BEFORE WATCHMEN ART AND STUFF (Yeah, I know)

[samurainoir]

Moore had originally pitched two potential prequels IIRC, minutemen and I'm digging into the back of my memory... I want to say Rorschach and Mothman?

It never got past the germs because of Moore's falling out with Dc, however, there was plenty of information to build the prequels on top of because of Moore's participation and consultation around the Watchmen RPG. Even if you don't play RPG's, much of the Moore approved back story is very interesting to watchmen fans.

DC HEROES WATCHMEN SOURCEBOOK MAYFAIR RPG | eBay


DC HEROES WATCHMEN TAKING OUT THE TRASH MAYFAIR RPG | eBay


DC HEROES WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN MAYFAIR RPG MODULE | eBay

[Brazoo]

Going through some older articles...

Eesh - I don't know if Azzarello's being misquoted or this isn't the whole quote or what, but if not this is an extremely lame way to try and spin the controversy:

Brian Azzarello, a comics author who is writing the mini-series for the Watchmen characters Rorschach and the Comedian, said he expected an initial wave of resistance because “a lot of comic readers don’t like new things.”

“I think the gut reaction is going to be, ‘Why?’ ” Mr. Azzarello said in a telephone interview. “But then when the actual books come out, the answer will be, ‘Oh, that’s why.’ ”

DC Comics Plans Prequels to Watchmen Series - NYTimes.com

[johnmiic]

Eesh - I don't know if Azzarello's being misquoted or this isn't the whole quote or what, but if not this is an extremely lame way to try and spin the controversy...

Sounds like he is creating a smoke-screen and diverting attention from the real controversy. It's not that comic readers don't like "new things". The success or failure of these titles will depend on how many people are loyal to Alan Moore over DC comics. Are there more readers who will buy whatever DC decides to shovel out to them? Or are there enough readers to boycott these titles and kill the whole concept. There's always the chance this idea could tank as badly as Marvel's New Universe did and that would put a lot of egg on a lot DC employees faces and likely a lot of people would get fired.

[thunderbolt]

The best part is that this is NOT a new thing, its a retread of a 25 year old stand alone story.

[madmarva]

The best part is that this is NOT a new thing, its a retread of a 25 year old stand alone story.

Yeah, that's the only thing I see odd about his quote. It's kind of dumb to bite the hand that feeds you. If that's how he really feels about his audience, he'd be better served by keeping his mouth shut. Sounds a bit frustrated.

[madmarva]

The success or failure of these titles will depend on how many people are loyal to Alan Moore over DC comics.

I really hope you are wrong about that. I hope the success or failure of these books are the quality of the material, just like any comic. Of course quality doesn't always equal success and who knows, the stories may be lousy, but the initial art looks nice to me.

[Earth 2 Chris]

If that's how he really feels about his audience, he'd be better served by keeping his mouth shut. Sounds a bit frustrated.

Unfortunately, many modern comic creators feel the need to publicly dismiss the consumers who provide them their livelyhood. As comic companies make more sweeping changes to draw attention, creators must choose to tow the company line and dismiss the masses who cry foul, if they wish to remain employed. It's partially due, no doubt, to the deafening sound of the internet, where fans voices are so easily heard, versus the old days where the only avenue was the comics letter page or a comic convention.

Chris

[ctc]

>Unfortunately, many modern comic creators feel the need to publicly dismiss the consumers who provide them their livelyhood. As comic companies make more sweeping changes to draw attention, creators must choose to tow the company line and dismiss the masses who cry foul, if they wish to remain employed.

I think you're right; and I think part of the problem for the cartoonists and writers is that the current generation grew up on the 90's Image style stuff, with all that talk about creator rights, caring about your characters and doing your own thing. They came in thinking they'd be given that level of freedom to do what they wanted, and instead end up doing things they really don't care for. But they're stuck; it's that, or go back to working at Taco Bell. So they tow the line, and ebd up venting in all sorts of strage ways.

Don C.

[johnmiic]

I really hope you are wrong about that. I hope the success or failure of these books are the quality of the material, just like any comic.

Wellll, is the quality of the material and the brand Watchmen going to attract enough readers to offset the number of readers who will sit it out in loyalty to Moore? I think the samples look nice but they're not enough to persuade me to buy them. Will the public view Watchmen as something cool and new? Or will they say, "Oh Watchmen, that old stuff! I don't want to bother with that." I think DC over-estimates the power that Watchmen has to draw in new readers.

[ctc]

>I think DC over-estimates the power that Watchmen has to draw in new readers.

Y'know.... thinkin' on this I suspect you might be right. I suspect this goes with the "companies hate risks" discussion in another thread: the Watchmen is a known name, and that's always the safer bet. Even if it seems like a bad idea for a number of reasons.

Don C.