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DC recruits Frank Quitely, Chris Bachlo, Nicola Scott & more for Watchmen 40th anniversary festivities
DC is celebrating Watchmen’s 40th anniversary with something Alan Moore famously isn’t fond of: Nostalgia.
NewsbyChris Arrant, Editor-in-Chief
Published on Mon Aug 24 2026
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DC Comics has unveiled the next stage in its celebratory plans for the 40th anniversary of Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. DC has commissioned 10 artists to create new Watchmen illustrations, to be used as variant covers to its flagship DCU titles such as Batman and Action Comics over the course of November 2026.
Artists such as Frank Quitely, Nicola Scott, Mikel Janín, Chris Bachalo and more will be illustrating their renditions of the Gibbons-designed heroes and villains. Here is a list of each variant cover, and when they’re currently scheduled to be available in your comic shop:
- November 4: Batman #15 variant by Frank Quitely
- November 11: Action Comics #1104 variant by Mahmud Asrar
- November 11: Supergirl #19 by Gerald Parel
- November 11: Legion of Super-Heroes #3 variant by Rafael Grampá
- November 11: Emperor Aquaman #23 variant by Mikel Janín
- November 18: Wonder Woman #39 variant by Jorge Fornes
- November 18: Detective Comics #1115 variant by Dan Mora
- November 18: Nightwing #144 variant by Nicola Scott
- November 25: Superman #44 variant by Chris Bachalo
- November 25: Justice League Unlimited #25 variant by Clay Mann
These 40th Anniversary Watchmen variant covers join the previously-announced plans to do a near-identical reprint of all 12 issues of Watchmen (ads and all!) in the popular facsimile format, beginning in September 2026.
DC is also providing a new variant edition of the Watchmen: Deluxe Edition, using artwork from the recent animated movie adaptation, for Local Comic Shop Day, which is on September 26. This new edition will come with a code for a free digital copy of the movie as well.
DC have oft celebrated the anniversaries of Watchmen. On the 25th anniversary, it developed the Before Watchmen prequels. On the 30th anniversary of Watchmen’s ending, it produced a sequel tying it into the DCU with Doomsday Clock. On the occasion of this 40th anniversary, however, DC appears to be thinking new Watchmen comics aren’t the best way to celebrate Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ work. Rather, reprints and new covers are the way.
DC’s Watchmen ending explained: Inside the original comic book and how it compares to the movie’s finale.
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Chris Arrant: Chris Arrant is the Popverse’s Editor-in-Chief. He has written about pop culture for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher’s Weekly, Marvel, Newsarama, CBR, and more. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. (He/him)
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