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" In the latest of Digital Spy&amp;#039;s comprehensive series of reviews of DC Comics&amp;#039; Before Watchmen prequels, we take a look at Comedian #1. Who&amp;#039;s it by? Before Watchmen: Comedian #1 is written by Brian Azzarello and illustrated by JG Jones. The Curse of the Crimson Corsair back-up is written by Len Wein and drawn by original series colourist John Higgins.  What&amp;#039;s the story so far? The Comedian, AKA Eddie Blake, is a key player in the original Watchmen series. His death at the beginning of the story kick-starts the events that follow, and the flashback sequences he features in are equally important for shaping the plot. Blake sits on the threshold between anti-hero and all-out villain. He&amp;#039;s a sociopath with a smart mouth and a shady past, who shoots first and asks questions later. These qualities helped cement his reputation as a fan-favourite and an essential addition to the cast.  What happens? Comedian in steeped in American history, taking place in an alternate version of the 1960s where Eddie Blake is the best of friends with the Kennedys. They aren&amp;#039;t the only historic figures to show up. The Comedian also crosses paths with Marilyn Monroe later on, and the result is... interesting. Towards the end of the first chapter, the FBI recruit Blake to foil the plans of Moloch the Mystic, but he gets more than he bargained for on the mission. The issue closes by confirming where the Comedian really was on the day of the Kennedy assassination.  What&amp;#039;s the verdict? Comedian is one of the riskiest undertakings of the Before Watchmen project given the character&amp;#039;s fan-favourite status and his mysterious nature; and sadly, the early signs aren&amp;#039;t positive. We all know Eddie Blake has a shadowy past, and Alan Moore gives away just enough in the original Watchmen to maintain an air of mystery and ambiguity. As competent as Brian Azzarello&amp;#039;s script is, it feels as though he is compromising the essence of the character by revealing more. Comedian #1 is about as subtle as a punch to the face, and this works in its favour at times. Blake&amp;#039;s decision to drive a car through the wall of a building he is supposed to be infiltrating sums up the character&amp;#039;s impulsive and borderline-psychotic nature, but it&amp;#039;s a shame some of the intrigue is offered up for slaughter. Putting this issue aside for a moment, there are the makings of an interesting story here. The government&amp;#039;s role in the Kennedy assassination and its implications for Blake&amp;#039;s life and work are a solid platform to build on, and we&amp;#039;re curious to see where the creative team takes it from here. JG Jones&amp;#039;s artwork is a mixed bag. There&amp;#039;s no doubt that the man is highly skilled, but there&amp;#039;s little to get excited about here, besides a superb cover illustration. Many of the panels appear dull and lifeless, and the Kennedys have been drawn like caricatures better suited to the pages of MAD magazine. In summary, Comedian is running the risk of exemplifying why so many fans were opposed to Before Watchmen in the first place. By revealing unnecessary details of a character already well fleshed out, you&amp;#039;re only diluting and compromising the mystery and ambiguity that made the original a classic.   &amp;gt; Buy the digital version of Comedian #1 &amp;gt; Read our review of Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1 Watch a trailer for Before Watchmen below:      "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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