GRcade

OnlyShallow wrote:Thought I would reacquaint myself with The Preacher. Went into local comic shop to buy it and came out with Vol 1. But somehow I also managed to purchase Hitman Vol 1 and The Boys vol 1.

I'm supposed to be economising.

About a month ago, we asked the question, Is It Time For More Watchmen? According to DC Comics, it seems the answer is a resounding "yes."

The longtime rumors of a Watchmen 2 project were confirmed by DC simultaneously via their blog The Source and USA Today. The project, as expected, has zero involvement from original Watchmen creators Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, but does feature a multitude of the industry's best creative talent. The title of the project is officially "Before Watchmen" and will consist of 7 mini-series of various lengths, all inter-connected and set in the time before the original story.

The announced books are:

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

"It's our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant," said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. "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."

There will be one new issue a week, each featuring a two-page back-up called The Curse of the Crimson Corsair, written by Len Wein with art by John Higgins. There will also be a Before Watchmen: Epilogue one-shot. No official launch date was given other than "this summer."

Gibbons told The Source, "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."

"Comic books are perhaps the largest and longest running form of collaborative fiction," added DiDio and Lee. "Collaborative storytelling is what keeps these fictional universes current and relevant."

For his part, Azzarello spoke to USA Today about Rorschach, saying, "He's the face. The guy who covers his face is the face of the franchise. You're going to get the Rorschach that you know and want. It's a very visceral story we're going to be telling."

The announcement is going to be quite controversial amongst comics fans, with Watchmen being almost universally hailed as not only one of the greatest superhero comics of all time, but an untouchable piece of literature. While the characters are indeed owned by DC Comics and not Moore and Gibbons, the debate over the integrity of revisiting these characters without Moore's involvement will likely rage eternally.

Whatever your thoughts, Watchmen 2 is a go. Just as DC Comics did when they announced their relaunch last summer, they have proven they are willing to do whatever it takes to go the distance.

Corazon de Leon wrote:Anyone know where I can get Preacher stuff on the cheap? I've always wanted to read it, but never gotten round to doing it.

Saint of Killers wrote::fp: at the Watchmen news.

Corazon de Leon wrote:Anyone know where I can get Preacher stuff on the cheap? I've always wanted to read it, but never gotten round to doing it.

Cheapest one online seems to be Amazon Preacher: Gone to Texas

You shouldn't be paying anything more than £10, with most of the books actually costing between £7 and 9.

Saint of Killers wrote::fp: at the Watchmen news.

Corazon de Leon wrote:Anyone know where I can get Preacher stuff on the cheap? I've always wanted to read it, but never gotten round to doing it.

Cheapest one online seems to be Amazon Preacher: Gone to Texas

You shouldn't be paying anything more than £10, with most of the books actually costing between £7 and 9.

The New York Times got a comment from Alan Moore, who was, to say the least, less than pleased with the news. "I tend to take this latest development as a kind of eager confirmation that they are still apparently dependent on ideas that I had 25 years ago."

He continued, "I don't want money. What I want is for this not to happen. As far as I know, there weren't that many prequels or sequels to Moby Dick."

Pedz wrote:Just got Ultimate Spider-Man ulmate collection vol 2 & 3 through the post. I'll be enjoyong these tonight.

Something Fishy wrote:I've just been doing exactly the same thing NBK.

I finally got around to looking at Comixology properly on my ipad. The price of stuff i want to check out like Batman and Swamp thing is far cheaper than having it sent down and the quality is amazing.

I'll keep a couple of paper ones going but can see me all but but ending them. Saves all that storage as you say too.

Pedro wrote:I really want to hate the new Watchmen stuff.

Then they got Darwyn Cooke on two books and with Amanda Conner.

So yeah I'll be buying those two at least. I can't resist Darwyn Cooke's stuff.

Memento Mori wrote:

Pedz wrote:Just got Ultimate Spider-Man ulmate collection vol 2 & 3 through the post. I'll be enjoyong these tonight.

After that the next chronological volume is Volume 7. It's far too easy to read an Ultimate Spidey trade in one sitting.