Graphic Novel Reading Group discussion

Has anyone been reading the Before Watchmen series? What do you think, is it worth picking up?

I've been reading all of them, and I've actually been enjoying all of them, but some much more than others.
I think Silk Spectre is my favorite (Darwyn Cooke writes it). It is 3 issues into a 4 part story.
My other favorites are Dr. Manhatton and Rorschach.

But the overall quality of these books is very high. DC has put some top talent on all of them. I'm loving the artwork on Ozymandius, but the story is so-so I think.

I'm just reading them, enjoying them, and judging them as comic books, trying not to let any of the controversy around them affect my opinion.

You get a lot more out of them if you have read WATCHMEN; heaven knows what a newbie would get out of them.

The art in Dr. Manhattan, Silk Spectre, and Rorschach is all great, esp Adam Hughes. SS story is kind of dumb but the other two are good so far.

I'm waiting until these are released as trades or hardcovers before taking the plunge.

I've been picking them up as they come out (all of them).

Oddly enough, the Ozymandius ones are the books I'm enjoying the most, which comes as a huge shock to myself. That was the one I was least interested in, but the writing and art is probably the best suited to the character and story that I've come across.

The whole thing I'm kind of viewing like a car wreck - I just can't look away even though it's kind of horrible. Not horrible - that's too strong a word - but I definitely don't think they're adding anything to an already complete story.

Kelly wrote: "I definitely don't think they're adding anything to an already complete story. "

This is a criticism I've heard a lot. That and also, "It is unnecessary." Does it matter if Watchmen was a complete story? Does that mean that telling other stories in that world is somehow wrong?

I personally don't understand that. Are they entertaining? Then what other reason is needed? I'm personally finding them enjoyable and entertaining to read.

Is Superman or Batman necessary? Star Wars? None of it is necessary. The only question that matters to me is, "Do I like it?" And for most of the Before Watchmen comics, the answer for me is, "Yes."

Well said Peter, fully agree. Moore fans are just snobs.

Sam wrote: "Well said Peter, fully agree. Moore fans are just snobs."

Wow, I didn't think expressing an opinion on a thread that is all about that would lead to me being called a snob.

I don't see that me (or anybody) enjoying the original Watchmen inherently makes somebody a snob (is it snobby to enjoy a great comic? I missed that memo). Am I a snob because I like Jeff Lemire? Or Brian K. Vaughn? Or anybody else for that matter?

Peter wrote: "Does that mean that telling other stories in that world is somehow wrong?"

Definitely not. That's why I started buying them, I was hopeful that they would add more to the stories that Moore created. I just find that they haven't. For me, they haven't enhanced an already incredibly strong world, or added much that's been actually ground breaking or relevant to the characters (Moore already had done so much in that respect with the original).

I think that's great that people like it - and I'm glad that you're finding the stories enjoyable. I'm just not - although I wish I was because I love the Watchmen world.

But, like I said, the one I thought I would be least interested in has actually turned out to be my favourite thus far, and that I'm quite excited about.

"I don't see that me (or anybody) enjoying the original Watchmen inherently makes somebody a snob (is it snobby to enjoy a great comic? I missed that memo). Am I a snob because I like Jeff Lemire? Or Brian K. Vaughn? Or anybody else for that matter?"

What in Rorshach's name are you on about?

I'm just having fun with them. I didn't have super high expectations though. I guess its inevitable that they are compared to the original Watchmen, but I'm just trying to judge them on their own merit.
I agree that they aren't up on the same ground-breaking artistic level as the original work.

What series are you enjoying the most?

Going to jump into the gray here. The comment was made asking if Superman or Batman were necessary. The characters themselves, aren't the issue. What we are looking at here is stories. And most Batman and Superman stories are not necessary, or relevant or entertaining. That's why we all talk about the same small group of really good graphic novels again and again. Every now and then a new book is added, but most them are unnecessary mediocre and and just bad.

And ironically, this is why we need them, because it is from that fertilizer manure that is most stories that really good stories arise.

So Before Watchmen may be an unnecessary cash grab, but it may later inspire something as revolutionary as Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing or Morrisson's run on Animal Man.

Sam wrote: "What series are you enjoying the most?"

I would say at this point, I'm enjoying Minutemen, Silk Spectre, Dr. Manhattan most.

All good points, Ryan.

Ryan wrote: "So Before Watchmen may be an unnecessary cash grab, but it may later inspire something as revolutionary as Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing or Morrisson's run on Animal Man. "

And even though it may have been launched as an unnecessary cash grab, that doesn't necessarily mean the stories are bad. I would say to anyone interested in them, just read them and decide for yourself.

Just thought I'd follow up on this thread. I just read the final issue of Minutemen, and I give it a very high recommendation. I think it was the best of them all.
I would go as far as to say it was just a great comic, period. The story-telling and artwork were just superb. It captured a lot of the symbolism of the original Watchmen, but told its own story about the Minutemen.

Really good stuff, in my opinion.

If you only read one of the Before Watchmen books, Minutemen is the one to get.

Actually the two written by Darwyn Cooke (Minutemen and Silk Spectre) were both my favorites, and they are being collected together in a single volume, so my recommendation is not to miss that collection.

That's great Peter, I'll definitely be checking out the trades when they're published this summer. Not sure about the J Michael Strazynski stuff (I hate JMS' writing) though I like Dr Manhattan.

Oh, now that is good to hear! I love Cooke's work.

The watchmen characters are not like Batman or Superman. Batman or Superman was created to be serialized. Watchen is a finite, structured story, with a beginning and end.

What's before watchmen? Fanfic that's passed off as "official/canon" without the original creator's blessings.

Saying that, most of the art has been amazing, and some of the writing readable. Some are car crashes though, like Night Owl.

Just letting people know Watchmen is 3.99 on kindle right now

Day before yesterday, My office colleague recommended me to read "Before Watchmen - Rorschach series", and hence I ended up picking this series. After flipping through the first few pages only, I realized that I should just call my colleague right now and thank him a million to have suggested me this book. Needless to say, I loved this series. I too can now recommend this book to everyone, without any reservation.

Cheap knock-offs of classic stories are a little like Bolex watches and Louie Vittan bags. Second hand, watered-down product. There are so many great original comics to read these days that are inspired by the desire of an artist to tell a story, instead of a media corporation wanting to profit from merchandising a quarter-century-old property. Why spend your time and money on editor-commissioned copies of better work?

Alan Moore wants his book back now. DC should give it to him.