Since I wrote this we have lost two great entertainers. Today the news came out that both Meatloaf and Louie Anderson have passed away. They are both amazing people who will be missed.
Hey everyone! Sorry about no news last week, my house got hit with Covid. My six year old, my wife, and our oldest tested positive. I keep testing negative so there's some good news. I wanted to make my return something special, celebrate my love for all things nerd. Hopefully make you think about some stuff too.
I was talking to my brothers in podcasting (pod bros???) at Pop Culture Elevator and Danny was really excited about Jame Tynion doing a Sandman story. Well, that got me thinking so today we're going to talk about Watchmen vs Sandman. Their legacy, appeal, translations and so much more. I think it's time we reevaluate both of these classics to see if they both still deserve that title. Many modern comic readers and writers grew up on these two. Is there one better than the other? That's what I hope to decide but first....
ANNOUNCEMENTS!!!
I am booked and confirmed for ATG Expo in Waco February 12th and 13th I'm excited! I'll also be doing a panel over podcasting that Saturday from 3-4. If you're in the area I hope you can make it by.
Also at the convention I plan to debut issue 2 of The Embassy! After the cliffhanger of last issue I can't wait for you to see what happens to Yan and company. This one was even more fun to write and I really think you will all enjoy it.
Lastly, the latest chapter of Midnight Signs is out on Vella now! Chapter 9, it's a great feeling to get the feedback and things from everyone. The next chapter pretty much wraps up the first act so you have time to catch up. The first 3 chapters are always free so you can see if you like it.
Now back to the main event!
Believe it or not there are people out there who haven't read these to titans of comics. If you're one of them, that's ok. I didn't read Batman Year One until pretty recently. We all have gaps in our reading. If you are interested in reading either of these after this you should go to your local comic shop and see what they have. Both of these stories have been reprinted and reformatted so many times you can find a used copy for pretty cheap. I encourage you to go out and read them and let me know if you agree or not in the comments.
For those that don't know we will go over some basic background information on both so you can better see where my points are coming from.
Watchmen was first published in September 1986, after appearing in the 1985 DC Spotlight 50th Anniversary Special. It was a 12 issue maxiseries that ran to October the following year. Written by Alan Moore with art by Dave Gibbons the series was originally pitched a little differently. DC had recently purchased the Charlton Comics library and Moore wanted to use those characters. The editor of DC at the time, Dick Giordano, liked it but wanted Moore to change the characters so DC could use these characters they just bought.
Good thing too, Moore's first pitch was “Who killed Peacemaker?” Yes, as in John Cena Peacemaker! Captain Atom and Blue Beetle would've also been featured in the story. Moore agreed and wrote characters that would be recognizable and relatable. Peacemaker becomes the Comedian, Beetle the Nite Owl and Captain Atom is Doctor Manhattan.
The book goes on to look at the possible effect heroes would have on the real world. Using the characters as American points of interest it paints a very interesting alternative history. Everything from the Vietnam War to how long Presidents serves changed. America is seen as this unheralded superpower with no limits or humility, they take and do whatever they want. This mentality is perfectly embodied in the Comedian. Think the Punisher but without his (somewhat shaky) moral compass.
It opens with the death of the Comedian and the rest of the story is spent trying to figure out the who and why of the murder. Over the course of 12 issues we see gods humbled, crazies proven sane and a fake alien invasion. For decades Watchmen has been considered the end-all be-all of comics. Many consider it the gold standard of the medium. It deconstructed the hero genre and opened the gates for the dark and gritty stories of the 80s that sought to wash away the campiness of Adam West's Batman.
On the other side of the pillow we have The Sandman. Much like Watchmen, Sandman originated with a pitch of Neil Gaiman wanting to use older characters that DC had the rights to. In this case it was Sandman, a 70s character created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (who was a remake of a 30s character). That's the same team that was behind Captain America.
Eventually Gaiman was granted a series with the condition that it was a new Sandman character. There had been the pulp detective and the super hero, but this was going to be something more. A mythical yet primal being that would change comics for years to come.
Where Watchmen was a maxiseries, Sandman was originally an ongoing. The first run ran for 75 issues from January 1989 through March 1996. The series would introduce Hell's Hierarchy and the Endless. Many of these characters would go on to get spin-off stories. This cast would serve as gods and demi-gods throughout DC.
In the beginning there was a lot of crossover with the main DC titles. Swamp Thing (ironically for this debate the Alan Moore version), Constantine, JLI, Martian Manhunter and more would grace the pages of the trippy comic. As the story went on they would shy away from this and establish their own little corner of the universe. The one main constant was that the book was always “recommended for mature reader” until it eventually helped kick off the Vertigo imprint at DC.
As you can see both series have so much legacy to unpack. You can argue that they helped shaped the medium more than almost any other titles of the modern era. I would say X-Men #1 can fight for that title but for completely different reasons. So, let's take a look at those legacies and what they mean. I'm going to be breaking it down into a few categories just to get a better comparison.
CREATORS
Watchmen – Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
After Watchmen Moore's next big project was Batman: The Killing Joke. For years this was considered essential Batman but now everyone, including Moore, looks at it a little differently. The treatment of Barbara Gordon is not ok. After Killing Joke Moore finished V for Vendetta, a series that had been in hiatus for a few years. In the 90s he would do some work on Spawn and WildC.A.T.s but in 99 he really made a resurgence. Launching League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Tom Strong, Promethea and Top 10 at America's Best Comics. In 2016 he released the novel Jerusalem, I honestly didn't read it because it was over 1200 pages.
After leaving DC Moore has been very vocal of his dislike for them and how they treat his work. He has asked to not be involved in any of the adaptations to the point of having his name removed from some. He has even gone as far as to tell DC to not make anymore Watchmen films.
Davd Gibbons is awesome! He has such a rich and extensive knowledge of comic history that is only rivaled by his love for the craft. In 2014 he was even appointed the UK's first Comics Laureate! I've got to talk to the guy and even have an original commission from him. He's just a genuinely nice guy.
Sandman – Neil Gaiman
Before you start, I know Sam Kieth was co-creator but he left after issue 5 so I'm going to focus mostly on Gaiman. Neil has written various one shots and miniseries since wrapping up Sandman. Two of the biggest stories were at Marvel where he did an 8 issue Eternals series with John Romita Jr. and the alternate history universe 1602 with Andy Kubert. The latter is one of my all time favorite Marvel stories. It is set in a world where the heroes we know and love start appearing 400 years before they should.
Gaiman also found success in the world of traditional writing with his novels. His first, Good Omens, was released during Sandman but he really flourished afterwards. American Gods, Anansi Boys, Coraline, Fortunately, the Milk and dozens of others have won countless awards and been featured on everyone's best of list.
I think to look at this fairly I'm going to have to focus on just the authors. Sorry Dave. It is interesting that both writers really moved away from big 2 publishing and did their own things. Moore has apologized for some of his past work but will still push the envelope as to what is appropriate or not. Gaiman has created new and exciting worlds for all age groups.
SPINOFFS
Sandman – The Dreaming, Lucifer, Sandman Mystery Theater, Deadboy Detectives, Dream Hunters, Death: The High Cost of Living and the whole Sandman Universe line under Black Label currently being released.
Sandman, in some form or another, has been in print almost constantly since the series wrapped. Many of these are written by the best in comics and are constantly praised for continuing the message and motifs of the original Gaiman series.
Watchmen – Before Watchmen (9 series), Doomsday Clock and Rorschach
Moore had always said he didn't want to do anymore Watchmen stories, and he really didn't want anyone else doing them. In 2012 DC published the Before Watchmen line. These books served as prequels and side stories to most of the characters featured in the original story. Despite having the top of the top talent on it (Darwyn Cooke, Amanda Conner, Brian Azzarello, J. G. Jones, J. Michael Straczynski, Andy Kubert, Joe Kubert, Len Wein, Jae Lee, Lee Bermejo, Adam Hughes, Steve Rude, and Eduardo Risso) these books really divided the fans. The reactions were lukewarm at best.
The less said about Doomsday Clock the better.
Tom King recently wrapped up his sequel style story on Rorschach. It was good, a lot of fun, and very Tom King.
The thing with spinoffs, to me, is it shows how lasting the characters are. If other people can handle them well and tell good stories that speaks to the strength of not only that character but it's creator. Sandman has had so many people work on it and all of them do a great job. Watchmen, on the other hand, couldn't be saved by the most talented people working.
ADAPTATIONS
Watchmen – 2009 Film, 2019 HBO Series
The Watchmen movie is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. It is really nothing like the comic, and I think that's a good thing. It was before Snyder got his hands on DC proper and the film had a lot of potential. Moore didn't want his name on it, claimed to never want to watch it, but did say the script was pretty good. The TV show is considered, rightfully so, one of the best adaptations ever made.
Sandman – 2016 Lucifer, Upcoming Netflix series, Audible dramas
There isn't a whole lot to go on for Sandman adaptations. Lucifer was a fun show but probably even less like the source material than the Watchmen movie. The Audible dramas are amazing, with some perfect casting of voice actors, Gaiman himself serves as the narrator! The Netflix series looks to be a blend of new and existing talent that have all been endorsed by Gaiman.
Even though there isn't as much from Sandman I feel like having Gaiman on board speaks volumes. As fun as the Watchmen adaptations are they have little to do with the source. I know I said Lucifer is far from it but the Audible if pretty spot on and I believe the new series will be as well.
CONCLUSION
So, what have we learned? What was I trying to prove? Ten years ago this would have been an unpopular opinion but I think we've grown and come to realize all the things we looked at through tinted lenses. Watchmen is overrated! There I said it.
It helped user in that dark and gritty 80s that was really unnecessary and but a damper on the whole medium. The violence, rape and evil in the story really was only shock value. I think it's time we retire Watchmen as “the greatest comic of all time” and replace it with Sandman.
Sandman weaves a more intricate story, touching on hopes and fears that everyone can relate to. That is the reason it has survived for so long in so many forms. Gaiman is a genius (I took his Master Class and learned so much) while Moore has just become and angry old wizard. I think we should still respect Watchmen and acknowledge it for what it was but it is time to move on.
What do you think? Is Sandman better than Watchmen? Let me know in the comments.
Until next time,
Lance