Scan barcode
shimonah's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5
As a fan of the Watchmen, it is very interesting to get back-story on the various members of the Watchmen and minutemen. This particular volume is easily the most disturbing of the set, which should be of no surprise to anyone who read [b:Watchmen|472331|Watchmen|Alan Moore|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327866860s/472331.jpg|4358649].
The Comedian's proclivities for violence are well spelled out, while his background as a government agentraise nearly as many questions as they answer, mostly about how anyone would trust a man like him. Similarly with Rorschach, there are many unanswered questions left after his story has been told. He is the definition of unreliable narrator, giving only glimpses as to what occurred to cause him to don his mask, or what he does when he is not wearing it. (A little more is revealed during his partnership with Night Owl, but still not much).
This is a worthwhile addition to the Watchmen cannon, and definitely plays on emotions in the same ways as the original - disbelief and disgust being as prevalent as hope and admiration. There were points where the narrative was hard for me to follow, especially in the Comedian's story, hence the loss of half a point. It would often take a few pages for me to figure out what was going on, or where/when things were happening. I would also have liked more insight on how both characters had gotten to be the way they were and, especially in Edward's case, how they felt about their actions.
As a fan of the Watchmen, it is very interesting to get back-story on the various members of the Watchmen and minutemen. This particular volume is easily the most disturbing of the set, which should be of no surprise to anyone who read [b:Watchmen|472331|Watchmen|Alan Moore|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327866860s/472331.jpg|4358649].
The Comedian's proclivities for violence are well spelled out, while his background as a government agent
Spoiler
and assassin of even those closest to himThis is a worthwhile addition to the Watchmen cannon, and definitely plays on emotions in the same ways as the original - disbelief and disgust being as prevalent as hope and admiration. There were points where the narrative was hard for me to follow, especially in the Comedian's story, hence the loss of half a point. It would often take a few pages for me to figure out what was going on, or where/when things were happening. I would also have liked more insight on how both characters had gotten to be the way they were and, especially in Edward's case, how they felt about their actions.
akadamo's review against another edition
4.0
I read these as comics; the Comedian story seemed a little far-fetched. Both the Comedian and Rorschach are the most compelling charcters in the Watchmen series.
gordondym's review against another edition
2.0
A cash grab that's not even worth pirating, much less reading.
alainag's review against another edition
2.0
The Comedian gets this huge story in this comic as well as a significant part in "The Minutemen" comics but Rorschach doesn't really get anything in here. He picks himself up after two unsuccessful fights against a drug dealer then successfully defeats the crew with huge strokes of luck. That's the end. Rorschach is a cool and creepy character but he's not a total bastard like the Comedian. Luckily Rorschach plays a big part in the original and is basically the main character in the movie. I still have one two-part book to read (Crimson Caper and Ozymandias) but I'm pretty sure this is the biggest dud of all the trades so far.
bent's review against another edition
1.0
Very weak, by-the-numbers stories. In the Comedian story, we get the Kennedys, Vietnam, G. Gordon Liddy. Some conspiracy stuff. The Comedian is responsible for the My Lai Massacre. I think it's all supposed to be shocking. It's not. It's clichéd.
Then the Rorschach story is typical tough guy stuff. Rorschach is beaten to death but guess what? He survives. An elaborate trap is set up to capture him, but the guys aren't even committed enough to make sure that he dies. There's a bit of a love interest, too. Kind of weakens the character that looked so cool in Watchmen.
This is the second Before Watchmen book I've read. I was a little ambivalent on the other one (Minute Men/Silk Spectre), but compared to this one, that is looking a lot better.
Then the Rorschach story is typical tough guy stuff. Rorschach is beaten to death but guess what? He survives. An elaborate trap is set up to capture him, but the guys aren't even committed enough to make sure that he dies. There's a bit of a love interest, too. Kind of weakens the character that looked so cool in Watchmen.
This is the second Before Watchmen book I've read. I was a little ambivalent on the other one (Minute Men/Silk Spectre), but compared to this one, that is looking a lot better.
merixcil's review against another edition
1.0
Much as I'm very much in the camp of people who thinks Watchmen can't possibly say anything more than Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons let it say, I didn't hate The Comedian's chunk of this book and found the character more or less in keeping, if nowhere near as smartly written, as the original.
But all goodwill I had for this book faded with the first two pages of the Rorschach chunk of the story. I can't remember the last time I saw a character so butchered. Disastrously out of character with seemingly no understanding for what the character is meant to represent. I can't believe I managed to finish it.
But all goodwill I had for this book faded with the first two pages of the Rorschach chunk of the story. I can't remember the last time I saw a character so butchered. Disastrously out of character with seemingly no understanding for what the character is meant to represent. I can't believe I managed to finish it.
drtlovesbooks's review against another edition
2.0
What it's about: The first half of this collection follows Eddie Blake, the Comedian, through some parts of his career that were left unexplored in the original Watchmen, detailing his involvement with the Kennedy family and some of his time in Viet Nam. The second half does the same with Rorschach, following him during a case in 1977 New York.
What I thought: I LOVE the original Watchmen graphic novel, and I was cautiously optimistic about having stories that revisit that world. Now I know that optimism was misplaced. Blake's story wanders through the Kennedy's lives a bit before he heads to Viet Nam in a story that feels like a weak echo of what was written in the original.
Rorschach's story is similarly uninspired. The only part that was semi-interesting was a developing relationship with a woman, but that was turned into yet another step in his journey to becoming the dark and lonely character that appears in the original stories. And again, it feels like a hazy reflection of the story provided in the original work.
Why I rated it like I did: This is the definition of "unnecessary prequel". Nothing was added here that gave additional depth or insight into these characters. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great, either.
What I thought: I LOVE the original Watchmen graphic novel, and I was cautiously optimistic about having stories that revisit that world. Now I know that optimism was misplaced. Blake's story wanders through the Kennedy's lives a bit before he heads to Viet Nam in a story that feels like a weak echo of what was written in the original.
Rorschach's story is similarly uninspired. The only part that was semi-interesting was a developing relationship with a woman, but that was turned into yet another step in his journey to becoming the dark and lonely character that appears in the original stories. And again, it feels like a hazy reflection of the story provided in the original work.
Why I rated it like I did: This is the definition of "unnecessary prequel". Nothing was added here that gave additional depth or insight into these characters. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great, either.
monkomon's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment
shim's review against another edition
3.0
Nicely done artwork but the story is hard to follow for the Comedian side, and doesn’t make much sense for Rohrschach’s side.
Of course this isn’t really Watchmen, but it’s fun to see other authors play around with the characters. Just doesn’t seem like they got the tone / backstory right.
Of course this isn’t really Watchmen, but it’s fun to see other authors play around with the characters. Just doesn’t seem like they got the tone / backstory right.
mindsnare666's review
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75