Editing Watchmen (section)

== Publication history ==
A single preview page for ''Watchmen'', created by writer [[Alan Moore]] and artist [[Dave Gibbons]], first appeared in the 1985 issue of ''DC Spotlight'', the 50th anniversary special. The title was later published as a 12-issue [[Limited series (comics)|maxiseries]] from [[DC Comics]], [[cover-date]]d September 1986 to October 1987.<ref name=gcd>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/series/3172/ |title=Watchmen |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171008/https://www.comics.org/series/3172/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+ class="nowrap" | Publication details
|-
! {{abbr|No.|Issue number}}
! Title
! Publication date
! On-sale date
! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| {{center|1}}
| "At Midnight, All the Agents..."
| September 1986
| May 13, 1986
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/41815/ |title=Watchmen #1 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172606/https://www.comics.org/issue/41815/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|2}}
| "Absent Friends"
| October 1986
| June 10, 1986
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/41914/ |title=Watchmen #2 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170943/https://www.comics.org/issue/41914/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|3}}
| "The Judge of All the Earth"
| November 1986
| July 8, 1986
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/42032/ |title=Watchmen #3 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170444/https://www.comics.org/issue/42032/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|4}}
| "Watchmaker"
| December 1986
| August 12, 1986
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/42144/ |title=Watchmen #4 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171829/https://www.comics.org/issue/42144/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|5}}
| "Fearful Symmetry"
| January 1987
| September 9, 1986
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/42357/ |title=Watchmen #5 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171053/https://www.comics.org/issue/42357/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|6}}
| "The Abyss Gazes Also"
| February 1987
| October 14, 1986
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/42475/ |title=Watchmen #6 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171547/https://www.comics.org/issue/42475/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|7}}
| "A Brother to Dragons"
| March 1987
| November 11, 1986
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/42595/ |title=Watchmen #7 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170712/https://www.comics.org/issue/42595/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|8}}
| "Old Ghosts"
| April 1987
| December 9, 1986
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/42714/ |title=Watchmen #8 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171719/https://www.comics.org/issue/42714/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|9}}
| "The Darkness of Mere Being"
| May 1987
| January 13, 1987
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/42835/ |title=Watchmen #9 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171015/https://www.comics.org/issue/42835/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|10}}
| "Two Riders Were Approaching..."
| July 1987
| March 17, 1987
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/43067/ |title=Watchmen #10 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170722/https://www.comics.org/issue/43067/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|11}}
| "Look on My Works, Ye Mighty..."
| August 1987
| May 19, 1987
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/43201/ |title=Watchmen #11 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170323/https://www.comics.org/issue/43201/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
| {{center|12}}
| "A Stronger Loving World"
| October 1987
| July 28, 1987
| {{center|<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.comics.org/issue/43445/ |title=Watchmen #12 |website=[[Grand Comics Database]] |access-date=September 18, 2022 |archive-date=September 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171459/https://www.comics.org/issue/43445/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|}

It was subsequently collected in 1987 as a DC Comics [[Trade paperback (comics)|trade paperback]] that has had at least 24 printings as of March 2017;<ref name=gcd-dctradepaper>[http://www.comics.org/series/3392/ ''Watchmen'' (DC, 1987)] at the Grand Comics Database. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528202338/http://www.comics.org/series/3392/ |date=May 28, 2014 }}.</ref> another trade paperback was published by [[Warner Books]], a DC sister company, in 1987.<ref name=gcd-warnerbooks>[http://www.comics.org/series/49234/ ''Watchmen'' (Warner Books, 1987)] at the Grand Comics Database. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528202334/http://www.comics.org/series/49234/ |date=May 28, 2014 }}.</ref> In February 1988, DC published a limited-edition, slipcased hardcover volume, produced by Graphitti Design, that contained 48 pages of bonus material, including the original proposal and concept art.<ref name=dcslipcase>[http://www.comics.org/series/21966/ ''Watchmen'' (DC, 1988)] at the Grand Comics Database. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019133542/http://www.comics.org/series/21966/ |date=October 19, 2013 }}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url-status=deviated |last1=Vanderplog |first1=Scott |url=http://www.comicbookdaily.com/collecting-community/bound-together/graphitti-watchmen-hardcover/ |title=Graphitti Watchmen HC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504102655/http://www.comicbookdaily.com/collecting-community/bound-together/graphitti-watchmen-hardcover/ |archive-date=May 4, 2013 |website=Comic Book Daily |date=January 25, 2012}}.</ref> In 2005, DC released ''Absolute Watchmen'', an oversized slipcased hardcover edition of the series in DC's [[DC Comics Absolute Edition|Absolute Edition]] format. Assembled under the supervision of Dave Gibbons, ''Absolute Watchmen'' included the Graphitti materials, as well as restored and recolored art by John Higgins.<ref>{{cite web |url-status=dead |last1=Wolk |first1=Douglas |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6275201.html |title=20 Years Watching the Watchmen |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |date=October 18, 2005 |access-date=October 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216131133/http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6275201.html |archive-date=December 16, 2008}}</ref> That December DC published a new printing of ''Watchmen'' issue #1 at the original 1986 cover price of $1.50 as part of its "Millennium Edition" line.<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/6270/ ''Millennium Edition: Watchmen #1'' (March 2000)] at the Grand Comics Database. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019133539/http://www.comics.org/series/6270/ |date=October 19, 2013 }}.</ref>

In 2012, DC published ''[[Before Watchmen]]'', a series of nine prequel miniseries, with various creative teams producing the characters' early adventures set before the events of the original series.<ref name="Phegley">{{Cite web |last=Phegley |first=Kiel |date=February 1, 2012 |title=DC Comics to Publish 'Before Watchmen' Prequels |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36724 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204101415/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36724 |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |access-date=February 1, 2012 |website=CBR}}</ref>

In the 2016 one-shot ''[[DC Universe: Rebirth Special]]'', numerous symbols and visual references to ''Watchmen'', such as the blood-splattered smiley face, and the dialogue between Doctor Manhattan and Ozymandias in the last issue of ''Watchmen'', are shown.<ref>Yehl, Joshua (May 20, 2017). [http://ie.ign.com/articles/2016/05/21/dc-universe-rebirth-1-full-spoilers-leak-online "DC Universe: Rebirth #1 Full Spoilers Leak Online"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909103034/https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/21/dc-universe-rebirth-1-full-spoilers-leak-online |date=September 9, 2020 }}. IGN.</ref> Further ''Watchmen'' imagery was added in the ''DC Universe: Rebirth Special'' #1 second printing, which featured an update to Gary Frank's cover, better revealing the outstretched hand of [[Doctor Manhattan]] in the top right corner.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsarama.com/29506-dc-universe-rebirth-gets-second-printing-higher-cover-price.html |title=DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH Gets Second Printing & Higher Cover Price |last=Arrant |first=Chris |work=Newsarama |date=May 27, 2016 |access-date=June 2, 2016|archive-date=May 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530005032/http://www.newsarama.com/29506-dc-universe-rebirth-gets-second-printing-higher-cover-price.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Schedeen, Jesse (January 10, 2017). [https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/01/10/17-most-anticipated-comics-of-2017 "17 Most Anticipated Comics of 2017"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402200012/https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/01/10/17-most-anticipated-comics-of-2017 |date=April 2, 2019 }}. IGN. Retrieved January 13, 2017</ref> Doctor Manhattan later appeared in the 2017 four-part DC miniseries ''[[The Button (comics)|The Button]]'' serving as a direct sequel to both ''DC Universe Rebirth'' and the 2011 storyline "[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]". Manhattan reappears in the 2017–19 twelve-part sequel series [[Doomsday Clock (comics)|''Doomsday Clock'']].<ref>Moore, Rose (September 22, 2017). [https://screenrant.com/doomsday-clock-trailer-watchmen-crossover/ "Geoff Johns' Doomsday Clock Trailer: Watchmen Crossover Comic Explained"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209180546/https://screenrant.com/doomsday-clock-trailer-watchmen-crossover/ |date=February 9, 2019 }}. [[Screen Rant]].</ref>