Calvin & Hobbes and Watchmen

 

Well, Calvin certainly has the imagination required for such an undertaking.  It would be fun to find out what kind of world he builds.

Night Nurse and Dr. Manhattan

 

This is another one of those covers that required a lot of clean up, extension and de-cluttering of the original image before I could add in any new elements. Here's a look at the behind the scenes process: 

Doctor Who and Dr. Manhattan

 

If there's one person that's not intimidated by beings in possession of nearly unlimited power, it's Doctor Who.  Dr. Manhattan would probably appreciate meeting someone that could understand his unique perspective on time and space.  Yes, I think that these to would get along famously.

This cover comes from a suggestion by Alex Johnson, a Patron of this Blog - Thanks, Alex!

The Junkyard Gang

Sure, it's easy to become a superhero if you are a playboy millionaire - but I am more impressed with those who have chosen such a path without those kinds of vast resources.  I thought it might be fun to have a group that consisted of heroes that wage their war on injustice despite coming from the opposite side of the financial spectrum.  Don't expect a fancy headquarters - but do expect action!

Rorschach Vs. The Punisher

I think that this would be a very interesting match up.  Both have an unwavering mission to go after criminals and are looked upon warily even by the more straight laced heroes that they may fight alongside.  They most likely would see one another simply as villains to be taken out, and it would be just a matter of time before they clashed.

Dick Tracy and Rorschach

I can't imagine that a by-the-books cop like Dick Tracy would have much patience for the likes of Rorschach, but that's just the kind of conflict that would make for an enjoyable tale.  Even if the were forced to work together, I am guessing that the story would not end with them gaining a grudging respect for one another.

Rorschach and The Spirit

These two guys may not have any fancy powers, but they would still be a formidable team.  Their tenacity and knowledge of the city's dark secrets make them a constant thorn in the side for the underworld or anyone who would prey on the innocent.  And they would look damned good dealing out their punishment - the trench coat and fedora motif might not be that practical for crime fighting, but it almost always works very well visually.

The Watcher Watches The Watchmen

I originally put this cover together as kind of a goof because I liked how the names went together, but now that I think about it, there could be a fun story to be told.  The Watcher is no stranger to divergent timelines, so I can see him peeking into The Watchmen's world and wanting to see if events would have unfolded differently in another reality.  Sure, he's got a vow of non-interference, but when has that ever stopped Uatu?

Sandman And Rorschach

These guys have the right idea.  If you want to put together a cool crime fighting costume, most heroes opt to look like circus performers.  Sure, it may allow for freedom of movement, but there's a big risk of being a fashion disaster.  These guys  simply grabbed a hat, trench coat and face-concealing mask for their ensemble, and it works!  They are two of the cooler looking street level characters in comics.

Batman and Nite Owl

Doctor Manhattan and Rorschach may have had flashier roles, but my favorite character from Watchmen has always been Nite Owl.  Alan Moore created an everyman hero whose insecurities and past-his-prime physique made his return to crime fighting even more compelling.  I also liked the look of his lair and gadgets as designed by Dave Gibbons - his Owl Ship is very cool, inside and out.

Superman and Dr. Manhattan

Just as with some of my Marvel/Star Wars covers, this is a pairing that does not seem as far fetched as it once would have.  DC countered the criticism of creating prequels for Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen by wisely stacking the deck with some of the very best creators working in comics today. If you are going to attempt such a controversial product, that's the way to do it.

The Question and Rorschach

As most comics fans know, Alan Moore was originally going to use the Charlton characters for the his Watchmen series.  I think that he and DC ultimately made the right decision in creating all-new characters for the story instead, but part of me has always been curious as to what the final result would have looked like if he had gone with The Question, Blue Beetle, Nightshade and the rest, rather than Rorschach, Nite-Owl, Silk Spectre and the other cast members of Watchmen.  How much would the use of the Charlton gang have affected mainstream DC continuity down the line?  Would the comic have still reached its legendary status, spawning prequels and a movie?  It's interesting to speculate on, but I am glad we have two sets of cool characters instead of just one.

Rorschach and The Avengers

When the Before Watchmen titles were announced by DC, I was as wary as most fans were.  Watchmen is a modern classic, and nobody wanted to see it tarnished for a quick cash grabbing event.  I decided to trade/digital wait on these and see what the reviews and previews were like before determining which of the titles to pick up.  DC fortunately stacked the deck with many of my favorite creators currently working in comics like Darwyn Cooke, Amanda Conner and the Kuberts.  Everything I have seen and read looks to be very well done, and I will definitely be checking out most if not all of the titles.

Batman and Rorschach

While it would probably be considered blasphemous to the memory of Watchmen, I have to say I would love to see Batman match wits (and fists) with Rorschach. I don't think either one would approve much of the other, and that would make for a great tale.

The Watchmen movie wasn't perfect, it should have dialed down the graphic violence and a few of the casting choices didn't suit the roles. It did get the visual look down excellently, though - I loved seeing Rorschach's mask in motion. That, along with Jackie Earl Haley's great performance makes it one of the best realized comic character movie interpretations ever. The scenes with him in the prison cafeteria and with the therapist felt like they leaped right out of the comics. Great stuff.