There’s a Watchmen Spinoff Alan Moore Actually Worked On (And You Probably Forgot About It)

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Alan Moore‘s ‘Watchmen’ is recognized as one of the most thought-provoking literary pieces from the 20th century. Despite it being a comic book, a genre that Moore dislikes calling a graphic novel, it stands out even more. The controversy around this work is almost as renowned as the work itself, particularly the dispute between Moore and DC Comics. When DC reneged on their promise to give Moore ownership of ‘Watchmen’, the author severed all ties with the company. Over the years, Moore has openly criticized any adaptations of ‘Watchmen’, including the 2009 film by Zack Snyder and HBO’s 2019 sequel series. However, there is one exception: three ‘Watchmen’ spin-offs that not only had Moore’s approval but also his active involvement – supplements for the Mayfair Games ‘DC Heroes Role-playing Game’.

Dungeons & Dragons Isn’t The Only Pen and Paper Role-playing Game in Town

Tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), which have been around since the ’70s, are not limited to just one game. While “Dungeons & Dragons” is the most recognized TTRPG, there’s a vast array of different games available, such as those that let players embody their favorite comic book superheroes. For instance, Mayfair Games released the “DC Heroes Role-Playing Game” in 1985, which gained immense popularity. By 1986, Mayfair granted two writers, Daniel Greenberg and Ray Winninger, permission to create a series of three “Watchmen” supplements with Alan Moore’s assistance.

These are self-contained adventures approved by Alan Moore, representing the sole Watchmen stories he authorized. “Taking Out The Trash” is one of these modules, while “Watchmen Sourcebook” offers character details and locations for players to create their own Watchmen-themed adventures.

Alan Moore Had the Entirety Of Watchmen in His Head

Remarkably, the three books were simultaneously penned alongside Watchmen, with Alan Moore providing direct input through a series of long-distance phone conversations. As Ray Winninger clarifies in the introduction to the 2019 reissue of the supplements, Moore had the entirety of Watchmen already visualized in his mind before he started writing, as evident when he replied that there was no actual outline: “I ask Alan if he can fax me an outline; it would be very helpful. However, he informs me that there is no real outline. The entire story – comprising all 388 pages and over 3,000 panels – was already residing in his mind.

In these conversations, Moore would share tidbits about the characters and world of Watchmen that weren’t part of the main story and could only be found in the additional materials for the Mayfair Games version of Watchmen. The fact that he was so eager to contribute to these supplements, even though he was also working on the comic itself, goes against the general impression people have of Moore as a grumpy recluse who dislikes adaptations or continuations of his work.

In 1987, “Who Watches the Watchmen?” and “Taking Out The Trash” were published, with the “Watchmen Sourcebook” arriving in 1990. Regrettably, by then Alan Moore had cut ties completely with DC Comics, so the three Mayfair supplements marked the final exploration of the intricate superhero world that he brought to life.

By the late ’90s, the license for creating tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG) based on the DC Universe no longer belonged to Mayfair Games. Instead, they moved to West End Games in 1999 with the release of the “DC Universe Role-Playing Game.” Later, from 2010, Green Ronin Publishing took over, offering “DC Adventures.” In 2019, three supplements for these games, along with some rare “Watchmen” material, were compiled in a hardcover book named “The Watchmen Companion.” However, unlike the reprint of the Mayfair “DC Heroes Role-Playing Game,” this reprint serves more as an interesting artifact than a practical role-playing system.

DC Has Created Several Watchmen Sequels Without Alan Moore’s involvement

Over the years following their initial release, DC Comics has put out several different quality levels of both sequels and prequels for the comic “Watchmen”. Although it’s difficult to doubt the authenticity of these follow-ups since DC owns the rights to “Watchmen” in the first place, one can’t help but ponder what official sequels we might have seen if there had been better relations between DC and Watchmen creator Alan Moore.

In an intriguing parallel universe, perhaps there exists a planet where tales like “Who Watches the Watchmen?”, “Taking Out The Trash”, and the “Watchmen Sourcebook” aren’t scarcely found gems but rather the initial installments of an expansive “Watchmen” series, meticulously exploring Alan Moore’s revolutionary dissection of the superhero genre. Sadly, for us, it remains a world we cannot explore in reality. As a movie enthusiast, I can only imagine the captivating narratives that such a series could weave.

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2025-05-25 20:40