Before Watchmen: Minutemen

Darwyn Cooke wrote and drew this six-issue DC prequel series, which takes readers back to the 1940s to explore the original Minutemen team before the events of Watchmen. Focusing on Hollis Mason, the first Nite Owl, it delves into the team's formation, its flawed heroes like the Comedian and Captain Metropolis, and the dark secrets that would shape the world to come. Cooke's signature retro style and deep affection for the characters make this a poignant, self-contained look at the cost of heroism in a world without easy answers.