so thrilled that Darwyn Cooke was the writer for that because I've been a fan because of his Batman story EGO and Justice League: The New Frontier. I have confidence in his writing prowess and he was certainly able to deliver. But it wasn't a perfect volume, however. Still, I chose to rate this collection four out of five stars in the context of the rest of the other volumes which are either sub par or just plain hateful (cough-Brian Azzarello-cough). Cooke's own contribution, most especially the Minutemen series, was a standout for very good reasons.
First of all, Cooke wrote and illustrated Minutemen issues himself, and his art style was more than just aesthetically enticing; he also tried to position the panels and illustrations that echoed the way what Dave Gibbons had accomplished. One of the most enduring aspects of Watchmen itself is the nine-grid panel layout which Moore and Gibbons utilized and experimented for all twelve issues. Cooke paid his respects to that creative process but still tried to come up with his own animal. In some ways, he did succeed and Minutemen was a retrospective look at the superhero golden age where America was at its democratic, industrial and moral peak. His interpretations of each Minutemen member were well-crafted, allowing readers to take more than a glimpse at the inner workings of their masked adventures as well as the personal politics among themselves. I think part of the reason why Cooke's writing was effective in its scope was because Moore did not truly focus on the Minutemen as a unit, let alone as individuals. And that gave Cooke plenty of opportunities to own these characters and create personal histories for each.
But despite that creative freedom, Cooke was careful not to make any sudden changes with what was already established about Hollis Mason/Nite Owl, Sally Jupiter/Silk Spectre, and Edward Blake/The Comedian. Instead, he tried to retain as much as of Moore's writing voice while adding his own in the mix. His most impressive feat, in my opinion, is Ursula/Silhouette (and to a lesser extent, Barry/Mothman). He treated that character with sensitivity and affection and every passage he dedicated to her was sublime, especially Hollis Mason's narrations. Cooke also handled the relationships between characters, no matter how fractured and distorted they may be (Hollis and Barry, Hollis and Ursula; and even Sally and Eddie). I believe the strength of Minutemen series lies on how Cooke was able to capture the essence of those times when everything seemed simple; when standing up for good values doesn't seem that far; and one can still differentiate between black and white---at least until the last issue where Hollis was served with the awful truth.
But in spite of Cooke's beautiful portrait of the golden age superheroes and their struggles both personal and societal in scope, Minutemen's flaw is the plot in its entirety. It's easy to overlook this, considering his tone and atmosphere were more character-driven which were then laden with heartfelt exposition. As much as I've learned to love his portrayals of Hollis, Ursula, Barry and even Sally and Edward (who are both vain and self-serving in their own ways but their eventual torrid affair actually helped humanize them), Cooke's plot does not hold up as well as his character developments had. It was too simplistic and almost forgettable. Nevertheless, it was a great examination of secondary set of characters from Watchmen, and his efforts are appreciated because I believe he was the only BW writer/artist who knew what he wanted to say in writing his story. Though not perfect and exemplary in a way that could rival the original work, Darywn Cooke's Minutemen was satisfying enough. It was a bold but respectful look at Moore's creation, giving more dimensions to what was already structured.
His Silk Spectre was easier to take apart, though, but I would rather dwell on its merits. I would like to commend Amanda Conner's illustrations foremost because she was able to mark the times through her retro and colorful art style. There was a lot of life in her depictions of people and activities and they were definitely the appropriate range for Laurie Juspecyzk's story. On the plot itself, Cooke employs yet another character-driven one, exploring Laurie and Sally's complex and tension-filled mother-daughter dynamic.
Laurie as the impressionable teenage girl on the run from the life her mother is forcing her to take was a fairly insightful plot thread which was perfectly acceptable for someone of Laurie's age, experience and personality. Moore was never particular with Laurie/Silk Spectre II as a character in the original work, so Cooke's own take on her was actually a good move. Laurie herself is a product of two contrasting forces and Sally's maternal influence on her well-being is an external control that Laurie learns to deal with by distancing herself from it. She tries to take on the bad guys by choosing to be a vigilante and it is worth noting that she doesn't hide underneath a mask just like her mother. It's a symbolic message that I think we tend to overlook about the Spectre women. Their identities as superheroines are not in secret and that they may even be interchangeable with who they are without the costume.
Cooke portrayed Laurie as headstrong and vulnerable as could be expected from a confused teen but there was that disturbing panel of her holding a gun with her eyes ablaze which translated to me as an deliberate implication that she may be more of her father's daughter than she would later figure out. Silk Spectre was a great tale about establishing one's independence despite of the conflicting motives around you, and an in-depth look at Laurie's relationship with her mother as the only authority figure in her life who is not always dependable.
RECOMMENDED: 9/10
* Cooke has done something marvelous and worthwhile with Minutemen and Silk Spectre, and they definitely added another layer of storytelling to the Watchmen universe.
In the advent of BW, my initial reaction was, "Hey, okay. I've always wanted to know more about the Minutemen. So this is great," and I was so thrilled that Darwyn Cooke was the writer for that because I've been a fan because of his Batman story EGO and Justice League: The New Frontier. I have confidence in his writing prowess and he was certainly able to deliver. But it wasn't a perfect volume, however. Still, I chose to rate this collection four out of five stars in the context of the rest of the other volumes which are either sub par or just plain hateful (cough-Brian Azzarello-cough). Cooke's own contribution, most especially the Minutemen series, was a standout for very good reasons.
First of all, Cooke wrote and illustrated Minutemen issues himself, and his art style was more than just aesthetically enticing; he also tried to position the panels and illustrations that echoed the way what Dave Gibbons had accomplished. One of the most enduring aspects of Watchmen itself is the nine-grid panel layout which Moore and Gibbons utilized and experimented for all twelve issues. Cooke paid his respects to that creative process but still tried to come up with his own animal. In some ways, he did succeed and Minutemen was a retrospective look at the superhero golden age where America was at its democratic, industrial and moral peak. His interpretations of each Minutemen member were well-crafted, allowing readers to take more than a glimpse at the inner workings of their masked adventures as well as the personal politics among themselves. I think part of the reason why Cooke's writing was effective in its scope was because Moore did not truly focus on the Minutemen as a unit, let alone as individuals. And that gave Cooke plenty of opportunities to own these characters and create personal histories for each.
But despite that creative freedom, Cooke was careful not to make any sudden changes with what was already established about Hollis Mason/Nite Owl, Sally Jupiter/Silk Spectre, and Edward Blake/The Comedian. Instead, he tried to retain as much as of Moore's writing voice while adding his own in the mix. His most impressive feat, in my opinion, is Ursula/Silhouette (and to a lesser extent, Barry/Mothman). He treated that character with sensitivity and affection and every passage he dedicated to her was sublime, especially Hollis Mason's narrations. Cooke also handled the relationships between characters, no matter how fractured and distorted they may be (Hollis and Barry, Hollis and Ursula; and even Sally and Eddie). I believe the strength of Minutemen series lies on how Cooke was able to capture the essence of those times when everything seemed simple; when standing up for good values doesn't seem that far; and one can still differentiate between black and white---at least until the last issue where Hollis was served with the awful truth.
But in spite of Cooke's beautiful portrait of the golden age superheroes and their struggles both personal and societal in scope, Minutemen's flaw is the plot in its entirety. It's easy to overlook this, considering his tone and atmosphere were more character-driven which were then laden with heartfelt exposition. As much as I've learned to love his portrayals of Hollis, Ursula, Barry and even Sally and Edward (who are both vain and self-serving in their own ways but their eventual torrid affair actually helped humanize them), Cooke's plot does not hold up as well as his character developments had. It was too simplistic and almost forgettable. Nevertheless, it was a great examination of secondary set of characters from Watchmen, and his efforts are appreciated because I believe he was the only BW writer/artist who knew what he wanted to say in writing his story. Though not perfect and exemplary in a way that could rival the original work, Darywn Cooke's Minutemen was satisfying enough. It was a bold but respectful look at Moore's creation, giving more dimensions to what was already structured.
His Silk Spectre was easier to take apart, though, but I would rather dwell on its merits. I would like to commend Amanda Conner's illustrations foremost because she was able to mark the times through her retro and colorful art style. There was a lot of life in her depictions of people and activities and they were definitely the appropriate range for Laurie Juspecyzk's story. On the plot itself, Cooke employs yet another character-driven one, exploring Laurie and Sally's complex and tension-filled mother-daughter dynamic.
Laurie as the impressionable teenage girl on the run from the life her mother is forcing her to take was a fairly insightful plot thread which was perfectly acceptable for someone of Laurie's age, experience and personality. Moore was never particular with Laurie/Silk Spectre II as a character in the original work, so Cooke's own take on her was actually a good move. Laurie herself is a product of two contrasting forces and Sally's maternal influence on her well-being is an external control that Laurie learns to deal with by distancing herself from it. She tries to take on the bad guys by choosing to be a vigilante and it is worth noting that she doesn't hide underneath a mask just like her mother. It's a symbolic message that I think we tend to overlook about the Spectre women. Their identities as superheroines are not in secret and that they may even be interchangeable with who they are without the costume.
Cooke portrayed Laurie as headstrong and vulnerable as could be expected from a confused teen but there was that disturbing panel of her holding a gun with her eyes ablaze which translated to me as an deliberate implication that she may be more of her father's daughter than she would later figure out. Silk Spectre was a great tale about establishing one's independence despite of the conflicting motives around you, and an in-depth look at Laurie's relationship with her mother as the only authority figure in her life who is not always dependable.
RECOMMENDED: 9/10
* Cooke has done something marvelous and worthwhile with Minutemen and Silk Spectre, and they definitely added another layer of storytelling to the Watchmen universe.
December 25, 2021
This is compilation of two novels. “Minutemen” gives that backstory to the original creation of the group in the 1940’s, and “Silk Spectre” provides her backstory.
“Minutemen” was very good. I thought it created an expansion on the Watchmen universe that was both imaginative and believable. I enjoyed the stories about some of the characters that were only very briefly mentioned in The Watchmen, like Silhouette, Hooded Justice, and Mothman.
“Silk Spectre” was not as good. I like the stories of the relationships Silk Spectre had with her mother, boyfriend, and hippie friends in San Francisco, but the “villains” didn’t make any sense. They were simultaneously underworld mobsters and evil capitalist tycoons. It wasn’t clear what exactly was their motivation or why they did what they did. It was really distracting.
The art and design was excellent in both stories.
“Minutemen” was very good. I thought it created an expansion on the Watchmen universe that was both imaginative and believable. I enjoyed the stories about some of the characters that were only very briefly mentioned in The Watchmen, like Silhouette, Hooded Justice, and Mothman.
“Silk Spectre” was not as good. I like the stories of the relationships Silk Spectre had with her mother, boyfriend, and hippie friends in San Francisco, but the “villains” didn’t make any sense. They were simultaneously underworld mobsters and evil capitalist tycoons. It wasn’t clear what exactly was their motivation or why they did what they did. It was really distracting.
The art and design was excellent in both stories.
November 22, 2019
Before Watchmen is a series of comic books that is about the members of the Watchmen before they became Watchmen. This first one contains the introduction to the Minutemen and Silk Spectre's origin story.
I should start by saying I read Watchmen a few years ago, exactly once. I enjoyed it, I thought it was very good, well written, and poignant with beautiful art and graphics. But I am not a Watchmen fanatic. Nor do I even remember a lot of the details of the first book. I figured that going in to prequels wouldn't require me to really remember a lot but I was wrong. The Minutemen half of this book really leans on the reader already having a strong foundation of Watchmen lore. You need to know who characters are or you just don't care.
Well, I found myself not caring. I'm terrible with names and this book wanted me to already be able to interchange hero pseudonyms with civilian names for all the characters. That got confusing. Additionally, all of the men in this book look identical to me. They're all square jawed, brown haired, white men. Even their uniforms looked similar! So I basically just felt lost during this whole story.
Adding to the confusion is that it bounces back and forth on a timeline that spans about 20 years. I found myself being perplexed by what was happening on the page because characters would be dead and then alive or one version of themselves and then another and I just didn't care enough to keep up.
The 20 years earlier scenes also suffered from an issue I'm still unsure of how to straighten out in literature or any media. We can all admit that back in the early decades of the 20th century times were different in America. People behaved differently toward women and other minorities than they should have. I get placing a story back in time but how racist and sexist does that allow you to be? Does it make up for it if you have a liberal sympathy toward a character being gay? I think all of this could've been very provocative and interesting in a different book. But in this one I was just confused again, this time at whether or not I should be offended.
Overall, the Minutemen story line in this book did nothing for me. I could easily have gone without reading it. Maybe someone who really holds these characters dear to their hearts will have a different opinion.
The Silk Spectre story line was a little better for me just in that at least I could follow it. She's the daughter of one of the Minutemen from the first half of the book and has some serious mommy issues. We follow her through a hippy acid trip path of self discovery that brings her right back to where she started.
I do not like it when books don't stand on their own. It's a big problem with comic books in general. You have to read another 100 books just to understand one. Prequels at least should be the exception. They're supposed to be an introduction! But this one forgot that there could be a new audience walking in and catered to the existing fans instead.
Give it a shot if you are already a fan but just read Watchmen instead if you're not.
for more reviews and content please visit my blog amanjareads.com
I should start by saying I read Watchmen a few years ago, exactly once. I enjoyed it, I thought it was very good, well written, and poignant with beautiful art and graphics. But I am not a Watchmen fanatic. Nor do I even remember a lot of the details of the first book. I figured that going in to prequels wouldn't require me to really remember a lot but I was wrong. The Minutemen half of this book really leans on the reader already having a strong foundation of Watchmen lore. You need to know who characters are or you just don't care.
Well, I found myself not caring. I'm terrible with names and this book wanted me to already be able to interchange hero pseudonyms with civilian names for all the characters. That got confusing. Additionally, all of the men in this book look identical to me. They're all square jawed, brown haired, white men. Even their uniforms looked similar! So I basically just felt lost during this whole story.
Adding to the confusion is that it bounces back and forth on a timeline that spans about 20 years. I found myself being perplexed by what was happening on the page because characters would be dead and then alive or one version of themselves and then another and I just didn't care enough to keep up.
The 20 years earlier scenes also suffered from an issue I'm still unsure of how to straighten out in literature or any media. We can all admit that back in the early decades of the 20th century times were different in America. People behaved differently toward women and other minorities than they should have. I get placing a story back in time but how racist and sexist does that allow you to be? Does it make up for it if you have a liberal sympathy toward a character being gay? I think all of this could've been very provocative and interesting in a different book. But in this one I was just confused again, this time at whether or not I should be offended.
Overall, the Minutemen story line in this book did nothing for me. I could easily have gone without reading it. Maybe someone who really holds these characters dear to their hearts will have a different opinion.
The Silk Spectre story line was a little better for me just in that at least I could follow it. She's the daughter of one of the Minutemen from the first half of the book and has some serious mommy issues. We follow her through a hippy acid trip path of self discovery that brings her right back to where she started.
I do not like it when books don't stand on their own. It's a big problem with comic books in general. You have to read another 100 books just to understand one. Prequels at least should be the exception. They're supposed to be an introduction! But this one forgot that there could be a new audience walking in and catered to the existing fans instead.
Give it a shot if you are already a fan but just read Watchmen instead if you're not.
for more reviews and content please visit my blog amanjareads.com
December 26, 2020
İnsana, insanlığa, mucizelerden çok hikayenin olmasına sebebiyet veren acıya bu derece yaklaşan böylesi bir "Kahramanlık" eseri yok. Her seferinde şoka uğratıyor, her adımın sadece içimizdeki meleklerle değil kötülükle savaşın aslında içimizdeki şeytanlarla da beraber yapıldığını nefis aktarıyor. İyi cilalanmış bir hurda insanlık ve işte onlar bunun, bu boyanın çizilmemesi için, altındakinin ortaya çıkmaması için eşikte etrafı gözlüyorlar. Peki ya onlar; hem insanlardan hem de çağlarından daha perişanlar. Watchmen bence basit bir çizgi roman değil; tüm insanlık tarihinin pelerinli bir özeti!
June 7, 2018
If this were just Minutemen, I would've rated it 5 stars. The Silk Spectre issues were still very enjoyable, but not quite 5 stars, so it's a 4.
April 30, 2013
Wasn't too sure about these Before Watchmen series, but this is one volume that really does stand on its own, particularly the Minutemen series. Darwyn Cooke has become one of the best craftsmen in comics, with his Parker adaptations, and he does some of his best work on this. Framed by Hollis Mason writing his memoirs, the book that will ultimately become "Under the Hood," this is a big story that shows how the group got together in the first place, fills in just enough background detail on each individual (although Hooded Justice remains a mystery to the end), and shows the stresses and secrets that ultimately tore the group apart. Hollis is a great narrator and a pretty good guy as a character, assisting Ursula, the Silhouette, in tracking down child pornographers and a serial killer on the side, when not pursuing more media-friendly cases for the group. Toward the end, the four remaining members, Nite Owl, Captain Metropolis, Mothman, and Hooded Justice, have their chance to really do some good, but their big win is swept under the carpet by the government, more interested in keeping the peace and the public unawares. This is a series that truly can stand on its own, alongside Alan Moore's original. The Silk Spectre series, while good, comes off as quite a bit slighter in comparison. The artwork by Amanda Conner is very reminiscent of Howard Chaykin and there are a lot of whimsical asides meant to illustrate the flights of fancy that young Laurel Jupiter has as she kisses a boy for the first time, etc. There's also a very imaginative and extended take on an acid flashback. The book is set primarily in San Francisco in the 60s. Laurie has run away from home with a high school friend, Greg, and is living a happy life, away from the prescribed future her mother, Sally, the original Silk Spectre, had planned for her. When a number of young people begin to experience bad reactions to a new variety of acid making the rounds, Laurie goes into action on her own for the first time, trying to solve the mystery and bring those responsible to justice. It's not a bad story, but just can't compare to the much darker and more serious Minuteman story that it's paired with in this volume.
August 14, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it's quite good, better than I was expecting. On the other, it's not Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons doing it, though Gibbons at least seems to have given his blessing to the project. Fans of the original Watchmen graphic novel will be thrilled to have this. But its existence makes the chances of Moore and Gibbons ever gaining the rights to their creation even more remote. On the whole, I like it, but the economics behind it bother me a great deal. I assuage my conscience to some extent by borrowing it from the library rather than buying it, but I'm still troubled.
no-interest-whatsoever
January 5, 2014I was a seriously excited about Cooke's work here - he's a gifted artist, was hoping to see more.
Based in this detailed review of the disgusting retconning, stereotyping and demonising that goes on in this book however, I cannot for the life of me bring myself to give this book any of my time or further attention. In fact, I'm seriously considering boycotting all other Cooke's work in my disgust of his apparent attitudes expressed through the Minutemen book.
http://www.hoodedutilitarian.com/2013...
Based in this detailed review of the disgusting retconning, stereotyping and demonising that goes on in this book however, I cannot for the life of me bring myself to give this book any of my time or further attention. In fact, I'm seriously considering boycotting all other Cooke's work in my disgust of his apparent attitudes expressed through the Minutemen book.
http://www.hoodedutilitarian.com/2013...
April 10, 2017
A very, very mixed bag containing one of the best "Before Watchmen" stories and one of the worst (That's Silk Spectre's of course!).
February 25, 2019
I really enjoyed the original Watchmen series but one that that was annoying is that these series took place near the end of the careers of these heroes with a lot of past things mentioned. This additional series now fills in a lot of the blanks and questions form that first series. Nice art and plot. Recommended
June 15, 2015
This beautifully illustrated piece takes places before the original WATCHMEN. It focuses mostly on the original Nite Owl and how he came to become a part of the Minutemen. The latter part focuses on the second Silk Spectre. Of course other characters makes cameos here and there and a few have their own tales taking place.
Almost a five star.
MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.
Almost a five star.
MY GRADE: B plus to A minus.
April 7, 2019
Now I know that the Before Watchman has gained some notoriety (mainly from the original creators of Watchmen) as well as mixed reviews however this edition I thought was very cleverly done and very much in keeping with the original work. I will at this point emphasis that I am reading the trade paperbacks which there are 4 of. I have yet to collect the other two so I may be rather disappointed with there rest.
This book covers off a potted history of the original team the Minutemen. As usual I will be keeping the no spoiler focus but I can saw some of this story is not only eluded to in other before Watchmen stories but also in the original story as well. However this time it is told from within the team. The tone though light and entertaining does enter in to some pretty dark areas which for me reflects the tone of the original book. There is a message of light and positivity which covers a dark heart. I will not go on more for fear of spoilers.
The second story in this edition is about the Silk Spectre II and how she came about. Now I believe this is a totally new story with no references anywhere else however logic says the Spectre must have started somewhere and to be honest this is as good as any. It also acts as a great bridge in to the Watchmen and how they came about.
So for this edition I am very pleased to have read and I think (though I am sure there are those out there who disagree) that this does belong in the Watchmen universe regardless of who thought of it.
This book covers off a potted history of the original team the Minutemen. As usual I will be keeping the no spoiler focus but I can saw some of this story is not only eluded to in other before Watchmen stories but also in the original story as well. However this time it is told from within the team. The tone though light and entertaining does enter in to some pretty dark areas which for me reflects the tone of the original book. There is a message of light and positivity which covers a dark heart. I will not go on more for fear of spoilers.
The second story in this edition is about the Silk Spectre II and how she came about. Now I believe this is a totally new story with no references anywhere else however logic says the Spectre must have started somewhere and to be honest this is as good as any. It also acts as a great bridge in to the Watchmen and how they came about.
So for this edition I am very pleased to have read and I think (though I am sure there are those out there who disagree) that this does belong in the Watchmen universe regardless of who thought of it.
April 3, 2021
Darwyn Cooke's volume of "Before Watchmen" was the weakest of this series. It isn't Cooke's fault as he was handed the detritus of the Watchmen world to deal with- the hypocritical cheeseballs of the Minutemen and the vapid Silk Spectre.
Firstly we get to listen to Hollis Mason whine about his time with the Minutemen. Let me tell you that they were overrated and mostly concerned with money and fame. They also fucked a lot of things up, but you can read about it. Hollis then spends time defending his need to "tell it all" book, which he wrote without factoring in anyone else and their desires, to all and sundry. Pretty much, every single Minuteman seems to think it's a terrible idea and Hollis doesn't get much sympathy. So yeah..Hooded Justice was likely the best of them and witness his fate.
Then the art improves drastically, but the story revolves around Silk Spectre. Yeah, I can honestly say I did not give a shit. The saving grace of this hippie fest where everyone OD's in the end is that is DOES explain the smiley face pin the Comedian had. That's about it. Nice art though.
So these two subjects for this volume, pretty much sunk my interest in it. Others may like it. Especially if they are fans of the Minutemen or the Silk Spectre. But, compared to the others this one is rather weak. Still a good volume and since I had the rest, it will be part of my collection.
Firstly we get to listen to Hollis Mason whine about his time with the Minutemen. Let me tell you that they were overrated and mostly concerned with money and fame. They also fucked a lot of things up, but you can read about it. Hollis then spends time defending his need to "tell it all" book, which he wrote without factoring in anyone else and their desires, to all and sundry. Pretty much, every single Minuteman seems to think it's a terrible idea and Hollis doesn't get much sympathy. So yeah..Hooded Justice was likely the best of them and witness his fate.
Then the art improves drastically, but the story revolves around Silk Spectre. Yeah, I can honestly say I did not give a shit. The saving grace of this hippie fest where everyone OD's in the end is that is DOES explain the smiley face pin the Comedian had. That's about it. Nice art though.
So these two subjects for this volume, pretty much sunk my interest in it. Others may like it. Especially if they are fans of the Minutemen or the Silk Spectre. But, compared to the others this one is rather weak. Still a good volume and since I had the rest, it will be part of my collection.
September 29, 2016
The art in this volume is amazing. Darwyn Cooke does the art for the Minutemen section of this book, and his style really sets the tone for this classic age of heroes. Amanda Conner does the art for the Silk Spectre section, and she draws some of the most expressive faces. Both artists bring their best to this book. As for the story, it provides a lot of background info, especially for the Minutemen. You really get to know the characters, which helps you understand the world of the Watchmen better. Of course, you won't like everything that you learn, but that's the Watchmen universe for you. In particular, the characters Nite Owl (Minutemen) and Silhouette are amazing. It even helps humanize the Comedian a little, but of course he's still a really bad guy. I'd say this is worth picking up for fans of the Watchmen.
October 8, 2013
In principle I expected to dislike this (Marvel Watchmen cash grab, milking the Watchmen Empire in spite of creator Alan Moore's probable rage), but didn't find it as objectionable as I thought it would be. They worked hard to make the stories work, and the art is more than solid. I will read others and see if I like this aspect of the franchise more or less as I proceed...
December 20, 2019
The HBO show lead me to checking this out. I wasn't interested in any of the Before Watchmen stuff because it felt a bit unneeded but them doing such a good job with the TV show I thought I'd try one out. Also, Minutemen is the one where there's most room to play I think, and it's definitely the stronger part of the book, helped a lot by Darwyn Cookes art and style.
August 13, 2015
Minuteman : ★★★★☆, Silk Spectre: ★★★★★
June 24, 2019
Your mileage will vary with these books.
First, I think it's necessary to acknowledge that these book aren't really necessary. Watchmen is a very complete story on its own, and the amount of worldbuilding that's already in it is more than enough for the purpose of the story it tells. I can understand why Moore was upset about these books being released, and why Lindelof himself isn't considering them canon for the new HBO show. Or for Doomsday Clock from what I understand. Nonetheless, I was curious and thought I'd give them a read.
"Minutemen" is pretty great. To learn more of the backstory behind Silhouette and Mothman in particular was greatly appreciated. I though the writer captured Hollis's voice well throughout, and in particular enjoyed the portrayal of the Comedian. The art, while not entirely to my liking, was respectable and in no point distracting from the story. I thought that this installment did a good job of broadening the world, giving more merit to the Minutemen, and exploring some themes only touched upon in Watchmen itself.
In particular, I appreciated how it addressed the difficulty of masked vigilantes ever actually achieving anything they could be praised for. Between the big events being covered up or impossible to report upon due to their disturbing nature... yeah, people only want to hear the good, easy things, like Dollar Bill and Silk Spectre engineering things for the crowds. It was an interesting theme to explore, and well done.
"Silk Spectre" on the other hand, was not so enjoyable to me. I though the characterization was fairly solid and interesting, if a bit overblown when it came to Sally, but the plot left me fairly dry. There were a ton of interesting ways they could have tied it into some real events that happened during that time period but... well, they didn't. Instead it turned into a strange anti-drug PSA and chance for the Comedian to be downright terrifying. Well. Whatever works.
First, I think it's necessary to acknowledge that these book aren't really necessary. Watchmen is a very complete story on its own, and the amount of worldbuilding that's already in it is more than enough for the purpose of the story it tells. I can understand why Moore was upset about these books being released, and why Lindelof himself isn't considering them canon for the new HBO show. Or for Doomsday Clock from what I understand. Nonetheless, I was curious and thought I'd give them a read.
"Minutemen" is pretty great. To learn more of the backstory behind Silhouette and Mothman in particular was greatly appreciated. I though the writer captured Hollis's voice well throughout, and in particular enjoyed the portrayal of the Comedian. The art, while not entirely to my liking, was respectable and in no point distracting from the story. I thought that this installment did a good job of broadening the world, giving more merit to the Minutemen, and exploring some themes only touched upon in Watchmen itself.
In particular, I appreciated how it addressed the difficulty of masked vigilantes ever actually achieving anything they could be praised for. Between the big events being covered up or impossible to report upon due to their disturbing nature... yeah, people only want to hear the good, easy things, like Dollar Bill and Silk Spectre engineering things for the crowds. It was an interesting theme to explore, and well done.
"Silk Spectre" on the other hand, was not so enjoyable to me. I though the characterization was fairly solid and interesting, if a bit overblown when it came to Sally, but the plot left me fairly dry. There were a ton of interesting ways they could have tied it into some real events that happened during that time period but... well, they didn't. Instead it turned into a strange anti-drug PSA and chance for the Comedian to be downright terrifying. Well. Whatever works.
December 29, 2022
Yirmi altı yıllık bir aradan sonra gelen ve farklı yazarlar tarafından yazılıp biçilen bir hikaye ana metinle ne kadar aynı tabanda olabilir? İlk kitaptaki karakterlere biraz daha anlam ve derinlik katalım derken ana kitaptaki bir çok şeyi yerle bir ediyor. Comedian bunun en bariz örneği. Ruh hastası adamın aslında o kadar da kötü olmadığını ve içinde bir yerlerde iyilik olduğunu görüyoruz burada. Bir nevi anti-hero olarak karşımıza çıkıyor bu kitapta.
Bütünden parçalara gidecek olursak ilk hikaye Minutemen(Dakikadamlar demeye dilim varmıyor) hakkında. Altı parçalık bu hikaye öncellikle gereksiz uzatılmış hissettiriyor. Bütünlüklü bir hikayeden ziyade daha çok kendi içinde dahi zaman atlamaları olan hikayelerin bir araya getirilmesi belki bir antoloji gibi geldi. Minutemen grubunun iyilik bir araya gelişi ama yozlaşıp dağılmasını ele alan bu hikaye yine kendini çok akıllı zannediyor. Grup içindeki eşcinsel olduğu bilinen kişilerin başka bir eşcinsele karşı çıkması, saygı duyulan ve korkulan bir karakterin aslında tecavüzcü çıkması, süper kahraman olmaya istekli ve azimli olanların en kötü akıbetlere sahip olmaları, gibi şeyler Watchmen'in sevmediğim gereksiz "kötü" tonunu hatırlatarak sevmediğim tadı tekrardan almamı sağladı.
İkinci hikaye İpek Hayalet ilk kitaptaki sığ karaktere derinlik ve kişilik verilmeye çalışılmış. Bulduğumuz ne peki? Örneğini bolca gördüğümüz çocuk yıldızların hayatına benzer şekilde annesi tarafından kısıtlanmış, her şeyine karışılan, arkadaşı dahi olmayan bir ergenin hikayesi. Annesi zorla kendisi gibi olmasını, onun yaptığı hataları yapmayan daha güçlü bir kız olmasını istiyor. Tabi bu aşırı baskıdan yılın Laurie okuldan sevgilisiyle kaçıp hippilerle yaşamaya başlıyor. Hippiler varsa uyuşturucu ve seks partileri olmazsa olmaz tabi. Sözde hikaye boyunca kendi başının çaresine bakabilen, hata yapsa dahi güçlenen bir karakter görüyoruz. Bunu ne kadar hissettiriyor? Bence hiç. Komedyenin de anti-hero olmaya devam edişiyle hikaye şahken şahbaz oluyor. Hikayenin sonunda Laurie ana kitaptaki kişiliğine dönüşüyor. Tüm erkeklerden, aşk meşkten nefret ediyorum derken bir anda ağzının suyu akmaya başlıyor. Asıl kitaptaki karakterine kavuştuğu için sevinmeli mi yoksa bu kitaptaki yolculuğu boşa diye üzülmeli mi bilemiyorum.
Bütünden parçalara gidecek olursak ilk hikaye Minutemen(Dakikadamlar demeye dilim varmıyor) hakkında. Altı parçalık bu hikaye öncellikle gereksiz uzatılmış hissettiriyor. Bütünlüklü bir hikayeden ziyade daha çok kendi içinde dahi zaman atlamaları olan hikayelerin bir araya getirilmesi belki bir antoloji gibi geldi. Minutemen grubunun iyilik bir araya gelişi ama yozlaşıp dağılmasını ele alan bu hikaye yine kendini çok akıllı zannediyor. Grup içindeki eşcinsel olduğu bilinen kişilerin başka bir eşcinsele karşı çıkması, saygı duyulan ve korkulan bir karakterin aslında tecavüzcü çıkması, süper kahraman olmaya istekli ve azimli olanların en kötü akıbetlere sahip olmaları, gibi şeyler Watchmen'in sevmediğim gereksiz "kötü" tonunu hatırlatarak sevmediğim tadı tekrardan almamı sağladı.
İkinci hikaye İpek Hayalet ilk kitaptaki sığ karaktere derinlik ve kişilik verilmeye çalışılmış. Bulduğumuz ne peki? Örneğini bolca gördüğümüz çocuk yıldızların hayatına benzer şekilde annesi tarafından kısıtlanmış, her şeyine karışılan, arkadaşı dahi olmayan bir ergenin hikayesi. Annesi zorla kendisi gibi olmasını, onun yaptığı hataları yapmayan daha güçlü bir kız olmasını istiyor. Tabi bu aşırı baskıdan yılın Laurie okuldan sevgilisiyle kaçıp hippilerle yaşamaya başlıyor. Hippiler varsa uyuşturucu ve seks partileri olmazsa olmaz tabi. Sözde hikaye boyunca kendi başının çaresine bakabilen, hata yapsa dahi güçlenen bir karakter görüyoruz. Bunu ne kadar hissettiriyor? Bence hiç. Komedyenin de anti-hero olmaya devam edişiyle hikaye şahken şahbaz oluyor. Hikayenin sonunda Laurie ana kitaptaki kişiliğine dönüşüyor. Tüm erkeklerden, aşk meşkten nefret ediyorum derken bir anda ağzının suyu akmaya başlıyor. Asıl kitaptaki karakterine kavuştuğu için sevinmeli mi yoksa bu kitaptaki yolculuğu boşa diye üzülmeli mi bilemiyorum.
July 29, 2020
Popadla mě trochu Watchmen mánie tak jsem si řekl, že se kromě Doomsday Clocku pustím i do Before Watchmenů, jména tam jsou slavná tak by se nic nemuselo pokazit ne? Ale samozřejmě, že ano. Jistě, nelze k tomu přistupovat jako k Watchmenům ale absolutně to nefunguje. Minutemani sice mají pár scén a mňam mňam kresbu ale ve výsledku jsou průměrní.
Ovšem to není vše Horste, tato kniha ještě nabízí Silk Spectre od Amandy Conner... To je neskutečný výblitek který jsem v půlce vzdal, totální odpad. Scénář bullshit, kresba je odporná tak, že ani devítipanelý to nezachrání. Vlastně jsem si uvědomil, že mě už ani nezajímá co bylo před Watchmeny, protože to je zbytečný.
Ovšem to není vše Horste, tato kniha ještě nabízí Silk Spectre od Amandy Conner... To je neskutečný výblitek který jsem v půlce vzdal, totální odpad. Scénář bullshit, kresba je odporná tak, že ani devítipanelý to nezachrání. Vlastně jsem si uvědomil, že mě už ani nezajímá co bylo před Watchmeny, protože to je zbytečný.
September 22, 2013
I might have been a LITTLE afraid I was going to be eaten by a snake god if I checked this out from the library. Thus far; no avenging snake god. Updates as they become available.
There’s a lot of love for Silhouette in this. She gets elevated above the attention seekers and paid costumed persons into someone who truly had a calling to help the helpless, and died for it. In this text, her death inspires Sally Jupiter to have one glorious moment of heroism, before she retires to a life of procrusteaning-up her daughter.
I can’t say there’s love for The Comedian, but he’s given his moments of . . . well, not grace. Of comparative beige in all the darkness. And way more interest in his daughter than I had any idea he had.
There is a great evil that Laurie Jupiter fights. Kicks its butt. That pleased me.
There is a single panel that seems utterly dedicated to Alan Moore. That pleased me.
Dan Dreiberg dog sits Hollis Mason’s dog. This pleased me a lot.
We get to see the death of Hooded Justice. I’ve always been unsettled by Hooded Justice. I appreciated his refusal to testify before HUAC or take the loyalty oath, and yet . . . well, as Hollis says, “What kind of stupid shit fight crimes with a noose around his neck?” What sort of hero dresses like a member of the Klan with a color sense? I want to believe he was African American as well as gay (this text fully embraces the latter), making the costume a dramatic reclaiming. This text does not satisfy that desire.
Most of this feels very much like loving fan fiction. There’s none of the moral scope of The Watchmen, none of the driving horrific purpose underlying that text. We get to see the moral failure of the first superheroes, and the text seems determined to make sure we know they are Just Folks. Some have moments of great heroism. Silhouette and her girlfriend are more heroic than I knew; Bluecoat and Scout more heroic than we deserve; Laurie Jupiter teeters right on the edge of greatness. But Hollis’s greatest moment is showing mercy, and worst is . . . well, that would be a spoiler.
The Watchmen is a dense, rich text. It is, at the deepest level I’ve penetrated, about the possible moral responses to living in the shadow of nuclear war. This, a loving homage, but without the density, the richness, nor the stakes. Not worth being eaten by a snake god, but I did enjoy the field trip to the shallow waters of The Watchmen’s universe.
June 22, 2017
Ok, as stated before, I don't know much about the Watchmen, nor anything before :p
So it's all new for me, and I sure enjoyed this prequel to Watchmen.. It gave me a good view of what transpired before.
Getting more and more interested in picking up Watchmen too :)
So it's all new for me, and I sure enjoyed this prequel to Watchmen.. It gave me a good view of what transpired before.
Getting more and more interested in picking up Watchmen too :)
September 5, 2013
It's Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner, this could have been about watching paint dry and it would be at least 4 stars.
April 20, 2016
Minutemen: not so bad (3 stars)
Silk Spectre: Sucks big time (1 star)
The whole project is an affront to Watchmen. It has to be read as a separate creation, and it's not so good at that.
Silk Spectre: Sucks big time (1 star)
The whole project is an affront to Watchmen. It has to be read as a separate creation, and it's not so good at that.
September 15, 2017
Contains the line: "I'm gonna make you wish your father had jerked off in a flower pot instead'a makin' you."
5 stars, book of the year.
5 stars, book of the year.
June 19, 2018
Alan Moore's Worst Nightmare Besides Doomsday Clock
(This actually got deleted from my account and I don't know why)
I was of course very curious and wondered what had happened with
The Minute Men. Well my questions have been answered, I will say I haven't
been this immersed into a story for a long time. I LOVED Darwyn Cook’s
Minutemen. I couldn't stop reading this story it was SO good. This is a very well
constructed story with admittedly great art. It’s not Dave Gibbons but I loved it. The introduction about all the Minutemen and how they meet, was handled very well and so many great twists are in the intro alone! The characters in this book were all A+ material. All of the characters had distinctive personalities and the connections between all of them is really what made this book amazing. Hollis Mason’s (Nite Owl) love for Ursula (The Silhouette) was one of the best parts of the book. Some of the stories and flashbacks for some of the Minutemen made me feel dark even through the cartoonish lens this book is illustrated in, because, yes this book is plagued with a dark feel to it just like the original Watchmen. The dialogue is very realistic and makes for very entertaining banter. The missions and adventures that are in this book for the Minutemen are of course exciting and had me glued to the pages, but I cannot go without mentioning the twists in this book. There was probably about 5 or 6 amazing jaw-dropping “OH SHIIIIIT!!” moments in this book that I did not ever think of or predict. I loved thinking I knew exactly where things were going but I had no fuckin idea, and I was thrown through some loops people! This book easily has the best twist I’ve ever read. EVER. It starts out as a extremely intriguing mystery that spans the whole story making you think one thing, and then another. Incorporating moments of the friendship that we have grown to love, concluding the mystery with a jaw-dropping action scene, and than turning all that upside down proving you didn't know shit. Hollis Mason’s Under the Hood book he wrote that is in Watchmen tells you the events that happened at the time of the Minutemen. A few things that were eluded to, like Silk Spectre and the Comedian having an affair, and the fate of Hooded Justice are in this story. You actually see how everything looked and played out. That is another one of the reasons this story is just so fuckin awesome. I don’t mean that lightly. It’s pure BRILLIANCE. I do have a few nitpicks about the book. Some ideas and scenes felt very rushed and anti-climactic. It just took me out of the story each time it happened. Something I wish was in the book was a sense of teamwork one of the chapter covers and the classic Minutemen presented. They were a team, yes but I wish they had some scenes between the team that showed more friendship and sincerity. Other than that this was a fantastic look into what the Minutemen were all about and I am very happy with this book. I loved the characters most and how they were not all good people deep down, and how some of them make very dark or morally wrong decisions. I hope this is a sign to come for the rest of the Before Watchmen series.
Letter Grade: (A+)
Silk Spectre:
The first adventure of the Great Laurie Jupiter (Silk Spectre) This story takes
place not long after the Minutemen story arc. The continuity is carefully written
and fitted well making this a book that feels very much in place. Going into this
book I thought I had a vague idea of the plot. I thought and was hoping this
would be a formulaic coming of age/superhero tale. I was wrong. Right in the
and centre of this story is a journey of friendship, loss, fear, and yes some
kick-assery. This is not the story I was expecting and never the less it was
compelling and satisfying. The character of Laurie Jupiter is very split in my
mind. She is a angsty teenager, so she can come off as irritating, irrational, and
non-relatable sometimes. But she is also a sweet, young, hero with good character
development for the most part. Her relationship with her mother is on point, and her
relationship with her Uncle Hollis Mason is also done right. The unconventional
world her and the character of her boyfriend (Greg) are brought into was very
interesting to discover. The different characters she meets there are nothing
but are fine for the roles they play. There are two villains in this story. They are
both used very little in this book, but one of them by the name of Gurustein was
a lot better than the other villain. He was very hallow, flat and mostly forgettable.
The evil situation that the characters have to overcome is fine, but it’s the details
and dilemmas added to it, that boost it and make for a better story. I like Eddie
Blake’s inclusion with this book. It makes for a more mind splitting ending and
boosts the character of the Comedian in Watchmen. One complaint I have is
that I do wish there was a bit more Silk Spectre in action, so to speak. I realize
she was a teenager, but it brought the book down in pacing. Silk Spectre
is a very different kind of story but a well done and realistically written. The art
is phenomenal by Amanda Conner. No complaints with the art. It’s not as good
as Minutemen but a great story about the character we know and love.
Letter Grade: (A-)
(This actually got deleted from my account and I don't know why)
I was of course very curious and wondered what had happened with
The Minute Men. Well my questions have been answered, I will say I haven't
been this immersed into a story for a long time. I LOVED Darwyn Cook’s
Minutemen. I couldn't stop reading this story it was SO good. This is a very well
constructed story with admittedly great art. It’s not Dave Gibbons but I loved it. The introduction about all the Minutemen and how they meet, was handled very well and so many great twists are in the intro alone! The characters in this book were all A+ material. All of the characters had distinctive personalities and the connections between all of them is really what made this book amazing. Hollis Mason’s (Nite Owl) love for Ursula (The Silhouette) was one of the best parts of the book. Some of the stories and flashbacks for some of the Minutemen made me feel dark even through the cartoonish lens this book is illustrated in, because, yes this book is plagued with a dark feel to it just like the original Watchmen. The dialogue is very realistic and makes for very entertaining banter. The missions and adventures that are in this book for the Minutemen are of course exciting and had me glued to the pages, but I cannot go without mentioning the twists in this book. There was probably about 5 or 6 amazing jaw-dropping “OH SHIIIIIT!!” moments in this book that I did not ever think of or predict. I loved thinking I knew exactly where things were going but I had no fuckin idea, and I was thrown through some loops people! This book easily has the best twist I’ve ever read. EVER. It starts out as a extremely intriguing mystery that spans the whole story making you think one thing, and then another. Incorporating moments of the friendship that we have grown to love, concluding the mystery with a jaw-dropping action scene, and than turning all that upside down proving you didn't know shit. Hollis Mason’s Under the Hood book he wrote that is in Watchmen tells you the events that happened at the time of the Minutemen. A few things that were eluded to, like Silk Spectre and the Comedian having an affair, and the fate of Hooded Justice are in this story. You actually see how everything looked and played out. That is another one of the reasons this story is just so fuckin awesome. I don’t mean that lightly. It’s pure BRILLIANCE. I do have a few nitpicks about the book. Some ideas and scenes felt very rushed and anti-climactic. It just took me out of the story each time it happened. Something I wish was in the book was a sense of teamwork one of the chapter covers and the classic Minutemen presented. They were a team, yes but I wish they had some scenes between the team that showed more friendship and sincerity. Other than that this was a fantastic look into what the Minutemen were all about and I am very happy with this book. I loved the characters most and how they were not all good people deep down, and how some of them make very dark or morally wrong decisions. I hope this is a sign to come for the rest of the Before Watchmen series.
Letter Grade: (A+)
Silk Spectre:
The first adventure of the Great Laurie Jupiter (Silk Spectre) This story takes
place not long after the Minutemen story arc. The continuity is carefully written
and fitted well making this a book that feels very much in place. Going into this
book I thought I had a vague idea of the plot. I thought and was hoping this
would be a formulaic coming of age/superhero tale. I was wrong. Right in the
and centre of this story is a journey of friendship, loss, fear, and yes some
kick-assery. This is not the story I was expecting and never the less it was
compelling and satisfying. The character of Laurie Jupiter is very split in my
mind. She is a angsty teenager, so she can come off as irritating, irrational, and
non-relatable sometimes. But she is also a sweet, young, hero with good character
development for the most part. Her relationship with her mother is on point, and her
relationship with her Uncle Hollis Mason is also done right. The unconventional
world her and the character of her boyfriend (Greg) are brought into was very
interesting to discover. The different characters she meets there are nothing
but are fine for the roles they play. There are two villains in this story. They are
both used very little in this book, but one of them by the name of Gurustein was
a lot better than the other villain. He was very hallow, flat and mostly forgettable.
The evil situation that the characters have to overcome is fine, but it’s the details
and dilemmas added to it, that boost it and make for a better story. I like Eddie
Blake’s inclusion with this book. It makes for a more mind splitting ending and
boosts the character of the Comedian in Watchmen. One complaint I have is
that I do wish there was a bit more Silk Spectre in action, so to speak. I realize
she was a teenager, but it brought the book down in pacing. Silk Spectre
is a very different kind of story but a well done and realistically written. The art
is phenomenal by Amanda Conner. No complaints with the art. It’s not as good
as Minutemen but a great story about the character we know and love.
Letter Grade: (A-)
October 1, 2018
Old school comic in it's illustrations styles and story. Not a bad comic book but I just didn't get the Watchmen vibe (the original's one) I was searching for. I bit disappointed...
April 24, 2019
When these books were first announced, I did think very cynically of them. After all, it's an obvious cash grab. However,the talent associated with the books definitely peaked my interest. And this first volume is pleasantly surprising.
Its hard to not compare these books to what they all eventually lead to. To look it at the book through the "Watchmen" lens, works against it as there is no way it comes close to as good as Watchmen. How can you not compare it to Watchmen? The legacy of Watchmen itself already diminishes the ability for these books to really shine.
With that being said, if you can somehow separate, and I don't mean thematically, but maybe more technically, these stories from Watchmen - then that's when I can see the real promise of these stories. If you review them on their own, they're actually stronger than when compared directly to Watchmen. But again, how can you not. Ultimately I think it comes down to personal preference.
This volume contains two story lines, so I'll do a quick review of both.
First the Minutemen story: written and drawn by the amazingly talented Darwyn Cooke. I mean, not only was he an incredible artist with great style, but his writing was solid and well paced. I don't know if his "golden age" style drawing influenced his writing, or if it was the other way around, but the tone of this book is pitch perfect. And Cooke uses his style, which gives the illusion of golden age goodness, to contrast the darkness that is present throughout this book. There's a lot to learn about the minute men, and more specifically, Nite Owl. Cooke presents us with a retrospective that delves even deeper into the past, and shows us that the moral greys are even muddier than we thought. I had a great time reading this.
Second, the Silk Spectre story. This was written by Darwyn Cooke, but illustrated by the great Amanda Conner. This is more of a coming of age story about Silk Spectre, and the backstory of how she came to the meeting that occurs in Watchmen (where she first see's Dr. Manhattan). This story is interesting and pretty entertaining. Cooke manages to tease certain elements from Watchmen and sometimes it feels a bit more heavy handed than the minutemen series. Overall, thoroughly enjoyable.
I think the people who dismiss this series will not pick it up regardless of any review. But for those who are on the fence, give it a shot. You may be pleasantly rewarded.
Its hard to not compare these books to what they all eventually lead to. To look it at the book through the "Watchmen" lens, works against it as there is no way it comes close to as good as Watchmen. How can you not compare it to Watchmen? The legacy of Watchmen itself already diminishes the ability for these books to really shine.
With that being said, if you can somehow separate, and I don't mean thematically, but maybe more technically, these stories from Watchmen - then that's when I can see the real promise of these stories. If you review them on their own, they're actually stronger than when compared directly to Watchmen. But again, how can you not. Ultimately I think it comes down to personal preference.
This volume contains two story lines, so I'll do a quick review of both.
First the Minutemen story: written and drawn by the amazingly talented Darwyn Cooke. I mean, not only was he an incredible artist with great style, but his writing was solid and well paced. I don't know if his "golden age" style drawing influenced his writing, or if it was the other way around, but the tone of this book is pitch perfect. And Cooke uses his style, which gives the illusion of golden age goodness, to contrast the darkness that is present throughout this book. There's a lot to learn about the minute men, and more specifically, Nite Owl. Cooke presents us with a retrospective that delves even deeper into the past, and shows us that the moral greys are even muddier than we thought. I had a great time reading this.
Second, the Silk Spectre story. This was written by Darwyn Cooke, but illustrated by the great Amanda Conner. This is more of a coming of age story about Silk Spectre, and the backstory of how she came to the meeting that occurs in Watchmen (where she first see's Dr. Manhattan). This story is interesting and pretty entertaining. Cooke manages to tease certain elements from Watchmen and sometimes it feels a bit more heavy handed than the minutemen series. Overall, thoroughly enjoyable.
I think the people who dismiss this series will not pick it up regardless of any review. But for those who are on the fence, give it a shot. You may be pleasantly rewarded.
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