Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan #[nn]

That bold golden field — broken only by a trail of crimson droplets arcing toward the "WATCHMEN" title — gives this 2014 Before Watchmen collection an arresting, stripped-down presence that demands a second look. Focusing on Nite Owl and Dr. Manhattan, it brings together the considerable talents of writer J. Michael Straczynski alongside artists Andy Kubert, Joe Kubert, Adam Hughes, Eduardo Risso, and Bill Sienkiewicz, making for a genuinely impressive creative roster. Cover art by Andy Kubert, Joe Kubert, and Adam Hughes (with colors by Brad Anderson and Laura Martin) frames the whole package with a mood that feels both minimalist and foreboding — a fitting entry point into these characters' darker corners.