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Watchmen #companion
Watchmen Companion
(W) Ray Winninger, Daniel Greenberg, Others, Dennis O'Neil (A) Denys Cowan, Rick Magyar, Others (A/CA) Dave Gibbons
The Watchmen Companion collects for the first time long-out-of-print, rarely seen material based on the landmark comic book series!
The Watchmen Companion includes the Watchmen: Watching the Watchmen and Watchmen: Taking out the Trash game modules, along with the Watchmen Sourcebook, released in 1990 as part of the DC Heroes role-playing game-sanctioned by Alan Moore, including illustrations by artist Dave Gibbons created especially for the game, and expanding on the mythos of the Watchmen series.
This volume also collects pages from Who's Who in The DC Universe featuring the Watchmen and Minutemen characters, The Question #17 (guest-starring Rorschach!) and a page from the rare, promotional DC Spotlight #1 from 1985 that marked the very first appearance of the Watchmen cast in print!
The Watchmen Companion collects for the first time long-out-of-print, rarely seen material based on the landmark comic book series!
The Watchmen Companion includes the Watchmen: Watching the Watchmen and Watchmen: Taking out the Trash game modules, along with the Watchmen Sourcebook, released in 1990 as part of the DC Heroes role-playing game-sanctioned by Alan Moore, including illustrations by artist Dave Gibbons created especially for the game, and expanding on the mythos of the Watchmen series.
This volume also collects pages from Who's Who in The DC Universe featuring the Watchmen and Minutemen characters, The Question #17 (guest-starring Rorschach!) and a page from the rare, promotional DC Spotlight #1 from 1985 that marked the very first appearance of the Watchmen cast in print!
200 pages, Hardcover
First published December 18, 2019
13 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Ray Winninger
40 books2 followersRay Winninger is a game designer who has worked on a number of roleplaying games, including the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 27, 2023
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
If there's one comic book writer who genuinely revolutionized the comic book industry for the better, it's the legendary writer Alan Moore. From Batman: The Killing Joke to V for Vendetta, he has accomplished the impossible through captivating story-telling brimming with contemporary ideas that continue to challenge us as individuals. However, his relationship with DC Comics deteriorated due to creator's rights and unaccredited royalties led to his disassociation from one of the largest comic book publishers.
During the process of creating his most quintessential story, Watchmen, he also worked with role-playing game creators Daniel Greenberg and Ray Winninger and developed the only Alan Moore-sanctioned prequel in the form of game modules. Expanding the mythology and universe of the Watchmen beyond the graphic novel, this was the only way for fans to learn more about the characters of the past and their repercussions on society that led the world to take a stance on superhero vigilantism.
What is Watchmen Companion about? This prequel companion consists of two game modules, Watchmen: Watching the Watchmen and Watchmen: Taking Out the Trash, as well as the heavily-extensive Watchmen Sourcebook. This volume also includes an insightful introduction by Ray Winninger, issue #17 of The Question which features the Watchmen graphic novel within the story, a Who's Who collection of pages for the Watchmen characters, as well as additional art by illustrator Dave Gibbons.
The first biggest mistake made here is calling this Watchmen Companion. It might indeed be the only Watchmen-related content that actually has Alan Moore's blessing and contribution but it isn't exactly a direct companion to the original graphic novel. In fact, the writers of the game modules and sourcebook were in direct contact with Alan Moore before he even reached the halfway mark issue in his twelve-issue classic. Their brainstorming allowed for some original and fascinating details to characters like Captain Metropolis that never made it into the original story. The benefits coming from this latest release is thus found in the possibility for hardcore fans and rare role-playing gamers to get their hands on the Watchmen modules and sourcebook that have been out-of-print for a very long time.
The second biggest mistake was the absence of crucial components to actually be able to play these modules. Any innocent fan picking this up will, unfortunately, have to already possess a rulebook, a pair of dice, an Action Table, an Action Wheel, cards, and any other elements to actually be able to make any use of the highly-praised modules. If anything, this makes it clear that this companion is only for those who aren't beginners in the world of role-playing games. Based on my research, the best option is to hunt down a Mayfair Games DC Heroes boxed set or a similar set with similar components to be able to play this.
Besides these shortcomings, this deluxe edition companion volume does offer some truly fascinating descriptions of characters and events that help better grasp the universe in which is set the original Watchmen story. While the Question issue #17 isn't anything extraordinary and a simple and exclusive nod to the graphic novel that used to be published by Vertigo Comics (which means that it used to be outside the DC Universe), the additional artwork by illustrator Dave Gibbons offers some truly exciting and insightful never-before-seen material that allows readers to revisit these characters under a different light (you'd be surprised by what Rorschach was supposed to look like under his long jacket, for example).
Watchmen Companion is a reprint of two Alan Moore-sanctioned prequel role-playing game modules and a sourcebook that might not be as accessible to every fan out there as you'd hope for it to be.
February 27, 2020
So let's start with what this book actually is, because it's not for most people. The book released as "Watchmen Companion" collects a bunch of stuff related to the seminal Watchmen graphic novel (or series, as much of it was published while Watchmen was still being published).
The bulk of the book consists of the two modules and sourcebook created for the DC Heroes roleplaying game by Mayfair Games. These are notable because Ray Winninger, the author, consulted with Alan Moore on their creation, making them the only Watchmen-related material outside of the original series that was blessed by the writer (Dave Gibbons has been involved with pretty much everything, as is his right...Moore has expressed his desire for it all to go away).
These RPG modules are pretty great. That said - and I cannot stress this enough - this book doesn't contain the rules for playing the game. If you want to actually play these modules, you'll need to either track down one of the three published editions of the DC Heroes game, or do what I did, track down Blood of Heroes Role-Playing Game. If you can get past the execrable artwork, the rules are the same, and it's easier to find on eBay.
Looking past the RPG stuff, you get some neat extras, lots of Dave Gibbons artwork, and a cool issue of The Question, where the main character reads Watchmen and is inspired by Rorschach. Since Rorschach in Watchmen was a straight-up riff on The Question, it's a fun read.
All in all, this is a solid book, if you're the right audience. And that audience is either someone looking to play a legendary, but long out of print role playing game, or a Watchmen super-fanatic, looking to complete your collection without spenting a gazillion dollars tracking down out of print material. I happen to be both of those things, so I pre-ordered this damn book, and love it. But most people do not, under any circumstances need this, and will find it to be pretty worthless.
And it's worth mentioning that DC did the bare minimum effort in this collection. Ray Winninger provides a terrific introduction, but the modules themselves look like they were scanned from print, with virtually zero attempt to clean them up.
So it's a weird book. But if you're like me, this is a must own. I look forward to running the modules for my gaming group in the very near future.
The bulk of the book consists of the two modules and sourcebook created for the DC Heroes roleplaying game by Mayfair Games. These are notable because Ray Winninger, the author, consulted with Alan Moore on their creation, making them the only Watchmen-related material outside of the original series that was blessed by the writer (Dave Gibbons has been involved with pretty much everything, as is his right...Moore has expressed his desire for it all to go away).
These RPG modules are pretty great. That said - and I cannot stress this enough - this book doesn't contain the rules for playing the game. If you want to actually play these modules, you'll need to either track down one of the three published editions of the DC Heroes game, or do what I did, track down Blood of Heroes Role-Playing Game. If you can get past the execrable artwork, the rules are the same, and it's easier to find on eBay.
Looking past the RPG stuff, you get some neat extras, lots of Dave Gibbons artwork, and a cool issue of The Question, where the main character reads Watchmen and is inspired by Rorschach. Since Rorschach in Watchmen was a straight-up riff on The Question, it's a fun read.
All in all, this is a solid book, if you're the right audience. And that audience is either someone looking to play a legendary, but long out of print role playing game, or a Watchmen super-fanatic, looking to complete your collection without spenting a gazillion dollars tracking down out of print material. I happen to be both of those things, so I pre-ordered this damn book, and love it. But most people do not, under any circumstances need this, and will find it to be pretty worthless.
And it's worth mentioning that DC did the bare minimum effort in this collection. Ray Winninger provides a terrific introduction, but the modules themselves look like they were scanned from print, with virtually zero attempt to clean them up.
So it's a weird book. But if you're like me, this is a must own. I look forward to running the modules for my gaming group in the very near future.
November 7, 2020
Set in an alternate history where costumed heroes have helped shape society since the beginning of time, the controversial yet prolific costumed hero Edward Blake (more commonly known by his alias The Comedian) is found dead and the perpetrator is nowhere to be found. Unable to solve such a bizarre murder by conventional means, the masked vigilante Rorschach who once served as a costumed hero alongside Comedian and four others takes matters into his own bloodstained hands to track down a mysterious assassin that's taking out costumed heroes one by one. Conspiracies abound, political tensions are through the roof, the threat of WWIII is lurking just around the corner and the gritty and depressive atmosphere of a rotting New York City during the 1980's sets the scene for a grim dissection and criticism of classic superhero archetypes.
Watchmen redefines the term superhero. With the exception of Dr. Manhattan, none of them have any notable powers. The Comedian is merely a grotesque reflection of American society and all its shameless faults, as well as how misguided patriotism can be used to justify mindless violence and prejudice. Rorschach is a vigilante who throws around the words good and evil to justify his brute force and questionable methods of solving problems. Silk Spectre is a normal woman struggling between following her own path in life and forever remaining trapped in the shadow of her mother's legacy. Nite Owl almost feels like a comedic parody of Batman, poking fun at the fact that he's an awkward old nerd that loves owl-themed gadgets and dressing up in what is essentially a big Halloween costume. Dr. Manhattan is the embodiment of how power, knowledge, wealth and limitless freedom to do anything imaginable can alienate and dehumanize a person from the rest of the world. All of the superheroes are extremely flawed everyday people with everyday issues and imperfections who hide behind masked personas to cope with the questionable acts they're performing and the faulty morals behind them.
The heroes of this tale defy the image of flawless paragons of justice that can do no wrong. They are just as capable of being selfish, abusing their powers and doing evil things out of spite and unchecked negative emotions as everyone else. This critiques the very idea of putting idols on a pedestal in the first place. This can be compared to the famous actors, pop stars and politicians of today. It's easy for people to treat the words and actions of their idols like the words of God himself, forgetting that they're ordinary people with many imperfections just like everyone else. Again, most of the Watchmen have selfish reasons for hiding behind their costumed personas, because they feel powerless, guilty and ordinary without them. What does it say about who you are when you can't even show yourself in public without hiding behind a carefully crafted disguise? Why wear a mask if you're in the right and have nothing to hide?
All of this deception and abuse of authority is where the popular slogan (Who watches the Watchmen?) comes from. The people in power are constantly watching and judging the actions of the average person, but who are watching and judging the actions of the people in power? The people in power punish us for our wrongdoings but who punishes the people in power for theirs? Dismantling the infallible images that figures of authority try to maintain, dissecting issues of confused morals and identities hiding behind literal and figurative masks, tearing the veil from the one-dimensional definition of superheroes, all of these things are masterfully challenged in the shape of a dark psychological crime-thriller with many timeless themes that go harsh on politics and society.
Our heroes and leaders are never the flawless, perfect beings we romanticize them to be.
***
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Watchmen redefines the term superhero. With the exception of Dr. Manhattan, none of them have any notable powers. The Comedian is merely a grotesque reflection of American society and all its shameless faults, as well as how misguided patriotism can be used to justify mindless violence and prejudice. Rorschach is a vigilante who throws around the words good and evil to justify his brute force and questionable methods of solving problems. Silk Spectre is a normal woman struggling between following her own path in life and forever remaining trapped in the shadow of her mother's legacy. Nite Owl almost feels like a comedic parody of Batman, poking fun at the fact that he's an awkward old nerd that loves owl-themed gadgets and dressing up in what is essentially a big Halloween costume. Dr. Manhattan is the embodiment of how power, knowledge, wealth and limitless freedom to do anything imaginable can alienate and dehumanize a person from the rest of the world. All of the superheroes are extremely flawed everyday people with everyday issues and imperfections who hide behind masked personas to cope with the questionable acts they're performing and the faulty morals behind them.
The heroes of this tale defy the image of flawless paragons of justice that can do no wrong. They are just as capable of being selfish, abusing their powers and doing evil things out of spite and unchecked negative emotions as everyone else. This critiques the very idea of putting idols on a pedestal in the first place. This can be compared to the famous actors, pop stars and politicians of today. It's easy for people to treat the words and actions of their idols like the words of God himself, forgetting that they're ordinary people with many imperfections just like everyone else. Again, most of the Watchmen have selfish reasons for hiding behind their costumed personas, because they feel powerless, guilty and ordinary without them. What does it say about who you are when you can't even show yourself in public without hiding behind a carefully crafted disguise? Why wear a mask if you're in the right and have nothing to hide?
All of this deception and abuse of authority is where the popular slogan (Who watches the Watchmen?) comes from. The people in power are constantly watching and judging the actions of the average person, but who are watching and judging the actions of the people in power? The people in power punish us for our wrongdoings but who punishes the people in power for theirs? Dismantling the infallible images that figures of authority try to maintain, dissecting issues of confused morals and identities hiding behind literal and figurative masks, tearing the veil from the one-dimensional definition of superheroes, all of these things are masterfully challenged in the shape of a dark psychological crime-thriller with many timeless themes that go harsh on politics and society.
Our heroes and leaders are never the flawless, perfect beings we romanticize them to be.
***
My Social Media
My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
My Instagram Account: https://www.instagram.com/michael_sor...
My Wattpad Account: https://www.wattpad.com/user/Michael-...
My Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/SorbelloHorror
My Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/michael.sorb...
October 10, 2023
it was Fine i suppose, perhaps better suited for a really hardcore fan and one who's interested in role playing games (omg like i know some things but i kept googling things that i didn't know which got me nothing and then there ended up being a little glossary type thing in the back like that would've been nice to know) and also maybe it was just like copied from the original publishings but could they not have edited out the multiple misspellings i don't mind catching one in a book but i noticed quite a few
had to laugh at the little changes like "the velour overground" lol
things like that at least made sense to me but i didn't understand why they changed the details of kitty genovese's murder to say they were four perpetrators when there was just one, why not come up with a fictional name and the details could parallel that particular case
i think what the part i found most worth reading was the sourcebook with all the notes and letters and whatnot (though i wish they didn't try to make it look handwritten bc some of it i just could not make out) but i could've lived without the dumb fucking cutoff note from the comedian to laurie trying to say he loves her like get out of her you do not love her you piece of shit
speaking off this bit in one of the last sections while talking about the comedian: "there's something that draws a mass of huamnity to people with a clear cut vision like hitler. much as you disagree with such people, there's something about their personality." no??? no.
anyway overall i understand it was a compilation of different things so that's why it was so repetitive, but i just didn't need to read slight variations on the same character bio over and over tbh
had to laugh at the little changes like "the velour overground" lol
things like that at least made sense to me but i didn't understand why they changed the details of kitty genovese's murder to say they were four perpetrators when there was just one, why not come up with a fictional name and the details could parallel that particular case
i think what the part i found most worth reading was the sourcebook with all the notes and letters and whatnot (though i wish they didn't try to make it look handwritten bc some of it i just could not make out) but i could've lived without the dumb fucking cutoff note from the comedian to laurie trying to say he loves her like get out of her you do not love her you piece of shit
speaking off this bit in one of the last sections while talking about the comedian: "there's something that draws a mass of huamnity to people with a clear cut vision like hitler. much as you disagree with such people, there's something about their personality." no??? no.
anyway overall i understand it was a compilation of different things so that's why it was so repetitive, but i just didn't need to read slight variations on the same character bio over and over tbh
October 5, 2024
The only Watchmen material actually sanctioned by Alan Moore. Most of it is 2 modules for a Watchmen roleplaying game along with an extensive sourcebook that gives you more background info on the characters than you could ever imagine. They are original prequels and were actually written while Moore was writing the series. That being said, you are going to need to be a fan of the old DC RPG from the 80s to play these. (BTW, there are Watchmen lead figures too. I have them.) In addition to a bunch of promotional material there's a reprint of The Question #17. It gets a bit meta because you have The Question reading a Rorschach comic (with Rorschach being based on The Question). But outside of that it's just an OK comic book. While this is cool to flip through, it's probably really only for the hardest core of hard core Watchmen fans.
March 11, 2020
So I’m an avid gamer... as in RPG’s, been playing D&D my whole life. I’ve played tons of systems like Paladium, GURPS, White Wolf, etc... yet I had no idea what this book was when I checked it out. I thought it was a companion to the graphic novel, not the old RPG. So, even though I’m sort of the target audience... this book is not for me! Do we really care about an outdated RPG that had a lousy system in the first place? This should’ve come out 30 years ago! Are people actually gonna buy this and breakout their old Hero RPG’s and play this? If so, good for you. It’s definitely not clear what this book is unless you really open it up and thumb through it and if it is for you... 👍🏻 As for me, this was a waste of time!
September 13, 2023
Watchman Companion is a good addition to your library if you enjoyed the original miniseries. It contains two role playing manuals, an article about Watchmen from the now defunct comic book magazine Amazing Heroes, and a story from the Question series where the Question reads the book Watchmen while flying to another city in order to capture a criminal. I've never played a role playing game, but I was glad to have finally gotten a chance to read these role playing manuals. The Amazing Heroes article was published before or around the publication of the first issue, and it was interesting to read Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons talk about the project. I'm glad I added this book to my library.
September 26, 2022
A TTRPG source book masquerading as a companion in order to likely keep the rights out of the creator’s hands. And I have to review it as a companion. I’m sure if re released or updated as a source book and printed on half decent stock it could have been great. It’s got a slight and contextless Question tie in at the back and some interviews to pad it out. Sad really.
December 25, 2021
The book cover: I’m a companion novel to the Watchmen series :)
The book inside: I’m a RPG and a random graphic novel semi related to Watchmen and we put Rorschach on the cover to trick you into buying it
The book inside: I’m a RPG and a random graphic novel semi related to Watchmen and we put Rorschach on the cover to trick you into buying it
September 30, 2020
I loved reading Ray Winninger's Introduction and the Amazing Heroes #97 piece included. Made me want to re-read the maxiseries.
April 18, 2023
This was kind of a cool thing to check out from the library but I’m not into reading RPG sourcebooks enough to get excited about it. Nice to see some extra Dave Gibbons Watchmen art though.
April 15, 2022
Mucho más que un Companion, casi una pieza de Unvierso Expandido como corresponde, nada de truchadas a cargo de otros autores.
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