Before Watchmen: Nite Owl and Dr. Manhattan

So I always had a little bit of a crush on Nite Owl, especially in the movie version, so it was nice to get to read his back story and learn a little bit more about him (still swoon worthy!). I also liked the banter and relationship between him and Rorscach, I always thought they were an odd, but admirable, team. I also like the lovely little vixen he falls in love with. Definitely an interesting story! Dr. Manhattan is, hands down, the most complex character in the series. His back story may not have made him "more understandable" per say, but it definitely sheds some light. At the very end, there is also a section on Moloch's back story which I found fascinating. As always, color me impressed. I love this series!

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias and Crimson Corsair

Another great installment in the Before Watchmen series. It focuses primarily on Ozymandias and fleshes out why he has such disdain for Dr. Manhattan, it also touches on his childhood and why he became a masked crime fighter. Also included in this collection is Crimson Corsair, the story of a pirate, the Flying Dutchman, and the price one pays to get his soul back. In the original graphic novel, Watchmen, the little boy on the street corner is always reading this comic. It's really cool that they brought it to life here. Also as a bonus, there is a little section on the rise and fall of Dollar Bill, it's not huge, but it's very enlightening.

Before Watchmen: Comedian & Rorschach

So far I think this may be my favorite Watchmen prequel. I started off skeptical of the Before Watchmen collection, but they have been winning me over, this set specifically. I really enjoyed getting some more back story on the Comedian and Rorschach. The Comedian's is dark and gritty, obviously, and has a neat connection to the Kennedy presidency. Rorschach's story is almost even better, I've always been curious about his origins and some of the scenes in here really humanize him and give him some depth. Reading these just makes me appreciate the series even more.

Before Watchmen: Minutemen & Silk Spectre

Soo glad that I found this gem at Half Price Books! It's been a few years since I read Watchmen and this prequel really got me in the mood to re-read it. There are several prequels but this one focuses on the Minutemen and Silk Spectre. The firdt half of the graphic novel is told from the viewpoint of an elderly Hollis (Nite Owl) as he writes his tell all book about his time in the Minutemen. He recalls the history of each of his masked friends and some of the major crimes that they solved. It was really nice getting more of a back story on Ursula (the silhouette) and some of the other characters. The second part of the graphic novel focuses on Silk Spectre's beginnings. It starts in her adolescence and follows though her teenage years. She becomes a hippie, meets a boy, and runs away from her mom's imposing nature. It's a fantastic book and one I will definitely come back to and reread.