Before Watchmen Reading Order

Before Watchmen is a series of prequel comics that delve into the complex backstories, motivations, and moral compromises of the original Watchmen characters, expanding the world of the iconic graphic novel.

Part of

Watchmen timeline

Watchmen

Doomsday Clock

Primary collected edition:
Before Watchmen
Omnibus

Collects: Before Watchmen: Minutemen (2012) #1-6; Silk Spectre (2012) #1-4; Comedian (2012) #1-6; Rorschach (2012) #1-4; Nite Owl (2012) #1-4; Dr. Manhattan (2012 #1-4; Ozymandias (2012) #1-6; Dollar Bill (2012) #1; Moloch (2012) #1-2; Curse of the Crimson Corsair serial (2012)

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Issue-by-Issue Reading Order

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1EssentialJun 2012

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1

The Minute of Truth: Chapter 1: Eight Minutes; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep: Part 1

#1 collected in:Before Watchmen: Minutemen / Silk Spectre

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2EssentialJun 2012

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1

Mean Goodbye; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep: Part 2

#1 collected in:Before Watchmen: Minutemen / Silk Spectre

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3EssentialJun 2012

Before Watchmen: Comedian #1

Smile; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep: Part 3

#1 collected in:Before Watchmen: Comedian / Rorschach

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4EssentialJun 2012

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1

No Such Thing as a Free Lunch; Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep: Part 4

#1 collected in:Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan

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5EssentialJul 2012

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1

I Met a Traveler...!; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep: Part 5

#1 collected in:Before Watchmen: Ozymandias / Crimson Corsair

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6EssentialJul 2012

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #2

The Minute of Truth: Chapter 2: Golden Years; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep: Part 6

#2 collected in:Before Watchmen: Minutemen / Silk Spectre

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7EssentialJul 2012

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #2

Getting into the World; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep: Part 7

#2 collected in:Before Watchmen: Minutemen / Silk Spectre

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8EssentialJul 2012

Before Watchmen: Comedian #2

I Get Around; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep: Part 8

#2 collected in:Before Watchmen: Comedian / Rorschach

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9EssentialAug 2012

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #2

Some Things are Just Inevitable; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep: Part 9

#2 collected in:Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan

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10EssentialAug 2012

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #2

The Hand that Mocked Them...!; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Devil in the Deep: Part 10

#2 collected in:Before Watchmen: Ozymandias / Crimson Corsair

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11EssentialAug 2012

Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1

Damntown: Part 1; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Evil That Men Do: Part 1

#1 collected in:Before Watchmen: Comedian / Rorschach

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12EssentialSep 2012

Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #1

What's in the Box?; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Evil That Men Do: Part 2

#1 collected in:Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan

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13EssentialAug 2012

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #3

The Minute of Truth: Chapter 3: Child's Play; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Evil That Men Do: Part 3

#3 collected in:Before Watchmen: Minutemen / Silk Spectre

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14EssentialSep 2012

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #3

No Illusion; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Evil That Men Do: Part 4

#3 collected in:Before Watchmen: Minutemen / Silk Spectre

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15EssentialSep 2012

Before Watchmen: Comedian #3

Play With Fire; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Evil That Men Do: Part 5

#3 collected in:Before Watchmen: Comedian / Rorschach

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16EssentialSep 2012

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #3

Thanks For Coming; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Evil That Men Do: Part 6

#3 collected in:Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan

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17EssentialSep 2012

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #3

The Heart That Fed!; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Evil That Men Do: Part 7

#3 collected in:Before Watchmen: Ozymandias / Crimson Corsair

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18EssentialOct 2012

Before Watchmen: Rorschach #2

Damntown: Part 2; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: The Evil That Men Do: Part 8

#2 collected in:Before Watchmen: Comedian / Rorschach

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19EssentialOct 2012

Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #2

One-Fifteen P.M.; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings: Part 1

#2 collected in:Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan

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20EssentialOct 2012

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #4

The Minute of Truth: Chapter 4: War Stories; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings: Part 2

#4 collected in:Before Watchmen: Minutemen / Silk Spectre

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21EssentialNov 2012

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #4

The End of the Rainbow; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings: Part 3

#4 collected in:Before Watchmen: Minutemen / Silk Spectre

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22EssentialNov 2012

Before Watchmen: Moloch #1

Forgive Me, Father, For I Have Sinned; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings: Part 4

#1 collected in:Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan

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23EssentialDec 2012

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #4

Shattered Visage...!; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings: Part 5

#4 collected in:Before Watchmen: Ozymandias / Crimson Corsair

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24EssentialDec 2012

Before Watchmen: Comedian #4

Conquistador; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings: Part 6

#4 collected in:Before Watchmen: Comedian / Rorschach

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25EssentialDec 2012

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #5

The Minute of Truth: Chapter 5: The Demon Core; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings: Part 7

#5 collected in:Before Watchmen: Minutemen / Silk Spectre

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26EssentialDec 2012

Before Watchmen: Rorschach #3

The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings: Part 8

#3 collected in:Before Watchmen: Comedian / Rorschach

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27EssentialJan 2013

Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #3

Ego Sum; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings: Part 9

#3 collected in:Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan

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28EssentialDec 2012

Before Watchmen: Moloch #2

The Eleven-Thirty Absolution; The Curse of the Crimson Corsair: Wide Were His Dragon Wings: Part 10

#2 collected in:Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan

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29EssentialJan 2013

Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill #1

I Want to be in Pictures

#1 collected in:Before Watchmen: Ozymandias / Crimson Corsair

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30EssentialJan 2013

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #6

The Minute of Truth: Chapter 6: The Last Minute

#6 collected in:Before Watchmen: Minutemen / Silk Spectre

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31EssentialDec 2012

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #4

From One Nite Owl to Another

#4 collected in:Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan

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32 -33EssentialJAN-MAR 2013

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #5-6

#5: These Lifeless Things…!

#6: Nothing Beside Remains

#5-6 collected in:Before Watchmen: Ozymandias / Crimson Corsair

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34 -35EssentialFEB-APR 2013

Before Watchmen: Comedian #5-6

#5: Kicks

#6: Eighties

#5-6 collected in:Before Watchmen: Comedian / Rorschach

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36EssentialMar 2013

Before Watchmen: Rorschach #4

[untitled]

#4 collected in:Before Watchmen: Comedian / Rorschach

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37EssentialFeb 2013

Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #4

Change in Perspective

#4 collected in:Before Watchmen: Nite Owl / Dr. Manhattan

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Before Watchmen Reading Order

Event timeline

Primary collected edition:Before WatchmenOmnibus

Issue-by-Issue Reading Order

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #1

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1

Before Watchmen: Comedian #1

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #1

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #1

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #2

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #2

Before Watchmen: Comedian #2

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #2

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #2

Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1

Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #1

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #3

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #3

Before Watchmen: Comedian #3

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #3

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #3

Before Watchmen: Rorschach #2

Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #2

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #4

Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #4

Before Watchmen: Moloch #1

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #4

Before Watchmen: Comedian #4

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #5

Before Watchmen: Rorschach #3

Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #3

Before Watchmen: Moloch #2

Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill #1

Before Watchmen: Minutemen #6

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #4

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #5-6

Before Watchmen: Comedian #5-6

Before Watchmen: Rorschach #4

Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #4

Primary collected edition:
Before Watchmen
Omnibus