Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1
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Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1

Event\Storyline: Before Watchmen Writer: J. Michael Straczynski Artist: Andy Kubert, Joe Kubert Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: June 27, 2012 Cover Price: $2.99 Critic Reviews: 18 User Reviews: 7
6.1Critic Rating
7.5User Rating

The hero known to the public only as Nite Owl announced his retirement today.

  • 10
    SciFiPulse - Patrick Hayes Jun 29, 2012

    Outstanding! Read Full Review

  • 9.6
    Chuck's Comic Of The Day - Chuck Jun 30, 2012

    All credit to the creative teams behind this series of Watchmen-based comics - so far, they've all been strong entries. But nothing beats a pair of Kuberts. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    The Comic Book Revue - Jay Mattson Jul 1, 2012

    It's hard to reflect too much on an event that's only really getting started. 35 weeks is a lot longer than is sounds before you think of it as six solid months of weekly content. There's a whole lot more story coming that will weave into all the titles already begun. While last week's Comediandid an absolutely awful job creating a satisfying character history, Straczyinski and the Kuberts do a awesome job giving Dan Dreiberg and Hollis Mason meaningful development. It's also interesting to note that the seeds of Silk Spectre and Doctor Manhattan's relationship are planted within the pages of this issue, an element that's probably going to be a common one throughout this event. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Comic Book Bin - Andy Frisk Jun 28, 2012

    My thoughts on Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1 are probably a little slanted. As Ive mentioned, hes my favorite character from Watchmen and seeing him portrayed again in print in a new series is something that I never thought Id have the joy of experiencing. Im happy to report that Straczynski didnt disappoint though. He rarely does, and Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1 is one of the best of the series thus far. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Comic Vine - Mat 'Inferiorego' Elfring Jun 27, 2012

    This is what Before Watchmen should be. JMS is great at building upon Moore's world here and adding more to this iconic character. I loved seeing this issue play out and Daniel grow into the character, even though I felt major moments were cut a bit short. The art, aside from a couple of inking issues, really works well here and is a great mixture of classic and contemporary styles. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Comicville - Chris Blackwell Jun 28, 2012

    I feel like this issue was written by twoseparatewriters who didn't compare notes. The first half of this book is well crafted, and deep. The second half is rushed, inconsistent with the Watchmen universe, and never feels right. It will be interesting to see if there is any tie-in with the Rorschach story, to warrant why hesoughtout Nite Owl to become partners. Read Full Review

  • 6.5
    A Comic Book Blog - Geoff Arbuckle Jun 29, 2012

    Overall, I may have some qualms with the first issue's plot, but I want to see where this goes. I love Dan Dreiberg as a character because he felt more real than anyone else in Watchmen. I think JMS has the chops to give us three pretty good issues, and with the Kuberts along for the ride, it's going to look pretty damn good. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Comic Book Resources - Doug Zawisza Jun 28, 2012

    Using the artistic legacy of the Kuberts to define the heroic legacy of Nite Owl is a conceptual stroke of genius. It's a shame the story itself doesn't live up to the art. By and large, I have not been partaking of the "Before Watchmen" comics. The first half of this issue made me think I might be missing out on some good reads, but the remainder of the book quickly doused any concerns in that direction. I'd like to see more tales like the first part, especially if DC can include a celebration of legacy once again. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Behind The Panels - Richard Gray Jun 29, 2012

    Yet with three issues to go, Straczynski has already brought us to a place that could readily segue into to Alan Moore's masterpiece. It will be interesting to see if anything that happens from here is anything other that perfunctory. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    First Comics News - Mark Villamor Jul 2, 2012

    Straczynski does a good job of setting up Danny's story. The pacing is a little fast but there's not too much time so he does get right to the point. He starts off as a teen and ends up in a super team all in one issue. I remember the Kuberts drawing a series as being a big thing but since their move to DC they haven't been the same. Andy draws Danny as a kid but in actuality he's a teen or even in his 20s. It's hard to say. This is the first meeting of the Watchmen characters and knowing where this is headed creates an uneasy feeling. Dr. Manhattan and Silk Spectre's first meeting is sweet and strange at the same time and the creative team does a good job of that. Overall, Nite Owl isn't the best of the releases so far but it certainly isn't the worst. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Super Hero Hype - Spencer Perry Jun 27, 2012

    If you like Nite Owl, I'm sure you'll like this comic, but I was rather disappointed with it all. It seems rather rushed with little time put into careful plotting and creation. I realize the story has to be set up in order to tell what will happen in the rest of the mini-series and I hope this one gets better, but for now it's a real swing and a miss. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Crave Online - Andy Hunsaker Jun 27, 2012

    That's about all I can muster to say about it. It's just that lifeless. Read Full Review

  • 4.5
    IGN - Joey Esposito Jun 27, 2012

    They couldn't all be winners, and unfortunately, it seems Dan Dreiberg (as he often does) drew the short straw. Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1 will hopefully be a rarity amongst these books, but if this series continues down this path, the naysayers of Before Watchmen certainly have an easy target to point to for why these prequels shouldn't exist. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    Comics: The Gathering - stephengervais Jul 2, 2012

    Maybe this story will improve but Im not overly optimistic. Read Full Review

  • 3.0
    Galactica - Girish Kumar Jun 28, 2012

    I didn't like this one. The story was written all haphazardly. I just pray that the next one is better. Read Full Review

  • 3.0
    ComicList - Brandon Borzelli Jun 28, 2012

    I can't say there is much here to warrant a look at this book. If only this was the "Untold Team-Up Tales of Nite Owl and Rorschach" then I think the book would have had something. Instead, this is a disjointed origin story that ends with a flutter instead of a cliffhanger. Read Full Review

  • 3.0
    Newsarama - David Pepose Jun 27, 2012

    That reaction is what Before Watchmen: Nite Owl is missing, perhaps not a surprise after the blowback Straczynski received after his incomplete runs on Superman and Wonder Woman. The good news for him is that he won't be crucified here, not for this work. But that's the gamble you take as an artist " you risk the odds, take a leap, and see if you'll fall or fly. Unfortunately, right now, Before Watchmen: Nite Owl still has its wings clipped. Read Full Review

  • 2.8
    Multiversity Comics - Brian Salvatore Jun 29, 2012

    Brian: David Harper, king of the tease! See you guys next week when “Ozymandias” drops. Read Full Review

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