Before Watchmen

In 2013, Panini Deutschland launched Before Watchmen, an eight-issue German-language series that revisits the world of the iconic characters from the classic graphic novel. Drawing on the controversial DC Comics prequel initiative, this edition collects stories exploring the backstories of figures like Rorschach, Ozymandias, and the Comedian, written and illustrated by a range of top-tier talent. While the original Watchmen remains a standalone masterpiece, this series offers readers a chance to see its morally complex universe expanded through a distinct European lens. It matters as a notable, authorized extension of one of comics' most celebrated works, presented here for a new audience.