Watchmen is considered one of the greatest graphic novels in the history of the medium. It is recognized in Time‘s List of the 100 Best Novels as one of the best English language novels published from 1923 to 2005, and for what it’s worth, it is also part of our 50 Best Comics to read!
Published by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987, Watchmen is a science fiction comic book limited series by the British writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins. The story takes place in an alternate world in which superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1940s, and their actions changed history. The all-powerful Doctor Manhattan has given the U.S. a strategic advantage over the rest of the world. But, by 1977, superheroes became unpopular and they were outlawed by the passage of the Keene Act.
In October 1985, costumed vigilante Rorschach discovered that Edward Blake, also known as The Comedian, a costumed hero employed by the U.S. government, had been murdered. Rorschach uncovered a plot to eliminate costumed heroes and warned some of his old friends. Something bigger is cooking, but the retired heroes have to first discover what it is.
Since its publication, many essays, reviews, and analyses have been written about Watchmen. The Symbol and imagery have been scrutinized and explained as much as the art and structure. Many discussions also emerged about ownership in the comic book field as the disagreements between Alan Moore and DC Comics about that subject are now fully part of history.
The World of Watchmen has also expanded. It has been adapted as a movie directed by Zack Snyder and has also inspired a one-season television series from Damon Lindelof for HBO. DC Comics also explored the universe by releasing Before Watchmen (2012), a prequel, and two sequels…
Watchmen Comics Reading Order
Watchmen, the Comic Book Series by Alan Moore and David Gibbons (1986-1987)
Who watches the Watchmen? It begins with a murder-mystery before unfolding into a planet-altering conspiracy: When a retired hero is killed, his former teammates must investigate. The conspiracy they uncover will entwine their secret traumas and twisted psychologies, ultimately asking where the fine line is drawn between heroes and villains?
From the classic trade paperback to the Absolute Edition, there is an edition of Watchmen for everyone out there! Following is a listing of the many Watchmen reprinting (I hope I haven’t forgotten one). There is no best edition of Watchmen, just different editions. For the story pure and simple, the trade paperback is perfect and affordable. If you prefer a hardcover, turn your attention towards the Deluxe Edition or the DC Modern Classic Edition (with a slipcase). For some oversized hardcover, go for the Absolute.
- Watchmen, The Paperback Edition – the original story with sketches, bonus material, and an introduction by artist Dave Gibbons. The last edition (2019) uses the recolored pages found in Watchmen: Absolute Edition.
- Watchmen International Edition – This is a trade paperback edition with a unique variant cover for international markets.
- Watchmen: The Deluxe Edition – Hardcover book containing sketches, extra bonus material and a new introduction by series artist Dave Gibbons.
- Watchmen, DC Modern Classics Edition – DC reprinted the comic book in a new hardcover edition, presented in a designed slipcase.
- Absolute Watchmen – Oversized hardcover collection, packaged inside a beautifully designed slipcase. Include 48 pages of supplemental material
- Watchmen Noir – This is the original 12-issue Watchmen series in black and white
- Watchmen Collector’s Edition Box Set – A 12-volume box set collector’s edition at DC’s Deluxe Edition trim size released for the series’ 30th anniversary.
- Watchmen: DC Compact Comics – The original series in a more portable and affordable format.
You have already read Watchmen and you like to dive more into this universe, discover many details you could have missed and more? That is what the Annotated Edition is for!
- Watchmen: The Annotated Edition – an edition featuring annotations by Leslie S. Klinger and a new foreword by artist Dave Gibbons, plus a Watchmen timeline, bibliography and more.
Finally, it is a good place as any to indicate the Watchmen Companion, for completionists:
- Watchmen Companion – includes the Watchmen: Watching the Watchmen and Watchmen: Taking out the Trash game modules, along with the Watchmen Sourcebook, released in 1990 as part of the DC Heroes role-playing game
The Watchmen series is the only one you need to read. Naturally, as is often the case in the comic book world, other writers have delved into this universe…
Before Watchmen, the prequel Comic
Dive deeper into the world of Watchmen by following the famous characters around in their own solo stories. Witness Rorschach’s story to see how one of the most dangerous vigilantes in the comics world started down his dark path. Find out how the Vietnam War and the Kennedy assassination revolve around the Comedian. Take an introspective look at Silk Spectre as she struggles with her overbearing superhero mother and her scattered path toward taking the mantle of the Silk Spectre.
As the title suggests, Before Watchmen is a series of comic books set in the years before the Watchmen story. Though there is a specific chronological order (see below!), each title tells an independent story. Obviously, it is recommended to read those issues after the main story for first time readers.
Following is a simple listing (with the names of the writers and artists) of the several titles published:
- Before Watchmen: Curse of Crimson Corsair (backup story) by writer Len Wein and artist John Higgins.
- Before Watchmen: Minutemen by writer/artist Darwyn Cooke
- Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill by writer Len Wein and artist Steve Rude
- Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre by writers Darwyn Cooke and Amanda Conner (also artist)
- Before Watchmen: Nite Owl by writer J. Michael Straczynski and Artists Andy and Joe Kubert
- Before Watchmen: Comedian by writer Brian Azzarello and artist J. G. Jones
- Before Watchmen: Rorschach by writer Brian Azzarello and artist: Lee Bermejo
- Before Watchmen: Ozymandias by writer Len Wein and artist: Jae Lee
- Before Watchmen: Moloch by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Eduardo Risso
- Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan by writer J. Michael Straczynski and artist Adam Hughes
Those titles have all been collected in a Big Omnibus (994 pages):
- Before Watchmen Omnibus
Before Watchmen: Comedian #1-6, Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1-4, Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1-6, Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1-4, Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1-4, Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #1-4, Before Watchmen: Moloch #1-2, Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1-6, Before Watchmen: Crimson Corsair #1 and Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill #1
Before that, they have been collected in trades:
- Before Watchmen: Minutemen/Silk Spectre
Collects Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1-6 And Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1-4. - Before Watchmen: Ozymandias/Crimson Corsair
Collects Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1-6 and “Curse Of The Crimson Corsair.” - Before Watchmen: Comedian/Rorschach
Collects Before Watchmen: Comedian #1-6 and Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1-4. - Before Watchmen: Nite Owl/Dr. Manhattan
Collects Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1-4 and Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #1-4.
After Watchmen, the sequel comics in the DC Timeline
While Watchmen is published under the Black Label imprint (which means detached from the main continuity), a crossover between the DC Universe and Watchmen happened during the Rebirth era. The Button story arc was produced as a build-up to Doomsday Clock, a 12-issue comic book series written by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank and presented as a sequel to Watchmen. Not long after, another sequel was released: Rorschach by writer Tom King and artist Jorge Fornés.
- DC Universe: Rebirth
Collects DC Universe: Rebirth #1. - Batman/The Flash: The Button
Collects Batman #21-22 And The Flash #21-22. - Doomsday Clock (also available in Absolute Edition)
Collects Doomsday Clock #1-12. The real collision between Watchmen and the DC Universe. - Rorschach
Collects Rorschach #1-12. Set thirty-five years after the events of Watchmen, this story is about an unnamed homicide detective investigates the crimes committed by Wil Myerson, a comic book creator that assumed the Rorschach mantle.
Watchmen Chronological Reading Order: Issue by issue
Although we do not recommend reading Watchmen in chronological order if you are not familiar with the original comic, for those who would like to experience the entire universe based on the dates and events, here is a reading guide issue by issue:
- Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep…!
- Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Evil That Men Do…!
- Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings
- Before Watchmen Minutemen #1-4
- Before Watchmen Dollar Bill #1
- Before Watchmen Minutemen #5-6
- Before Watchmen Nite Owl #1
- Before Watchmen Ozymandias #1-3
- Before Watchmen Comedian #1-3
- Before Watchmen Silk Spectre #1-4
- Before Watchmen Ozymandias #4
- Before Watchmen Nite Owl #1-4
- Watchmen: Who Watches the Watchmen (DC Heroes)
- Watchmen: Taking Out the Trash (DC Heroes)
- Before Watchmen Comedian #4-6
- Before Watchmen Ozymandias #5
- Before Watchmen Rorschach #1-4
- Before Watchmen Moloch #1
- Before Watchmen Ozymandias #6
- Watchmen #1-5
- Before Watchmen Moloch #2
- Watchmen #6-12
- Before Watchmen Dr. Manhattan #1-4
- DC Universe: Rebirth #1
- The Flash: Rebirth #1 (optional, collected in The Flash, vol.1: Lightning Strikes Twice)
- Batman #21 (part of The Button)
- The Flash #21 (part of The Button)
- Batman #22 (part of The Button)
- The Flash #22 (part of The Button)
- Doomsday Clock #1-12
- Rorschach #1-12
What about the television series Watchmen?
For those who discovered Watchmen through the television series, this is simply another timeline in which only the original comic is to take into account. Before Watchmen and the sequels are part of what can be called the DC Timeline.
What to read after Watchmen? We invite you to dive into the best Alan Moore has to offer, from From Hell to Tom Strong and more.