I Am, Apparently, After WATCHMEN. Twice.
February 19th, 2009 | Work
Huh. Okay. Weird.
The excitement surrounding the upcoming WATCHMEN feature film has brought new readers to the graphic novel format. Now that they’ve read WATCHMEN, where do they go next? Help point them in the right direction with DC Comics’ “AFTER WATCHMEN, WHAT’S NEXT?” program.
DC Comics has developed a marketing campaign that spotlights several award-winning, best-selling titles from our various imprints. Each book reflects an aspect of WATCHMEN’s broad appeal — including other works by Alan Moore, science fiction tales, post-modern super hero action and sophisticated titles for mature readers — and is a great entry point for both new fans just discovering graphic novels and established readers looking to try something new.
The program is supported by an extensive marketing campaign including five promotionally-priced reprint Specials which are rush solicited below.
The marketing campaign includes:
Five “AFTER WATCHMEN, WHAT’S NEXT?” Specials featuring a cover price of just $1.00:
• SAGA OF THE SWAMP THING #21 SPECIAL EDITION
• TRANSMETROPOLITAN #1 SPECIAL EDITION
• PLANETARY #1 SPECIAL EDITION
• PREACHER #1 SPECIAL
• IDENTITY CRISIS #1 SPECIAL
I am the bag of sweets that DC, wrapped in a filthy mac, will be holding in their hand as the kids leave the cinema.
is the award-winning creator of graphic novels such as 
Maybe by the time those kids graduate from college, Planetary will finally be finished.
Identity Crisis???? On the same list as Transmet and Preacher?
Two British authors who curse and who appear to have supernatural powers? Yeah, I can see why they added you in there.
As for Identity Crisis, I didn’t think it was bad–not as good as Final Crisis, but sure better than Infinate.
Good job - hopefully a bunch more people will come ’round to your view of the future.
Either way, you can’t go wrong between Planetary and Transmet, though I give Planetary the edge (of course). Regardless, very nice to see some complementary promotion from DC.
Watchmen is the first joint smoked behind school by the locker rooms.
Transmetropolitan is snorting crack out of a dead hooker’s asshole while furiously masturbating with greasy bacon fat to the rhythm of “Ride of the Valkyries”.
It’s something you have to build up to, y’know, get that tolerance going, …
Planetary, on the other hand, is snorting derisively down your nose at the crack whores clustered on the end of your street, saying, “At least I don’t do that anymore,” while sipping your Laphroaig and smoking a cheap cigar.
Id Crisis? Either Dc inexplicably felt the need to have something in continuity in the package or that piece of shit was a lot better than I remember. Maybe the first one?
In a twisted way, I sort of hope neither is picked up for a movie. As good as Dark Knight was, I just keep thinking ‘Remember what the did to League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. They will betray you. Never let them touch your shadow or they shall steal it away…’ Ok, so maybe not that last bit, but still. Now, if HBO or Showtime were to pick them up as long running series, that would be something else entirely. You could even run Planetary as a condensed, one season show. I would buy those DVD’s.
So, Preacher is a gateway comic to the vast wonderful landscape of After Watchmen? Someone somewhere is trying to get the disposable income of the sons of corn farmers in America, it seems….
Transmet, yeah, that actually is a good thing to hand off to someone who doesn’t do the “funny books”. Self-deprecation only goes so far, mate….
Congrats on that.
But what does it say about the state of the industry that all those titles are old as sin and one of them are currently running (Swamp Thing might be but who cares and Planetary…well, that’s Planetary). Alan isn’t doing much at the moment and his best work might be behind him (God I hope not). And I would say that you and Garth Ennis have some catching up to do to match those early glories. And I’m seeing fuck all new blood that’s going to keep those newcomers interested.
They might as well call it “After Watchmen, download the latest episode of whatever TV show you kids are watching these days, cuz we have no idea how to reel you in” - I guess it wasn’t as catchy.
that should be “none of them are currently running”
Congrats with second and third place in the pantheon of the zillions of comics that dc has brought out in the last 50 years. A belated birthday present?
Gwen, I share your bafflement.
It’s a moderately diverse list. I recall early Preacher (vol. 1) being relatively tame compared to later stories. Identity Crisis seems like a nod to the more traditional DC universe. Planetary as an option for those who like their superheroes more interesting and engaging. Swamp Thing for the Moore fans. Of the 5, Transmet strikes me as the odd man out being batshit crazy from the get go (which is, of course, part of its charm).
Am I the only one thinking this isn’t a bad ploy? I give DC kudos for trying to capitalize on the opportunity. About the only thing I see missing would be a heavier, more story-oriented fare, like Sandman. Sandman would have been cool to try and capitalize on Gaiman’s recent resurgence (Coraline, Newberry).
Why do I get the impression that Identity Crisis sticks out on that list much like that pimply, greasy geek who was too nerdy to avoid getting pantsed by the jocks but too afraid to actually smoke out with the dirt bags? Oh, that’s right, because Identity Crisis was supposed to be “edgy.”
Identity Crisis?! WTF?! Problem with the Hawk & Dove seps?! Identity Crisis?!
Oh shit, I think I need some drugs and porn now. Identity Crisis?!?!?!! Really?!
those kids are gonna be so mind fucked it’s not gonna be funny. Transmet and Preacher are like mindrape in book form.
Identity Crisis makes sense as an attempt to do a Watchmen-like “beyond the masks and powers” story with DC’s big-leaguers in the JLA.
Speaking of, have DC given any sort of publicity push to Miller’s Dark Knight Returns to follow up on TDK?
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[…] Creators | Warren Ellis reacts to the inclusion of Planetary #1 and Transmetropolitan #1 in DC’s “After Watchmen, What Next?” promotion: “I am the bag of sweets that DC, wrapped in a filthy mac, will be holding in their hand as the kids leave the cinema.” [Warren Ellis] […]
Also on that list should be Global Frequency, but if DC are only pushing their own stash…
And what’s Swamp Thing doing at the top of any list, ever?