BEFORE WATCHMEN thoughts...

Well, the inevitable has been officially announced today: DC is doing a prequel to what many consider the greatest Graphic Novel of all time. The net is completely buzzing and everyone is putting their two cents in. I tweeted some stuff earlier about it too. My initial reaction was that I was not surprised. It was a matter of when and who, really. I think everyone will instantly recognize that there's NO WAY whatever they do can live up to the hype or top what Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons did. And really, the prequel ideas are not necessary to the iconic story at all. But rest assured, it will sell and make tons of money. Everyone is indeed a bit curious.

Me? There's only two reasons I am sorta interested in this. And its these reasons here:




We get new Adam Hughes and Amanda Conner art out of the deal. I know Adam well enough from the brief times I've been around him talking and even chatted with him a few very minor times. He;s one of these guys who has a tremendous respect for the classics and those things that are to be held sacred. And I honestly don't think he would involve himself in something that he didn't feel would be decent to do. So I trust his judgement to involve himself in this. We get to see him draw Silk Spectre and some blenis! (the name of the Blue Penis on Dr. Manhattan.) Also, I get to see one of my current favorite artists, Amanda Conner, do her take on a book. It will be great to see. I'm excited for them both. As an artist, it would certainly be hard to pass up that chance. Congrats to them!

The rest, like the politics and "how dare they" and "Should it be done" stuff I am just ignoring. My honest reaction is that I think it should be left alone. Cause I like stories that begin and end. And there's not much (I think right now anyway) that you could add to the story. Plus it does not have the original creator's blessing. s anything created would simply be a clever imitation. Alan Moore himself stated that in DC's decision to do this, it proves they are out of new ideas and would rather dwell in his idea from well over 25 years ago. But look, it was gonna get done eventually, so why not look for the good side in it. I'm kinda looking at this like I did for Zack Snyder's WATCHMEN movie. It wasn't necessary but kinda neat to see. It can be taken or left behind. I don't even own the DVD anymore. I used to though. And it was fun to see. But I got MY Watchmen right here on the shelf and thats fine enough for me.

I say let em play in the sandbox. Let them make their money. Let them do their take on it. So long as it doesn't DESTROY the first one by over explaining things and changing motivations of character like other prequels I know, then it should be fine. Or quite ignorable. Sorta like how we ignore the DARK KNIGHT STRIKES BACK. Or HIGHLANDER 2. It never happened. But hey, we saw it and maybe it was a great deleted scene. Just look at it like that and you should be fine. Curb the outrage and look at the good. Like I said, new Adam Hughes and Amanda Conner sequentials. They could draw anything and I'd buy it.

So who reads BEFORE WATCHMEN? We all will. You know you will. They'll get your money. At least let em do it now and get it out of the way, cause they will no matter what. We all knew they would. What else they got left anyway? :)

Good luck to those involved.

T