Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Current Comics Rewrite! Let's Rewrite Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1!

It's been some time since I helped out the fine folks at DC and took it upon myself to rudely rewrite a page from one their modern classic comics! I previously "helped them out" on Red Hood and the Outlaws, Batman and Robin, and Green Lantern Corps. This time I figured I'd help piss off beardy curmudgeon Alan Moore and rewrite a page from Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1!


This page was originally written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke and I have impolitely replaced his words with my own.

Click to embiggen so you can read it properly!

Is there something else you'd like me to rewrite? Let me know!

Update! This is now on Bleeding Cool and getting an impassioned, angry response from the Before Watchmen fans, which I think is pretty great, and also kind of ironic. They don't want me doing crappy, lazy tampering with Cooke's work, and I guess Alan Moore doesn't want DC tampering with his. Hooray! Everyone is unhappy!

But one thing I really did want to clarify is that I didn't write this parody with the intent on characterising the obviously successful and talented artist/writer Darwyn Cooke. I'm a fan of his work and although Before Watchmen is not for me I hold him no ill will for doing it. I'd have done it too. My intent was only to get meta with Hollis Mason and put a twist on what was happening in the panels, e.g. the cardboard box etc. This is Hollis being enticed back from obscurity for this "huge event" and then sitting around doing virtually nothing. See! Now I've over-explained things they really suck. Just like Before Watchmen. I kid!

Why so serious?

12 comments:

  1. yesss! One of the 1st issues of X-Factor would be ripe for some rewrites. Worth reviewing as well

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  2. 1986 the original xmen have been kicked out or quit but they rejoin to form xfactor

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  3. Who taught you to letter? Using a capital "i" anywhere that isn't a personal pronoun is amateur hour. Just like this "rewrite."

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    1. Yes! This is all actually my attempt to break into the world of professional lettering! So I still have a way to go? :(

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    2. Never underestimate the comic reader's attention to detail! We're talking about a fandom that can create thirty page threads about changes to Superman's belt.

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  4. So wait. I noticed that they reposted this over on Bleeding Cool, and posted here that they'd done so (though wish I'd read the comments first), and MY post goes to "awaiting moderation", but the anonymous dickhead gets posted right away?

    Sure know how to make an ex-contributor feel welcome...

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    1. Sorry Mike - was worried it was redundant at that point, as opposed to the anonymous dickhead's well considered and astute observation. No offense meant, my friend. Will send you a bouquet of flowers!

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  5. Can you do a mashup of X-Factor and Before Watchmen?
    Swapsies of dialogue?

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  6. Maybe take portions of the dialogue from both series and make do a "guess which book" style competition.

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  7. Yikes! Before they break out any pitchforks or torches or whatnot, I'd like to point out that I *enjoy* Before Watchmen (just read my reviews!)

    I also *enjoy* Luke's teasing of same.

    Silly me, I didn't realize it was an important, polarizing issue wherein I'd be forced to pick a side and develop a life-long hatred for the opposite side :D
    Here I thought comics were for fun!!

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