'Before Watchmen' unnecessary, says Mark Millar

Before Watchmen is "unnecessary", according to acclaimed comics writer Mark Millar.

The Kick-Ass creator told IGN that he is unlikely to read the prequel titles, but refused to criticise DC Comics for commissioning them.



"The books might be good, they might not. But I sort of feel like if I want to read Watchmen, I'll read the original one. To me it feels unnecessary, and I'm saying this as a guy who wrote Superman, and Captain America, and The Ultimates. So we all do it I guess," he said.

"I'm loyal. I love [Alan] Moore and I love Watchmen. My curiosity isn't so much that I'd pick it up. But I don't blame the guys for doing it. I guess we're all guilty of it in comics, but that's what's nice about creator owns. It feels a bit more honest - I make it up, I get the money, and nobody comes to take it off me."

Before Watchmen will consist of seven inter-connected miniseries set before the events of Moore and Dave Gibbons's original graphic novel. Creators including Brian Azzarello, Darwyn Cooke, J Michael Straczynski and Len Wein are on board for the project.

Reaction across the industry and among fans has been mixed. Digital Spy's recent fan poll on the topic revealed that a whopping 72.7% agree that a Watchmen prequel is unnecessary.

Before Watchmen debuts this summer.