I've been hearing all this stuff recently about a possible sequel/series to the original Watchmen.
You know, as long as the contracts square up, DC is totally within their rights to make a sequel & take advantage of the prospect of a franchise for these characters.
The question is: will doing so, without the input of Moore/Gibbons, hurt the brand? I mean: hurt the brand with people who will matter, people who will spread negative word-of-mouth on this project?
That's the question.
I mean, even if someone like Grant Morrison stepped up on the plate for this. Morrison would look like a xxxxx writing a sequel to Watchmen that Moore didn't approve of. It'd be big shoes to fill for anyone. It's like me announcing I was hired to write Persepolis 2. It sucks, it feels cheap.
Here's how'd I do it:
You put out one book for each character, either a mini-series or a one-shot. Put them out one week after another, like an event:
Week One: Ozymandias
Week Two: Dr. Manhattan
Week Three: Silk Spectre
Week Four: Rorschach
Week Five(?) Nite Owl
That way, you spread the blame around to four or five writers, it doesn't seem quite as egregious as hiring one guy to do "Watchmen 2."
Then from there do an overall "event," but don't call it "Watchmen 2."
The key is not to say this is an official sequel to "Watchmen." Just put all this stuff out and gauge fan reaction. If they threaten to burn down DC: pull back. If not, sign Morrison/Quietly on "Watchmen 2."
Please understand, I'm not advocating this course of action. I'm very fine with there never being a sequel to this classic series.
But I'm just saying, for sake of argument.
/Watchmen Babies.
//Watchmensch.
///oh fuck it, here's a hat tip to Bleeding Cool's take as well.
There's no possible way they could tarnish the original in my heart. Largely because I wouldn't read a crapquel. It's like with the sequel to gone with the wind. To me, since it's not the original author, it's not the same world, and therefore invalid.
ReplyDeleteAlthough Watchmen Babies would be hysterical. Kind of like Muppet Babies.
I actually had a sequel in mind after seeing the movie. When I told people that I had the idea I got a bad reaction, but eh. If I ever get the mind or free time to do it I might just throw it up on Fanfic.net and take my lumps. I work for the competition so no harm no foul.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'm alone in this or not, but it seems to me that most of my friends who were not fans of the source material did NOT like Watchmen the movie. they didn't get it, they didn't like blue wang hanging out, and they thought it was too long.
ReplyDeleteSo I just don't think doing something outside the source material would do very well in the box office.
Your collective approach seems to be the best way to go. “It’s not a money-grubbing sequel. It’s an homage.”
ReplyDelete*When* they do a sequel, I bet it's along the lines of what you described.
ReplyDeleteIt will be the comic equivalent of stabbing Caesar.
Maybe it will be an alternate Earth. "It's Watchmen, but it's not Alan Moore's Watchmen."
Watchmen was written as a single event. There's absolutely no room for a sequel. I'd go as far as to say that any writer that honestly tries to make this new series reflect the opinions of the original will be taken off the book.
ReplyDelete"I'd go as far as to say that any writer that honestly tries to make this new series reflect the opinions of the original will be taken off the book."
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, Brian, I think if they cared that much, they wouldn't have made the movie to begin with.
I would have thought a move like this would be impossible, but since most people think this Watchmen was faithfully adapted on the strength of the visuals ("The Moth Guy looks like the Moth Guy") while ignoring the obvious rewriting of the theme, I am quite certain now that DC will throw crap on the wall. The smear will look like a dog with it's head cut in half. And DC will see some nice flowers.
One word: No.
ReplyDeleteFour words: Alan Moore was right.
Still think DC's gonna do it, probably taking the individual character "one shot" route first like the Red Circle books. They ought to take care though that they don't ruin the Watchmen brand by putting out crappy product.
ReplyDeleteBut also, how are you going to convince a well-known writer to write a Watchmen spin-off against Moore's wishes?
"But also, how are you going to convince a well-known writer to write a Watchmen spin-off against Moore's wishes?"
ReplyDeleteoh yeah i forgot: $
John Byrne. That's the name that just popped up in my head. Self-proclaimed cog. No real love for Watchmen or Alan Moore or anyone or anything who's come after him (or before him for that matter). Probably chomping at the bit to take what's regarded as modern classics down a peg. Bitter for all his own revision work being rejected. Doesn't care at all what fans would say.
ReplyDeleteMaybe his work on Doom Patrol nixed his chances for Watchmen 2. But then again, Spider Man: Chapter One should have nixed his chances to do Doom Patrol.
John Byrne takes the job. Says he's going to "do Watchmen right." Perfect contraversy freight train set in motion. People will buy the book just to see it crash.
At the very least, he'll be asked to do a Minutemen solo.
JadieLady said:
ReplyDelete"I don't know if I'm alone in this or not, but it seems to me that most of my friends who were not fans of the source material did NOT like Watchmen the movie. they didn't get it, they didn't like blue wang hanging out, and they thought it was too long."
What was too long? The blue wang or the movie?
Actually,
ReplyDeleteI believe similar but not the same characters will be used. DC already established post-Infinite Crisis that the new Earth Four (which is where the Charlaton heroes were from, I believe) contains characters much closer to the Watchmen mold.
I don't think any specific reference will be made to the original story, but a similartv universe may be explored at some point.
Also, my favorite character on the Justice League cartoons was the somewhat Rorschacky Question.
Joseph Heller did a sequel to Catch-22, another book that demanded no sequel. Of course, we all know he wrote the original, too, but that didn't stop the sequel from stinking it up.
ReplyDeleteFrom a purely financial/corporate standpoint, Time-Warner would be stupid not to do this. From a creative standpoint, any writer/artist team taking the job would be stupid TO do it.
Sure, we might hate it but I'll bet it would sell. Time-Warner's used to being reviled... reviled all the way to he bank... by Internet critics like myself. The writer/artist team will take most of the heat.
Okay... okay... I've talked myself into it.
I'll do it!
To be honest, I put a Watchmen comic book sequel about on the same level as those Godfather sequels and Gone With the Wind continuations. I don't see it as the sacrilege most comic fans will see it as, but at the same time I really don't see this story as needing to be continued.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, I'm sure whatever reasons we come up with yea or nay will weigh less than a feather against the corporate hubris that will deem this project a go.
So let's enjoy the fireworks!
DK 2
ReplyDeleteJust sayin'.
"To be honest, I put a Watchmen comic book sequel about on the same level as those Godfather sequels and Gone With the Wind continuations. I don't see it as the sacrilege most comic fans will see it as, but at the same time I really don't see this story as needing to be continued."
ReplyDeleteTo me, and I think to any comic reader worth taking seriously, it's not sacrilege. It's just "why?". There's utterly no point.
The point is the story. I have a tough time believing there are no good stories left for these characters. I am not against ANY good story whether it features Nite Owl, Rorschach, Blue Beetle, or The Question.
ReplyDeleteNow, the likelihood of someone at DC DOING justice to these characters is slim- maybe they could get Denny O'Neil. Maybe and immersive writer like Trautmann or Rucka could do it. Regardless, it's going to be the story that makes it. Discounting the possibility that a sequel can be done well is somewhat close-minded.
Now bring on the Watchman Babies!
"I have a tough time believing there are no good stories left for these characters."
ReplyDeleteI think you missed the point of the book. The book was never about creating new characters and fleshing them out, it was about deconstructing pre-existing themes and concepts in comic books. A series would just turn them into further mockeries of their original idea.
If the Watchmen characters were put in a different universe. If they were a little different from Alan Moore's version. Something combining the original Charlton characters, Moore's characters, and the movie and being a reaction to Watchmens status as a classic, rather than a sequel, then this might be an acceptable solution. "Elseworld Watchmen"!
ReplyDelete(I wouldn't buy it though)
But I like the Watchmen Babies idea too (I would buy that!).
And since Watchmen is again, in the limelight, I'm going to run my god damn hostess parody viral comic strip to the ground!
http://theoryofeverythingcomics.com/2009/03/presidential-trouble.html
If the Comedian rapes Richard Nixon in the sequel, then I've done my job!