Before WATCHMEN prequel
 

DC couldn't leave it alone.

Sound off when ready.

Newsarama.com : DC Officially Confirms BEFORE WATCHMEN Prequel Series

I'm not sure this is a good idea, but thanks for letting me know all the same. So they're doing comics for each individual character, plus the old school Minutemen, and then filming a movie? Where the hell did they get the funding for that, as far as I remember Watchmen flopped in theaters.

Well, there seems to be certain legalities involved with this endeavor. That being that DC only retains property rights if the franchise is actually being used. You can only reprint the original and remix it in some sort of collectable format for so long before you encounter an unfavorable return on investment just to retain rights to a franchise.

The only reasonable option from a business perspective to turn a profit and keep the rights is to create something new. I don't like it as a fan...but I understand as a businessman and let's face it, the comics industry is a business.

I would think that Minute Men, and Nite Owl would have some merrit as "Before Watchmen" stories, but only if Alan Moore was apart of it.
Which is not the case.

I know Rorchach is a fan favorite, but he's really not a strong enough character to hold his own solo story. Neither is anyone else, really (Except Nite Owl).

I agree. I don't really see this attracting new readers either as of now. Guess it all depends on how well marketed this gets.

Oh, I don't know. The Comedian could be fun.

And Rorschach would be ok as long as they kept him in the main book only or team-up books. Maybe if they took Nite Owl and Rorschach and did a spin on the Batman & Robin dynamic.

At the very least, I'm happy they're not attempting a sequel....

Not how copyright works- DC owns the copyright for a hundred years as well as all rights, unless they decide to sell them.
With Watchmen (as with Spider-Man) a movie studio leases the rights to make movies/TV for a given number of years before the rights revert to the owners- in Spidey's case, 20 centry Fox has liscencing on Spidey for two more years- which is why they made the upcoming movie- use it or not, Marvel gets it back at the lease's end..and since Marvel makes it's own movies now, they wont renew that contract with Fox.

Consider stuff like Rom- Mattell owns the rights to the character (they has liscenced t to marvel for the comic book), and they have done nothing with him in like 25 years...but it's still theirs.

You may be thinkning of defending copyright- which requires "vigorus defense" of a property, lest it become public domain.

I agree with that. I never ment to imply I think Rorschach is a bad character. I enjoyed him pretty well. Just don't think he can handle a solo series (Maybe a oneshot). But in a team-up (And I *was* thinking he'd be a great main character in Nite Owl, especially since they have an implied history of working together) or another team series, he'd be great.

You're right about that and I'm aware of how copyrights work. While I can only admit to not knowing the specific details concerning the language of the Watchmen contract without reading it personally, it has always been my understanding that there was a reversion clause. This clause basically stated to the effect that DC owned it only for the time they published it.

This language was also part of the V for vendetta series as well if I remember correctly and also why Moore left DC based on an interview I once read. He felt swindled because he believed that clause would grant him and gibbons full rights eventually and didn't realize DC never intended for it to EVER go out of print.

I am nopt really sure about these series. It says on every week. Is that each books has an issue a week or will they be spread out with an issue of something each week?

I don't think you implied he was a bad character (at least that's not what I got out of your post). I was just mentioning where and how I thought he could shine the best. I just hope they don't use him like Marvel uses Wolverine these days.

And their implied history is exactly why I mentioned a team-up book. It would be nice to explore that relationship's history in more detail.

NEW 52 JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL INTRODUCES NEW MEMBER RORSCHACH!

hahaha

He would show them how to deal with villains.

I'm surprised he didn't show up in Cry for Justice at some point. ;)

Acknowledging fans love for Rorschach, Warner Bros and DC are proud to announce five new monthly titles, starring Rorschach!

The All New Teen Titans- In order to fight a devestating crisis posed by Deathstroke, Rorschach assembles and leads an all new team of Teen Titans
Powergirl and Rorschach- In this new monthly series, Rorschach teams up with his new partner, Powergirl! It's a laugh riot!
Secret Seven- Rorschach joins up and leads the Secret Six, perminantly upping their number to seven!
Justice League International- There is no one Batman trusts more than Rorschach, so that made him the natural choice to lead this new international team!
Green Lantern- Move over Hal Jordan, there's a new ring slinger in town: Rorschach! Now bringing his own patented brand of justice to the universe!

damn you, Jetty...now I need fan art of a Lantern wielding Rorschach.

Oh oh oh! I just got an email! In addition to those, WB/DC have announced another title!

Batgirl- After Barbara Gordon is wounded in the line of battle, it's up to Rorschach to don the lady's cape and cowl, and continue her fight for justice!