@avclub-b32768df2cfff3a5ab1a78d093711e2c:disqus I understand the difference, but I categorically reject the notion that one is inherently inferior. Some of my favorite comics were created by writers after being approached by editors. Honestly, in the world of franchised characters, I couldn't care less whether the…

@avclub-b32768df2cfff3a5ab1a78d093711e2c:disqus "…DC wanted to release a product that would turn their most successful single book into a franchise. He then began searching for top names…" is a great description of how comics work in general. I get that Watchmen is a bit of a sacred cow, but it's beyond unreasonable…

@avclub-b32768df2cfff3a5ab1a78d093711e2c:disqus "Moore and O’Neill sought to reexamine the characters and tell new
stories with them while DC wanted to have additional books on the
shelves at Barnes & Noble." Is both glib and unfair. Yes, I'm sure DC green-lit Before Watchmen because they thought it would make…

@avclub-884c4beddd8c98bb3b016bdfcc1bcdf8:disqus I really don't. I'm not trying to be difficult — I actually don't see any difference. They both appropriate characters in order to explore their personalities a bit more. Is the difference because Before Watchmen feels like it's trying to cash in more on its prequel-ness…

I'm 100% with you on Nite Owl being awful, but I actually really liked Comedian. It was smart, dense, and did enough unexpected things with the character to justify its own existence.

Comedian is probably my favorite of the bunch, but I'm a huge Brian Azzarello fan. People really hated that first issue, but it's actually a surprisingly dense study of the 60s. I was less enamored of Rorschach, but it pulls together in the end. Silk Specter and Minutemen were both great. The rest were absolutely…

I'm not particularly interested in dredging up the whole debate that was had when these were first announced/published, but one of the best arguments about this particular idea points out that 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is equally "complete," but that didn't prevent Moore from using Captain Nemo in the League of…

The decision to publish them was clearly a cash-grab, and while I can agree that they are unnecessary for enjoying Watchmen, I don't think Watchmen's completeness really needs to factor into the conversation. Very few sequels are made because of artistic necessity — the original work is complete, but because it was…

I'm tired of people saying they love cupcakes. It's just a tiny serving of cake. You love cake. You wouldn't say "I love really tiny slices of pizza," YOU JUST FUCKING LOVE PIZZA.

The guy at my LCS made me read Daredevil 25 while I was in the store so we could talk about how great it is. I've been loving the hell out of that series, and this issue is cashing in on a lot of the long game Waid has been playing from the start.

Totally agree about the bleakness. Also, I'm inclined to call the "world building" of the second issue "wheel-spinning." I'm still on-board, but that second issue REALLY hit the breaks after the action of the first. We get into it a bit on my blog (http://wp.me/p2a7lL-2DV), but this issue felt like a bit of a misstep…

I'll add twitter to that list, but yeah, I could see how someone could miss this if they aren't tapped into comics news in that way. Still, I felt like DC made a HUGE marketing push in the week leading up to Batman Incorporated 8, including articles on non-comics news sites (which, again, were tweeted to high heaven).…

Great write-up, Oliver. I just want to add: the context clues suggest that that isn't just A street lamp, it's THE street lamp — the one on Crime Alley that so dramatically lit the Waynes' murder all those years ago. Replacing Damian with a grim reminder of Bruce's other losses adds insult to injury, and I think it's…

I can totally appreciate waiting for the trade, but I'm just curious how you avoided that spoiler — it was leaked well in advance of the issue, was broadcast by the cover of that issue (and every other bat-title this month), and even DC's page had that information pop up as an unavoidable ad in the week leading up to…

I mean, between Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks, it's not exactly like he's on either of the extremes.

I'm honestly not sure if you're saying Paul Simon is the only one with a career, or the only one without a career.

To me, demonstrating that he was close with the Kennedys establishes Blake as a much more opportunistic character. His only allegiance is to whoever has the power to let him do what he does. I think that fits perfectly with the character Moore created.

@avclub-e95a45d0b1f5afdf0ab9cde82b4b1d06:disqus Are you referring to the Kennedy assassination? I maintain that Azzarello's take fits with what Moore suggests, and is ultimately more compelling than if Blake were the triggerman. I agree that the Vietnam business is like every other Vietnam story ever told, but…

That's great to hear! We're all about continuing the discussion, so feel free to comment on anything that catches your eye.

I'd argue that Silk Spectre is essential. Not in the "you have to read this to understand Watchmen" way, but in the more general, "this is good enough for me to strongly recommend on its own merits" way. I also enjoyed the heck out of Minutemen, and I think Azzarello has done some fascinating things with the Comedian.…