You know what, guys? I’m not worried about a Watchmen prequel. I’m really not. Yes, we can all complain about Alan Moore not being involved in the project. Yes, we can complain that everything that needed to be said about superheroes had been said in the first series. Yes, we can just complain, because we’re the internet and all we really do is complain about things.
Oh no they didn't!
But it’s not that big a deal. Alan Moore created a fantastic world and why shouldn’t we get to see what else there is in there? DC owns the franchise, why shouldn’t they enlist other artists and writers to keep exploring the world. One of my favorite concepts in storytelling is alternate histories and the world of the Watchmen is one of the best examples of that. Additionally, as far as superheroes are concerned, government involvement in superheroic activities is another one of my favorite subjects. Watchmen has it all for me and I, personally, can’t wait to see other people interpreting Moore’s vision.
I think the fan community can be so rigid. That’s not exactly a criticism. There are few fan bases as loyal and vocal as those in the comic book community and there are even fewer fan bases that are as knowledgeable of their fandom. I love the comic book community. The problem is, when they get their panties in a twist about something, so much of the feedback is so negative and full of vitriol. There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of constructive criticism. So many people are so eager to talk about what’s wrong, why the artists are wrong, why they are a host of seriously badly-spelled mean words.
Just think about what it might be like to really flame something.
What I’d like to see is not for everyone to all just rally behind one project. That’s completely unrealistic. But what I wish the community at large would think about things before they just blindly post them. Simply flaming something someone else says or does isn’t going to inspire change. It just ruins whatever credibility they have. They might have, buried beneath the angry sentiments, good points, but how would we know?
By the way, if your primary argument is that Alan Moore doesn’t support more stories being told about the Watchmen, then that’s just silly. Moore wishes he lived in a vacuum, where his work will remain entirely pristine and free from further interpretation. He never likes anything. He barely likes it when people like his work. His response, while important because he’s the creator of whatever it is he’s angry about, shouldn’t reflect what the public at large feels about it.
By the way, Alan Moore totally approves* this blog.
Besides, you know you’re going to read it. You’re going to grumble, you’re going to complain, but you’re going to read it. And after you’ve read it, go ahead and have an opinion. But relax until you see it. Please. If you’re going to complain about it, why don’t you spell-check before hitting “send.”
I don't know. You're probably going to do what you want anyway.
*Alan Moore approves of nothing.
