Skip to content
CGMagazine
  • News
  • ArticlesExpand
    • Buyers Guides
    • Features
    • Interviews
    • Previews
    • Spotlight
    • The Vault
  • ReviewsExpand
    • Game Reviews
    • Comic Reviews
    • Anime Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • Tabletop Reviews
    • Hardware Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV Reviews
  • Guides
  • Magazine
  • MediaExpand
    • Podcasts
    • Video
    • Sound Off
    • First Fifteen
    • Weekly Goods
    • Video Interviews
    • Video Reviews
  • Store
  • Newswire
Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
CGMagazine
Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill One-Shot 1

Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill One-Shot

  • Nicole Rodrigues Nicole Rodrigues
  • February 22, 2013
  • 2 Minute Read

Steve Rude’s art in this Dollar Bill one shot is amazing. That won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s familiar with his work, though his appearances in comics have become more and more infrequent. This is a gorgeous issue and his illustrative style suits the era of the story, the glamorous 30s and 40s. Rude’s line-work is evocative of actual comics from that time, simple but charismatically drawn characters and eye-catching colours by Glen Whitmore. Though each Before Watchmen title has an iconic look, Dollar Bill emulates the timeframe the story takes place in better than any of the others. Even if you don’t read a word in this book, it’s worth the purchase based on Steve Rude’s art.

Bill Brady, the man behind the Dollar Bill mask, had a familiar back-story for a handsome guy in the 30s/40s. Sports hero in school who got a scholarship and a shot at the big leagues until an injury killed his football career before it really started. With the help of his friends he managed to not flunk out of school but ended up with no real career options after graduation. Some failed attempts in show biz later, he responded to an ad that would change his life. He became the face of Dollar Bill, National Bank’s mascot capitalizing on the super hero trend. Never intending to really become a hero, Brady was honest from the start that the very idea terrified him.

When the Minutemen put out a call for new caped crusaders to join their team though, Dollar Bill answered the call at the behest of the men who paid him. It would be good for sales. Not really expecting to become part of the team, Brady was surprised to find out the Minutemen had room for someone that would bring them more publicity, even if he didn’t have the requisite ass kicking skills usually required. The Minutemen were heroes but also a brand, a very modern take on heroes in that era.

squaredollarbill.jpg

If you’ve read The Watchmen, you know how Dollar Bill’s story ends. If you haven’t, browse onto another part of this website before I spoil it for you.

I didn’t realize quite how young Brady was when he dies so embarrassingly after getting caught in a revolving door. Only 30 years old, he barely had a chance to do anything beyond be Dollar Bill in his life. Not that that’s a small achievement but you get the feeling that he wasn’t incredibly happy about it. It’s a sad tale of a man who starts off shilling for a bank but comes close to actually becoming a hero before his untimely death.

Overall Dollar Bill is a decent read with spectacular artwork but it doesn’t really add anything new to the Watchmen mythos. It’s ironic that it’s the book that appears to belong in the Minutemen era most but it isn’t essential reading. Still worth a look for the art alone though.

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on reddit
Nicole Rodrigues

Nicole Rodrigues

Writer. Photographer. Nerd.
All Articles

Must Read

Samsung Note 20 Ultra Review 18

Gaming on the Go: Talking Note 20 as Gaming Alternative

Samsung Reveals Galaxy S21 Lineup at Unpacked 2021 5

Samsung Reveals Galaxy S21 Lineup at Unpacked 2021

ASUS ROG Line Expands With RTX 30 Series and 11th Gen Intel CPUs 12

ASUS ROG Line Expands With RTX 30 Series and 11th Gen Intel CPUs

MORE FROM Nicole Rodrigues

An Interview with Mike Mignola 1

An Interview with Mike Mignola

Cosplay Etiquette 101 1

Cosplay Etiquette 101

Joshua Williamson On The Return Of Captain Midnight

Joshua Williamson On The Return Of Captain Midnight

Kick-Ass 3 #1 (Comic) Review 1

Kick-Ass 3 #1 (Comic) Review

CGMagazine Logo

Advertise with us
Jobs @ CGMagazine
© 2020 CGMagazine Publishing Group

Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Linkedin
Instagram
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Policies
  • Jobs
  • Contests
  • CNW News
Menu
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Policies
  • Jobs
  • Contests
  • CNW News
  • News
  • Articles
    • Buyers Guides
    • Features
    • Interviews
    • Previews
    • Spotlight
    • The Vault
  • Reviews
    • Game Reviews
    • Comic Reviews
    • Anime Reviews
    • Book Reviews
    • Tabletop Reviews
    • Hardware Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV Reviews
  • Guides
  • Magazine
  • Media
    • Podcasts
    • Video
    • Sound Off
    • First Fifteen
    • Weekly Goods
    • Video Interviews
    • Video Reviews
  • Store
  • Newswire
Search