Zack Snyder's animated Watchmen story Tales of the Black Freighter will appear in shops immediately after the main Watchmen movie premieres next year.

The DVD of Tales of the Black Freighter will include a documentary-style film that delves into the various characters' back stories. The New York Times reveals that the Watchmen movie and the Black Freighter material will eventually be edited together into an "ultimate edition".

Warner Brothers also plan to release a panel by panel slide show of the original Watchmen graphic novel on the internet, divided into a dozen 22-26 minute webisodes, narrated by an actor. The Watchmen Motion Comic is designed to make Alan Moore's complex story easier for newcomers to understand.

Watchmen creator Alan Moore revealed earlier this year that he has negotiated to have his name taken off the movie.