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

Superman’s origin story is one of the most well-known stories in pop culture. Almost everyone on the street knows the basic details of his beginning. Dying planet, desperate scientists, loving farm couple, leads one to become Superman. The story has been re-told so many times, that many people prefer just to skip it.

Action Comics #5 is the DC New 52 version of his origin story, and it has all the familiar elements. Jor-El, Martha and Jonathan Kent, and even the Legion of Superheroes all make an appearance.

The exception of this re-telling is that it was written by Grant Morrison and complimented with dynamic art by Andy Kubert. This re-telling is anything, but stale. Action Comics #5 turns everything old new again by making Superman’s origin exciting, epic, and engaging.

When re-telling an old story, one can add a new element to it by simply switching the perspective of who tells the story, which is exactly what Morrison does. We get to see the origin through the eyes of a character that has never been voiced before in any version of the Superman mythos. We get to see the Superman origin through the perspective of his ship, the one that flew him to Earth.

In Morrison’s origin, Superman’s ship has A.I., and it generally cares for the young Kal-El. Its dialogue comes off as alien and machine like, but through the small paragraphs of prose, the ship expresses its duty to carry out its mission. It’s this fresh element that truly makes Krypton for the first time ever truly alien, and not just an Earth-like copy.

That’s right comic book fans, it’s that time of the week again. New comics are coming out from our friends at Marvel tomorrow and, as always, we’ve got some we’re really interested in reading.

Among the new ones coming out, we’re looking forward to Secret Warriors #27, Wolverine #9,  Secret Avengers #13, Deadpool #37 and FF #4.

As with most weeks, new comics arrive on Wednesday (that’s tomorrow!), so hit your nearest comics book store early for best selection.

Don’t know where your nearest comic store is? Use this handy guide to find one.

Comics On-Sale:
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #662
ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #6
CAPTAIN AMERICA #618
CAPTAIN AMERICA #618 X-MEN EVOLUTIONS VARIANT
DAKEN: DARK WOLVERINE #9.1
DEADPOOL #37
DISNEY*PIXAR PRESENTS: CARS
FEAR ITSELF: BOOK OF THE SKULL #1 2ND PRINTING VARIANT
FF #4
FF #4 DJURDJEVIC CHARACTER VARIANT
INCREDIBLE HULKS #629
IRON MAN 2.0 #5 (FI)
NAMOR: THE FIRST MUTANT #10
ONSLAUGHT UNLEASHED #4
ORSON SCOTT CARD’S SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD #5
POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #5

The rule is to “never say never” in the comic book world. When a writer or publisher vows that they’re killing off a character, never to bring them back, 9 out of 10 times they end up resurrecting him. Same goes for storyline stunts.

Back in 1996, in a ploy to pull themselves up from bankruptcy, Marvel revealed a new cross-universe villain called Onslaught, created by Mark Waid, Andy Kubert, and Scott Lobdell. The books were filled with continuity holes and plot devices meant to engage even the most causal reader. The end result left a bunch of fans alienated, and hardly any newcomers to show for the work.

Now, with the help of Heroes Reborn artist Rob Liefeld, Onslaught Unleashed is making it’s way to shelves this February, with a brand new storyline that takes place in an alternate universe, and promises not to “shake things up” with the normal universe like the last one.

In getting ready for the release, Marvel has unveiled two new variant covers for the book, by Liefeld himself. Check out the full sized covers after the jump, and be sure to pick up Onslaught Unleashed on shelves this February.