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joshgauthier 's review for:
Before Watchmen: Nite Owl/Dr. Manhattan
by J. Michael Straczynski
Honestly, I have a hard time rating some of these prequels.
Problems:
The whole in Nite Owl just feels tired by now. We've seen that character before and this version doesn't even feel particularly believable.
Separately, it was just one line, but it felt like they lost sight of Rorschach's character for a moment.
The chaotic, reality-bending story in Dr. Manhattan didn't feel (to me) like it added a whole lot to the character or the story, and I wasn't particularly a fan of the ending. It also felt too dependent on knowledge of the original novel rather than building anything new.
Successes:
The stories were otherwise generally interesting, complex and did manage to add some unique insight and information to the world and characters of Watchmen.
Moloch's story was engaging and was an instance where these prequels really did manage to cover new ground.
All in all, this volume was a fair and generally interesting read. It's not mind blowing, but it tells a sound story, particularly for fans of the original who aren't put off by the idea of the prequels in general.
Problems:
The whole
Spoiler
psycho, evil preacher storylineSeparately, it was just one line, but it felt like they lost sight of Rorschach's character for a moment.
The chaotic, reality-bending story in Dr. Manhattan didn't feel (to me) like it added a whole lot to the character or the story, and I wasn't particularly a fan of the ending. It also felt too dependent on knowledge of the original novel rather than building anything new.
Successes:
The stories were otherwise generally interesting, complex and did manage to add some unique insight and information to the world and characters of Watchmen.
Moloch's story was engaging and was an instance where these prequels really did manage to cover new ground.
All in all, this volume was a fair and generally interesting read. It's not mind blowing, but it tells a sound story, particularly for fans of the original who aren't put off by the idea of the prequels in general.