Just when you thought DC would calm down after the backlash of their drastic logo change earlier this month, they’re here to alter more of your childhood favorites by bringing us a series of prequels to Alan Moore’s epic Watchmen series from decades ago with their Before Watchmen line of books.

Catchy name, right? That’s about the caliber of originality you can expect to see with these books, with the major saving grace being the talent that DC has gathered for the event. Here’s what they had to say.

Stepping up to the challenge is a group of the comic book industry’s most iconoclastic writers and artists – including Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS), Lee Bermejo (JOKER), Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL), Darwyn Cooke (JUSTICE LEAGUE: NEW FRONTIER), John Higgins (WATCHMEN), Adam Hughes (CATWOMAN), J.G. Jones (FINAL CRISIS), Andy Kubert (FLASHPOINT), Joe Kubert (SGT. ROCK), Jae Lee (BATMAN: JEKYLL AND HYDE), J. Michael Straczynski (SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE) and Len Wein (SWAMP THING).

BEFORE WATCHMEN includes:

• RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
• MINUTEMEN (6 issues) – Writer/Artist: Darwyn Cooke
• COMEDIAN (6 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: J.G. Jones
• DR. MANHATTAN (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artist: Adam Hughes
• NITE OWL (4 issues) – Writer: J. Michael Straczynski. Artists: Andy and Joe Kubert
• OZYMANDIAS (6 issues) – Writer: Len Wein. Artist: Jae Lee
• SILK SPECTRE (4 issues) – Writer: Darwyn Cooke. Artist: Amanda Conner

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I’ve always loved history. Discovering what happened in the past is always a great way to make sure things go smoothly in the present and in the future. I also love comics. So, when these two things meet, you can imagine how happy that makes me.

Case in point is the new documentary about the history of DC comics called Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics. In it you get to see a whole bunch of great current and former DC artists and writers discuss the formation and history of one of the greatest media companies ever. Narrated by Ryan Reynolds, the documentary features interviews and commentary by Neal Adams, Karen Berger, Dan DiDio, Neil Gaiman, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, Dwayne McDuffie, Grant Morrison, Dennis O’Neil, Paul Pope, Louise Simonson, Mark Waid, Len Wein, and Marv Wolfman. Yes, that’s lot of amazing people.

“From the bans to the breakthroughs, from humble pulp beginnings to the literary rise of the graphic novel, the story of DC Comics holds a mirror to an ever-evolving enterprise and the society reflected in its comic book pages,” said Diane Nelson, President, DC Entertainment. “It’s a true American story – Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics is a riveting, exciting, surprising revelation of that fascinating history and the men and women who forged it.”

I’ll bet money that that’s completely true. In fact, no bet necessary, I’ll be buying this when it comes out because I know it’s going to be fascinating.

Check out the trailer for the documentary after the jump. Secret Origin arrives on DVD November 9th.

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According to our friends over at ComicMix, the official word is in that Fox has picked up the DC comics series Human Target as one of its new Fall television series. The pilot, based on the comic created by Len Wein, Carmine Infantino and Dick Giordano, was apparently the most popular one shown at Fox’s recent network screenings.

In case you’re not familiar with Human Target, it concerns bodyguard Christopher Chance, played by Mark Valley in the new show, who has a rather unique way of helping his clients: he assumes their identities and becomes the “human target” to protect them. Others in the cast include Jackie Earle Haley, recently of Watchmen and the upcoming Nightmare on Elm Street and Chi McBride from Pushing Daisies and House.

The pilot was written by Jon Steinberg and directed by Simon West of Con-Air and Lara Croft fame. Steinberg and West exec. produced the pilot along with McG, director of the upcoming Terminator: Salvation. Also according to ComicMix, this latest show continues a long streak of Len Wein’s comics work being adapted for the screen. Some of his others include Swamp Thing, Wolverine, Storm, Colossus and Lucius Fox.

Apparently, even Even Human Target has been adapted before for TV before in a 1992 series on ABC starring Rick Springfield — which only lasted seven episodes. Let’s hope this new show does a little better.