When ghosts from the past whisper in my ear to  revisit some prequal narrative, I listen.

When DC Rebirth prompts me to recall my experience of Watchmen through it’s litany of JL characters among  others, I listen.  The ending of the Rebirth debut with the Comedians pin staring back at Batman actually got me jumping up and down and texting the Drunk and Nerdy folk….”WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA!” I said. I think I said that.  I know I said at LEAST one “whoa” in all caps.  It was a concept that I think was a ballsy move and allowed the audience to reimagine the universe in terms of a new morality play with – perhaps – a return of Dr. Manhattan.

So when I opened up and read the issues of “Before Watchmen” 6-part series on each of the characters, I was intrigued.  I’ve already been seeing the introduction of Dr. Manhattan into a few panels of the Wonder Woman Rebirth series, re-tracing her origins along with a parallel story where she is lost.  Currently, Suicide Squad Rebirth is still newer, so I’m waiting on the introduction to make itself known.

Before Watchmen had all the trappings of creating an engaging and meaningful addition to the philosophical trappings of Watchmen, where the characters gave humans reason to vastly question their existence.  I was ready to sink my teeth into a Silmarillion type of origin storyline that we didn’t get to see but found lost footage or a journal nobody knew about.  I read in my grab bag purchase “Ozymandias”, “Comedian”, and “Minutemen”.  I thought, YES.  Here’s a fantastic spectrum of morally complex characters.  Comedian saying, “Know what happened to the American Dream? We got it.” Paired  with killing protestors. Or something like that (laziness is upon me).

Show me something relevant, juicy, cringing.

I got “meh.”  You can get the similar arcs in the original work.  Watchmen gave a fleshed-out dialogue between characters that showed pertinent philosophical and political debates such as weaponized detachment in a world that glamorizes detachment and objectivity.  Before Watchmen is like these same dialogues and confrontations in a little more detail and a lot more apathy.  Like drinking nuked leftover coffee.

Just go read Watchmen or watch the 2009 film (even though it deviates, it still captures much of the paneling and the overall tone).  I’m doing that to reboot my memory on the Rebirth.  See what I did there?

You’re right.  I could have done better.  I understand.  It’s how I feel right now.