Watchmen's Sequels Are Only Harming The Original's Legacy
When Before Watchmen expanded the backstories of Nite Owl, Rorschach, Doctor Manhattan, Silk Spectre, and a handful of other superheroes who originally appeared in Watchmen, some longtime fans were uncertain about DC Comics’ return to the iconic story. Since then, other writers and artists have revived Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ cast of morally ambiguous characters. Unfortunately, fans were right to be concerned as the many comic book extensions of Moore and Gibbons’ graphic novel have ultimately harmed its legacy.
In 1986, Watchmen changed the landscape of comic book storytelling, showing fans and other creators what was possible in the medium. The following years saw more ambitious comics from writers who realized the greater potential of the art form. Great stories were no longer bound to main canon, as limited series, original characters, and creative liberty became more common. At the time of Watchmen’s debut, the graphic novel stood on its own, telling a complete tale with thoughtful commentary on superheroes and the real world. Decades later, fans have seen Watchmen’s characters return through both sequels and prequels including Before Watchmen, Doomsday Clock, Tom King’s Rorschach, and HBO’s Watchmen.
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Although some of the stories told by creators picking up the torch from the original graphic novel have been critically well-received, the abundance of continuations have softened the impact of Alan Moore’s Watchmen. Through the mystery of the Comedian’s murder as investigated by Rorschach, Moore explored themes of patriotism, political corruption, pop culture, and nihilism. The graphic novel ends on a note that makes a sequel seem
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