Here's something will definitively annoy old fans..but no doubt please the always demanding younger crowd.
They did it! DC Comics finally did it!!
They're gonna produce more WATCHMEN material!
That's right! Alan Moore timeless classic is finally getting a sequel...in the form of various prequels!!
DC Entertainment has announced that this summer they will publish all-new stories to expand on the acclaimed series. They understand that there will be some controversy with this decision but have decided to take the plunge. DC Comics will put out seven inter-connected prequel mini-series which will "build on the foundation of the original WATCHMEN." All titles will be under the BEFORE WATCHMEN banner.
Oh, my...
Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee said:
It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant. After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.
Getting a bit pro-active regarding this cult classic they own?
Wanting to cash-in on the success of an Alan Moore tale? Who do they think they are... Hollywood? XD
Why did all these sort of things keep happening under DiDio/Lee??
Anyways, they're not kidding around when they're talking about expanding this classic.
They have unied an all-star cast of creators to work with these characters.
And are planning quite a lot of upcoming titles, such as:
- RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
- MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
- COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
- DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
- NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
- OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
- SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner
I see lots of personal favorites of mine amongst these names.
Though that doesn't make this whole idea any better honestly..
Each week, these issues will also feature a bonus back-up tale to follow.
Called "Curse of the Crimson Corsair", and written by original series editor Len Wein with art by the original series colorist John Higgins.
This seems to be the only part of this whole experience that I've been actually liking.
There will also be a single issue named BEFORE WATCHMEN: EPILOGUE, by various writers and artists as well as a another Crimson Corsair story by Wein and Higgins.
I suppose you won't heard any comment coming from Alan Moore regarding all this.
He likes to create stories and enjoy expanding them sometimes, as long as he's in complete control of all this.
(like with the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or Tom Strong)
Though Dave Gibbons, the original artist on WATCHMEN and its co-creator already said the following:
The original series of WATCHMEN is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC's reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire.My own opinion? Honestly I'm not liking this at the moment...
Why does everything need to get a sequel? Why all these remakes? Why all that?
Simply because some people nowadays wanna make some money out of something that isn't theirs, something with proven success, something they can "ride" alongside to see how much they'll make out of it.
Some of these comics might turn out fun. Even great perhaps. But it was greed that started it all.
Blah :/