Hollis Mason doesn’t gloss over the painful memories of his past, instead he paints his life and the story of the Minutemen in a way that conveys an honest picture of who and what they were.  But is is a story worth telling?  Read on to find out.

The official description from DC:

“Little did we know that poor boy would lead to the end of us all.”

Plus: Don’t miss the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup story by writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS!

Hollis Mason (the original Nite Owl) is looking back into his own history as he prepares to receive feedback on his first draft of Under the Hood, his tell-all autobiography that is destined to detail his triumphs and tradegies from his days as a masked vigilante.  What follows is a journey into the soul of man who clearly has regrets but also heartfelt lessons to share.

Darwyn Cooke writes this opening story of Before Watchmen and does a masterful job finding the voice of our main character while encapsulating the spirit of an era filled with golden age showmanship and heroics.  Balancing sentimentality and facts is not an easy thing to do, but Darwyn Cooke finds a way to give Holiis Mason the right balance of both.  He successfully makes this issue a compelling tour of the people and the world of the Minutemen.

Darwyn Cooke is not just the writer but also the artist for this issue.  He successfully lends his abilities to a comic book that perfectly fits the era depicted.  His style is dynamically suited for the story as he brings in these characters while presenting them in a way that makes them even more engaging than they were in their original depiction.  Any Watchmen fan should feel some relief that DC got this man to work on this book.

I also want to mention the back-up story that will be spread out in each issue of Before Watchmen.  The art by Len Wein is beautiful and it fits the world of the Crimson Corsair quite well.  The details are strong and they anchor the dialogue by John Higgins splendidly.  It’s a solid little read that succeeds in conveying a brief narrative in just two pages.

Forget the controversy surrounding Before Watchmen comic fans, this is a must own for any comic reader out there.

4.5/5