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saif42's review against another edition
4.0
From what I've heard of Before Watchmen, I didn't expect much going into this story. Most of the criticism I've heard is from people who hate that this is tainting the perfect legacy of the original story and that Alan Moore hates it. Newsflash: Alan Moore hates everything.
This story was genuinely great. Maybe its because I haven't read that much in the past few months but I was genuinely feeling stuff while reading this so I guess that's something. I've also heard that Minutemen and Silk Spectre are the best two stories in the whole series so maybe that's something else.
So far, not a stain on the legacy of Watchmen, but a great addition to it. Unnecessary or not, time will tell.
This story was genuinely great. Maybe its because I haven't read that much in the past few months but I was genuinely feeling stuff while reading this so I guess that's something. I've also heard that Minutemen and Silk Spectre are the best two stories in the whole series so maybe that's something else.
So far, not a stain on the legacy of Watchmen, but a great addition to it. Unnecessary or not, time will tell.
walkonpooh's review against another edition
2.0
So I guess first things, I love Watchmen. Both the graphic novel and the film. I’m excited about the TV series by Damon Lindelof and I’m excited to see what DC does with Watchmen in Doomsday Clock. As much as I love Watchmen, unless there’s something there that I’m not seeing, it’s not a sacred cow to me. It’s a great story. Especially the comic, uses the medium to perfection. But I don’t like how Alan Moore gets on a high horse about the characters he created for Watchmen, when he freely uses characters created by other artists across all kinds of his work.
That said, this is the first of Before Watchmen I’ve read. In spite of my initial excitement for it, up until now I just didn’t have the time to read it. Sadly, unless I hear otherwise, this will probably be the last of Before Watchmen that I read. All respect to the late Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner, who do provide some great art here, but there’s just nothing else here. What I know of Before Watchmen, the goal was to take modern comic writers and artists and to add additional insight to the original work. The two volumes collected here, Minutemen and Silk Spectre fail dramatically to do this.
Everything that is revealed about the characters here in Before Watchmen are things that are there in the original work. It’s subtext that gives you great insight into the characters in Watchmen, but here hits you on the head in the most obvious way. There’s not a lot of subtlety going on here. Everything in here is the book screaming at the reader, “Hey! Remember Watchmen?” It’s just not good.
Probably the only other Before Watchmen book I would have any interest in would be the J. Michael Straczynski Collection, cause I consider myself a fan of his. This whole ordeal just seems pointless having read this volume. Hopefully, DC has something better in store with Doomsday Clock, because if they do repeat the same mistakes as Before Watchmen, then I would say that maybe writing Watchmen without Alan Moore isn’t the greatest of ideas after all.
That said, this is the first of Before Watchmen I’ve read. In spite of my initial excitement for it, up until now I just didn’t have the time to read it. Sadly, unless I hear otherwise, this will probably be the last of Before Watchmen that I read. All respect to the late Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner, who do provide some great art here, but there’s just nothing else here. What I know of Before Watchmen, the goal was to take modern comic writers and artists and to add additional insight to the original work. The two volumes collected here, Minutemen and Silk Spectre fail dramatically to do this.
Everything that is revealed about the characters here in Before Watchmen are things that are there in the original work. It’s subtext that gives you great insight into the characters in Watchmen, but here hits you on the head in the most obvious way. There’s not a lot of subtlety going on here. Everything in here is the book screaming at the reader, “Hey! Remember Watchmen?” It’s just not good.
Probably the only other Before Watchmen book I would have any interest in would be the J. Michael Straczynski Collection, cause I consider myself a fan of his. This whole ordeal just seems pointless having read this volume. Hopefully, DC has something better in store with Doomsday Clock, because if they do repeat the same mistakes as Before Watchmen, then I would say that maybe writing Watchmen without Alan Moore isn’t the greatest of ideas after all.
svarnyp's review against another edition
4.0
EN/CZ
So far my favourite part from the prequels. The art, again, reflects the different stories. However the girlish fantasies from Spectre's story were just amazing. It felt like really following the development of a girl growing up (with vigilante parents). Both stories, and especially the Minutemen, seemed to follow the same formula as Watchmen. Everyone is morally grey and it is really hard to decide who is the good guy. Certainly worth reading if you liked Watchmen. If for nothing else then the Minutemen are basically the uncensored content of the famous book ''Under the hood''.
CZ:
Můj oblíbený díl série. Kresba, zejména u Přízraku, je skvělá a navozuje velmi dobře atmosféru jak dospívání dívky (i s jejími fantaziemi) tak divoká 60. léta. K tomu příběh, který se dost dobře drží původních Strážců a samotní Minutemani v jsou v podstatě obsahem (necenzurovaným) knihy "Pod kápí".
So far my favourite part from the prequels. The art, again, reflects the different stories. However the girlish fantasies from Spectre's story were just amazing. It felt like really following the development of a girl growing up (with vigilante parents). Both stories, and especially the Minutemen, seemed to follow the same formula as Watchmen. Everyone is morally grey and it is really hard to decide who is the good guy. Certainly worth reading if you liked Watchmen. If for nothing else then the Minutemen are basically the uncensored content of the famous book ''Under the hood''.
CZ:
Můj oblíbený díl série. Kresba, zejména u Přízraku, je skvělá a navozuje velmi dobře atmosféru jak dospívání dívky (i s jejími fantaziemi) tak divoká 60. léta. K tomu příběh, který se dost dobře drží původních Strážců a samotní Minutemani v jsou v podstatě obsahem (necenzurovaným) knihy "Pod kápí".
librarimans's review against another edition
5.0
It's Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner, this could have been about watching paint dry and it would be at least 4 stars.
mindsnare666's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
mborszich's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
olivia_piepmeier's review against another edition
4.0
This was the first book of the Before Watchmen that I picked up. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that the Minutemen actually had a singular storyline. I think I was expecting it to be each of the members individual stories. It did try to do that to a slight degree, but it was told from the perspective of Hollis Mason trying to write Under the Hood and make sure everyone who was mentioned in the book was okay with what he wrote. You get to see the full story of what really happened..which was rather dark and I can completely understand why the members did not want it published. It was comparable to Watchmen in the sense that it ended with you feeling kind of weird and not overly happy like many books try to end.
I really enjoyed Silk Spectre. The storyline did not feel as hugely important as Minutemen, but I liked how it showed a side of Laurie that we haven't really seen. I personally identified with the angsty side of her story but I also really enjoyed the art. I loved Silk Spectre's acid trip! The colors, text, everything was really fun.
I really enjoyed Silk Spectre. The storyline did not feel as hugely important as Minutemen, but I liked how it showed a side of Laurie that we haven't really seen. I personally identified with the angsty side of her story but I also really enjoyed the art. I loved Silk Spectre's acid trip! The colors, text, everything was really fun.
vylotte's review against another edition
4.0
More Watchmen prequels, this one dealing with the Minutemen and Silk Spectre. The Minutemen section was fantastic, set up as Hollis Mason reveals his book to the remaining members, and reminiscing over the events within. Very well done and effective in showing us much that was only vaguely hinted at in the original source material, entertaining and informative. Also gave a lot more insight into the evolution of the Comedian and the original Silk Spectre than in their own stand-alone stories.
The Silk Spectre section, while showing bits from both mother and daughter, mainly focuses on Laurie and her journey through adolescence, rejection of all her mother is, and finally acceptance and owning the persona. Also well done.
The Silk Spectre section, while showing bits from both mother and daughter, mainly focuses on Laurie and her journey through adolescence, rejection of all her mother is, and finally acceptance and owning the persona. Also well done.
etienne02's review against another edition
3.0
Old school comic in it's illustrations styles and story. Not a bad comic book but I just didn't get the Watchmen vibe (the original's one) I was searching for. I bit disappointed...