Controversial 'Before Watchmen' to be Released in June
Will the prequels be Star Wars prequels bad or original Watchmen awesome?
June 6th marks the debut issue of Before Watchman – arguably the most controversial comic book to be released since the Death of Superman 20 years ago.
Next week, Time Warner and DC Comics will release the first issue of Before Watchmen, the prequel to the original.
Alan Moore – the reclusive British writer of Watchmen famous for his worship of a snake god – insisted that this comic not be made. The fact that the genius behind the series is missing from the project has certainly raised eyebrows among fans and industry insiders alike. Some stores are refusing to even stock the books. Despite the star power of the artists and writers involved (Brian Azzarello, Darwyn Cooke, Amanda Conner, J. Michael Straczynski, Andy & Joe Kubert and Jae Lee among others), and the full backing of Time Warner/DC Comics, the release of the series is already raising hackles for many fans.
Matthew Klokel, owner of Fantom Comics in Union Station, certainly believes so. "There's been lots of controversy in this store. On the one hand, people hate that Moore isn't involved, and they still have a bad taste in their mouth from the awful Star Wars prequels." But it's not all black and white, stresses Klokel. "For one thing, the original artist, Dave Gibbons, fully endorses the project." Will Fantom Comics be stocking the comic? "You betcha," says Klokel. "We've ordered a ton. Personally, I can't wait to read them."
The original Watchman was published in 1986. To this day, many consider this 12-issue series to be the greatest superhero comic of all time. Since its release, fans have been left with nowhere to go. Next week marks the first glimpse of the Watchman series in over a quarter century.
You can find the first issue of the first mini-series, Before Watchmen: Minutemen, at Fantom Comics, located on the East Mezzanine Level of Union Station, or online from Fantom's Digital Store on Wednesday, June 6th. 
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