A prequel to the classic 1986 12-issue Watchmen limited series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, the release of DC‘s Before Watchmen has been a contentious affair, with many die-hard fans of the original 12-issue comic-book highly critical of the iconic publisher’s decision to go ahead with the project; especially without the blessings and contributions of Moore.
Though Gibbons released a statement declaring his “appreciation” for DC’s new series, the artist’s conspicuous absence from the creative process of the 12-issue has confounded a whole cross-section of Watchmen lovers.
In spite of this, particularly with the surprising success of several Before Watchmen series, including Silk Spectre, Ozymandias, and Minutemen, DC is reportedly expanding the complex and colourful world of its beloved heroes.
A new series called Before Watchmen: Moloch is to be released, exploring the life and times of Moore and Gibbons’ pointy eared villain.
The project is to be written by J. Michael Straczynski, with Eduardo Risso handling art duties.
Speaking about the new series, Straczynski recently said, “All of the other books we’re doing show the process by which someone becomes a hero, and we see events from that point of view.
“But what we don’t see is how Edgar Jacobi went from being a kid to a magician/mystic, to a criminal, and finally turned his life around through Catholicism. That’s a hell of a journey.”
Before Watchmen: Moloch is scheduled to be released this November; preview a page of the series’ art by Risso to your right.
[via Complex]
