Whether you’re in agreement with its status as the G.O.A.T. or not (personally, I am), Watchmen is the most heralded comic book in history. Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins crafted a near perfect 12 issue series, pulling superheroes into the realm of literary prestige and among Time Magazine’s top 100 novels.
Since its publication in 1986, Watchmen has remained a perennial best seller among DC Comics’ graphic novels. Despite Alan Moore’s clear and stark disapproval, the Watchmen universe has expanded throughout the 2010’s, with DC launching the extremely controversial Before Watchmen series of prequels, and DC Rebirth hinging on the Doomsday Clock event.
As a result, there’s actually some need for a guide to comics involving the characters of Watchmen, perhaps only destined to grow as Dr. Manhattan, Rorschach and the others meet and interact with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman.
Below you’ll find a chronological guide to Watchmen comics, including a DC Rebirth era road to Doomsday Clock.
Related Reading Orders:
Before Watchmen Reading Order
Let me be clear up front that reading Before Watchmen prior to the main event is actually ill-advised. Chronologically, these comics are prequels to Watchmen but you will be much better served reading them after you’ve consumed Moore, Gibbons, and Higgins twelve issue Watchmen (and ideally more than once at that).
Collects: Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1-6, Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill #1, Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1-4, Before Watchmen: Comedian #1-6, Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1-4, Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1-4, Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #1-4, Before Watchmen: Moloch #1-2, Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1-6, Before Watchmen: Crimson Corsair #1
Comic Book Herald’s recommended issue by issue order:
Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1-6
Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill #1
Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1-4
Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1-4
Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1-6
Before Watchmen: Comedian #1-6
Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1-4
Before Watchmen: Moloch #1-2
Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #1-4
Before Watchmen: Minutemen/Silk Spectre
Collects: Before Watchmen: Minutemen 1-6 And Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre 1-4
Before Watchmen: Nite Owl/Dr. Manhattan
Collects: Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1-4 And Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #1-4
Before Watchmen: Ozymandias/Crimson Corsair
Collects: Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1-6, “Curse Of The Crimson Corsair.”
Before Watchmen: Comedian/Rorschach
Collects: Before Watchmen: Comedian 1-6 And Before Watchmen: Rorschach 1-4
Watchmen (1986)
Collects: Watchmen #1 To #12
Watchmen and Doomsday Clock Reading Order
Collects: DC Universe Rebirth #1
Collects: Doomsday Clock #1 To #12
You can also check out relevant comics and the “Road to Doomsday Clock” on Comic Book Herald’s complete Doomsday Clock reading order.
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What about Tom king’s Rorschach?
Set in the universe of the HBO show, not connected.