Before Watchmen: what's worth reading?

[DanShentonLives]

I'm thinking about picking up some before watchmen titles. Which are with reading/avoiding?

[Batman9]

I've seen rave reviews for Minutemen.

[DanShentonLives]

Thanks, that's one I was thinking about. Think I'll probably end up picking up the lot in trade, but I want to get one or two of the series now

[fishbonex]

I'm a huge fan of Watchmen, still own the TPB I bought for a plain ride in 1988 and its well read. I am currently reading all of Before Watchmen, and here is what I like:

Excellent: Minutemen and Silk Spectre. While I was really looking forward to Minutemen, I only picked up SS out of curiosity, the character was fairly shallow and weak in original. While MM delivers on all expectations and then some, SS surprises with creating a great back story for her along with (as always) fantastically expressive Amanda Connors art. These are fantastic series, would love to see more.

Good: Ozymandious, nite Owl, Dr. Manhatten, Rorshach. I like all 4 of these, very well done explorations of the characters.

Meh: Comedian.

[DanShentonLives]

I'm a huge fan of Watchmen, still own the TPB I bought for a plain ride in 1988 and its well read. I am currently reading all of Before Watchmen, and here is what I like:

Excellent: Minutemen and Silk Spectre. While I was really looking forward to Minutemen, I only picked up SS out of curiosity, the character was fairly shallow and weak in original. While MM delivers on all expectations and then some, SS surprises with creating a great back story for her along with (as always) fantastically expressive Amanda Connors art. These are fantastic series, would love to see more.

Good: Ozymandious, nite Owl, Dr. Manhatten, Rorshach. I like all 4 of these, very well done explorations of the characters.

Meh: Comedian.

Of the four of the "good" ones which would yoy say is best?

Also are any of the books meant to be read in tandem like a crossover? Or can you pick up one without having to read any of the others?

[direction9]

though neither are really doing anything new, and their expansion of the watchmen characters hasn't felt really necessary, i've still really been enjoying azz's two books, comedian and rorschach
really doing the gritty and hardboiled comics very well. textbook, almost.

[Per Hiero]

I would like to take this minute to stress reading the original if you haven't. Otherwise, I haven't really bought into the new ones too much (here's a list of them). That is all.

Dang, it looks like my link might not be working...

[Captain Jim]

I'm a huge fan of Watchmen, still own the TPB I bought for a plain ride in 1988 and its well read. I am currently reading all of Before Watchmen, and here is what I like:

Excellent: Minutemen and Silk Spectre. While I was really looking forward to Minutemen, I only picked up SS out of curiosity, the character was fairly shallow and weak in original. While MM delivers on all expectations and then some, SS surprises with creating a great back story for her along with (as always) fantastically expressive Amanda Connors art. These are fantastic series, would love to see more.

Good: Ozymandious, nite Owl, Dr. Manhatten, Rorshach. I like all 4 of these, very well done explorations of the characters.

Meh: Comedian.

I agree completely.

Of the four of the "good" ones which would yoy say is best?

Probably Ozymandious.

Also are any of the books meant to be read in tandem like a crossover?

None of the main story lines; only the 2-page back up Crimson Corsair pirate story.

Or can you pick up one without having to read any of the others?

Yes - other than the 2-page back-up (which can also be read online, I believe).

[smokeysabear]

I started out reading all of the Before Watchmen minis. Now, I'm down to 4, which are Minutemen, Silk Spectre, Ozymandias, and Dr. Manhattan.

I'll come back to these, but first, the ones I didn't like which were Comedian, Nite Owl, and Rorschach. I thought these ranged from bad (Comedian) to offensively terrible. (Nite Owl) But hey, that's just me. As far as the good ones go, I've really enjoyed Minutemen and Silk Spectre. I think these have easily been the stand-outs of Before Watchmen. Great art from Conner and Cooke, while Cooke has done a great job crafting stories that don't seem unnecessary. As far as Ozymandias and Dr. Manhattan goes, these are definitely not on the level of Minutemen and Silk Spectre, but they've been pretty enjoyable reads.

My Personal Ranking:
1. Silk Spectre
2. Minutemen
3. Dr. Manhattan
4. Ozymandias
5. Comedian
6. Rorschach

100. Nite Owl

[DanShentonLives]

I would like to take this minute to stress reading the original if you haven't. Otherwise, I haven't really bought into the new ones too much (here's a list of them). That is all.

Dang, it looks like my link might not be working...

I have, several times

[DanShentonLives]

I started out reading all of the Before Watchmen minis. Now, I'm down to 4, which are Minutemen, Silk Spectre, Ozymandias, and Dr. Manhattan.

I'll come back to these, but first, the ones I didn't like which were Comedian, Nite Owl, and Rorschach. I thought these ranged from bad (Comedian) to offensively terrible. (Nite Owl) But hey, that's just me. As far as the good ones go, I've really enjoyed Minutemen and Silk Spectre. I think these have easily been the stand-outs of Before Watchmen. Great art from Conner and Cooke, while Cooke has done a great job crafting stories that don't seem unnecessary. As far as Ozymandias and Dr. Manhattan goes, these are definitely not on the level of Minutemen and Silk Spectre, but they've been pretty enjoyable reads.

My Personal Ranking:
1. Silk Spectre
2. Minutemen
3. Dr. Manhattan
4. Ozymandias
5. Comedian
6. Rorschach

100. Nite Owl

Yikes, Nite Owl is that bad? I'll prob go for the three everyone seems to have mentioned (SS, MM and O) and maybe pick up Dr Manhattan too if I enjoy them. Many thanks guys

[ShaggyB]

Ive enjoyed it all. Id recommend ozzy's book... its the best one

[Christopher Cross Is God]

I started out reading all of the Before Watchmen minis. Now, I'm down to 4, which are Minutemen, Silk Spectre, Ozymandias, and Dr. Manhattan.

I'll come back to these, but first, the ones I didn't like which were Comedian, Nite Owl, and Rorschach. I thought these ranged from bad (Comedian) to offensively terrible. (Nite Owl) But hey, that's just me. As far as the good ones go, I've really enjoyed Minutemen and Silk Spectre. I think these have easily been the stand-outs of Before Watchmen. Great art from Conner and Cooke, while Cooke has done a great job crafting stories that don't seem unnecessary. As far as Ozymandias and Dr. Manhattan goes, these are definitely not on the level of Minutemen and Silk Spectre, but they've been pretty enjoyable reads.

My Personal Ranking:
1. Silk Spectre
2. Minutemen
3. Dr. Manhattan
4. Ozymandias
5. Comedian
6. Rorschach

100. Nite Owl

lol, why do you hate Nite-Owl so much? I think it's an alright book. The titles I find offensively bad are Comedian & Rorschach.

Aside from the first issue of Flashpoint: Batman Knight of Vengeance, I've yet to read an Azzarello book I've actually liked. I haven't read 100 Bullets, which seems to be his most popular work.

Yikes, Nite Owl is that bad? I'll prob go for the three everyone seems to have mentioned (SS, MM and O) and maybe pick up Dr Manhattan too if I enjoy them. Many thanks guys

There are differing opinions. Some people like Nite-Owl, some don't. I do think Nite-Owl is the weakest of the three JMS-penned BW titles, but I still like it.

It's the same with the Azzarello BW titles. Some hate them (Myself included), while some like them.