The best budget entry points for Watchmen: the complete 12-issue series is between €60-120 depending on the state, and individual issues #2-12 are regularly under €10 each. Only #1 often exceeds €20. The series Before Watchmen (2012) and Doomsday Clock are even more accessible.
Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (1986-1987) is unanimously considered one of the greatest comics ever written. Limited to 12 issues, it is one of the easiest series for a collector to complete, and contrary to what one might believe for such a prestigious work, the prices remain reasonable.
The reason is simple: Watchmen sold massively upon its publication and has been reprinted in TPB ever since. Single issue collectors are therefore a niche market, which keeps prices contained for the 1986-87 originals. A godsend for anyone who wants to own this major work in singles.
Affordable Watchmen key issues
With only 12 issues, each issue of Watchmen is a key issue of sorts. #1 is the most requested (first appearance of all the characters), but the others remain very accessible individually.
Indicative prices per number (mid-grade)
- Watchmen #1 (first appearance Rorschach, Dr. Manhattan, etc.): €20-40
- Watchmen #2-11: €5-12 each depending on condition
- Watchmen #12 (conclusion): 8-15 €
- Complete series #1-12: €60-120 depending on the condition, often sold in batches
Check out our complete guide to Watchmen key issues for the detailed analysis of each issue and its collection characteristics.
Underrated spin-off series
The Watchmen universe expanded with Before Watchmen (2012, 37 issues in 8 miniseries) and Doomsday Clock (2017-2019, 12 issues). These expansions divide fans but offer remarkable budget opportunities.
Before Watchmen (2012)
- Before Watchmen: Minutemen (6 issues, Darwyn Cooke): complete series €10-18
- Before Watchmen: Rorschach (4 issues): complete series €8-12
- Before Watchmen: Comedian (6 issues): complete series €8-12
- Before Watchmen Complete Collection (37 issues): €40-70
Doomsday Clock (2017-2019)
- Doomsday Clock #1-12: complete series €25-45, with Gary Frank drawing
- Doomsday Clock #1 (lenticular cover): €5-10
Where to find Watchmen cheap in France
Watchmen being a short and prestigious series, copies regularly appear on the market when collectors resell. Patience is your best ally.
- eBay.fr and eBay.com: complete series #1-12 regularly listed
- Agreements: DC specialty sellers often have Watchmen runs
- Facebook Groups: resales of collections with Watchmen included in batches
- Specialty stores: often on display, negotiable if in stock for a long time
Budget strategy for Watchmen
With only 12 numbers, the strategy is simple: look for the entire set rather than buying individually. The price difference is often significant in your favor.
Advice : A complete lot #1-12 in VF/NM condition costs €80-120, the equivalent of 4-5 new TPB. In mid-grade (VG/FN), count on €50-80. If you find a lot without #1, grab it: #2-12 in lots sometimes sell for under €40, and you can add #1 separately afterwards.
Notable editions and variants under €20
- Watchmen #1 (later reprints): €5-10 for non-first print editions
- Doomsday Clock #12 (conclusion, variant cover): €5-10
- Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan #1 (variant cover): €4-8
- Rorschach #1 (2020, Tom King): €4-8
- Rorschach #1-12 (2020-2021): complete series €25-40
Tom King and Jorge Fornes' Rorschach Series (2020) is a remarkable detective noir that's still easily found under $40 complete: an ideal addition to your Watchmen collection.
12 numbers, zero forgetting
Even a set of 12 numbers can have holes if you buy in installments. My Comics Collection confirms at a glance that your Watchmen is complete.
🚀 Free trial 7 days, No obligationIn what order to buy Watchmen and its follow-ups
On a tight budget, the order of your purchases matters almost as much as the prices. Watchmen lends itself well to a three-step approach, from the essentials to the extras.
Step 1: the original 1986-1987 series
The 12 issues by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons form a single whole: each chapter builds on the previous one and ends with supplementary texts. Aim for a complete lot rather than scattered issues. Before paying, check that they are genuine 1986-1987 originals: a reprint carries a gold or silver banner stating the printing number, whereas a first print shows no "printing" mention at all.
Step 2: the 2012 prequels
Before Watchmen runs to 37 issues spread across 8 mini-series. Start with the short, clearly defined ones: Minutemen (6 issues, drawn by Darwyn Cooke), Comedian (6 issues) and Rorschach (4 issues). Since the mini-series are not all the same length, count the issues in a lot before buying: that is how a gap in the middle of a series gets discovered too late.
Step 3: the late sequels
Doomsday Clock (2017-2019, 12 issues, with Gary Frank on art) and the Rorschach series by Tom King and Jorge Fornes (2020-2021) come last. These series divide fans of the original, but they round out a Watchmen shelf nicely and are easy to complete, especially if you hunt for them as a lot.
Three points to watch
- Mixing up reprints and originals. Watchmen has been reprinted in trade paperback continuously since it came out: a collected edition does not replace the 12 original singles, and the reverse is true if you simply want to read it.
- Buying a lot without issue #1. This is a good deal as long as you look for #1 separately afterwards, making sure it is a first print.
- Mixing variant covers into the run. Variant covers of Before Watchmen or Doomsday Clock are objects in their own right: log them separately in your tracking so you do not think a run is complete when it is not.
A short series remains the best school for learning to collect: few issues to track, a clear checklist, and the satisfaction of ticking the "complete" box.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, for issues #2 to #12 as well as for the spin-off series. Watchmen sold in huge numbers from 1986 and has been reprinted in trade paperback ever since, which leaves the originals in a niche market and keeps prices contained.
Issue #1, because it features the first appearance of all the characters, including Rorschach and Dr. Manhattan. It is the only issue that regularly stands out from the rest of the series in value.
Look for the complete lot of #1 to #12: the price difference often works in your favour. If the lot lacks #1, it can be negotiated lower, and you can add #1 separately afterwards.
They divide fans, but they offer remarkable budget entry points. Before Watchmen runs to 37 issues in 8 mini-series, and Doomsday Clock has 12 issues drawn by Gary Frank.
Look for the printing number on the cover: reprints often carry a gold or silver banner. A first print shows no "printing" mention, which makes it a simple thing to check.