Watchmen

Rating:
Summary: Probably the greatest graphic novel ever written
Review: Alan Moore was the first to push the envelope of realism (well as real comicbook superheroes can get anyway) and gave his characters depth that no mainstream characters have ever received. For example, we have Rorschach, a hero gone mad after dealing with criminals for so many years that he himself uses criminal means to achieve his ends. We have the Comedian who strikes me as a more realistic Captain America as he is ultranationalistic and very, very Republican and gung-ho about America. There is Ozymandius, the world's smartest man (or so his p.r. people tell Americans), who has shaped his mind and body and greatly resembles Jay Gatsby from the Great Gatsby because like Jay, Ozymandius is a self-made man, but is also a dreamer who feels linked to two people in history he greatly admires because they sought to "unite" the world, Alexander the Great and Ramses II (or as he is known in Greek, Ozymandius). There's Dr. Manhattan, the only superpowered character in Watchmen and for that reason finds himself unable to relate to humanity over time and contemplates things that only gods could comprehend. Moore injects politics as we see flashbacks of the Comedian in World War II and Vietnam and Dr. Manhattan's origins are explored and we learn why he has an obsession with clocks.

The public is not forgotten either and Moore includes well thought out articles about heroes and contemporary events at the end of each issue (Watchmen was originally a 12 issue "maxiseries"). We get to see old and retired heroes reflect with a touch of sadness at the good old days when they were out saving the world. We see criminals trying to leave their past behind and deal with everyday worries. This graphic novel has twists and turns that will surprise you. Alan Moore, as always, attempts to touch upon every subject and Dave Gibbons is the perfect artist to be teamed with Moore (they also did an excellent Superman story in an annual in 1980s) as the detail in the backgrounds can be stared at for hours. It's a vivid and complete world and one that doesn't feel dated like so many comicbook tales do over time. This one's an immortal classic and worth owning in hardcover format.

Rating:
Summary: outstanding
Review: a wonderful read, with wonderful writing, smooth, creative storytelling, & some very shocking moments.

Rating:
Summary: "...a multilayered epic sporting a fantastic script..."
Review: I just recently got into graphic novels, but so far have read books from the SANDMAN series, The MAUS books, and of course, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS. Needless to say, I've been sucked into the genre by these amazing stories, and I'm simply going down the list of highly acclaimed cult classics. Of course, when I got to WATCHMEN, I was skeptical. I'd heard of Batman and Sandman, but who the Watchmen? Sounded kind of obscure, and fraknly, a bit phony. Of course, after reading countless positive reviews claiming this book to be one of the absolute best in the history of comic literature, I had to pick it up. Right off the bat, I could tell there was something special about this one, which maybe wasn't so noticeable in the others I'd read.

The story starts out simple enough, with the murder of a "superhero," called The Comedian. He was evidently a member of a team, but only one of his former comrades, Rorschach seems to care about his death in the slightest. The others all remember him as a bad, immoral man, and therefore, a terrible hero. At first, you'll be wondering why the others don't grieve for him as Rorschach does, but as you see what foul deeds he committed, you'll start arguing the other way. Why is it that Rorschach is scouring the streets, searching for clues as to who may have killed The Comedian? Why is Rorschach the only one who cares about the ex-superhero's falling?

In this book, much like in THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, superheroes are not seen simply as idols and virtual gods through the eyes of the public. They're seen as a rebellious vigilante who disregard the police and take matters into their own hands. This is the story of an alternate 1985 where the world is rapidly turning into a hell which humans are creating for themselves, where superheroes struggling for internal-order are hated and ridiculed for their valiant actions. The superheroes themselves aren't all that important here--they simply represent the steriotypical masked figures in tights; a group of "normal" citizens fighting to change matters which may very well be out of their control. Alan Moore masterfully creates a multilayered epic sporting a fantastic script, filled with controversial dialogue and an interesting plot which changes the way people think about superheroes and comic books in general.

Rorschach's search for truth, along with the reader's search for explanation is explored through a series of flashbacks, side-stories and subplots. The 417 page graphic novel is split into 12 chapters, each with little tidbits in-between, providing some interesting background information on the characters. WATCHMEN is kind of a mini-series of comic-books, and was entirely original. The characters had never appeared in any other comic before, and never appeared in another again. When compared to THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, I say that WATCHMEN is slightly superior. While THE DARK KNIGHT was an exciting and moving tale of Batman's aging and eventual returning to the superhero life, where he was needed most, it was very short (about half the length of WATCHMEN) and left open ends, which were covered in some not-as-good sequels. WATCHMEN is simply a great solo-story which requires no background information or further reading, and boasts a strong, recurring theme: "Who watches the watchmen?" Compared to other graphic novels, ranging mainly from 100-200 pages, WATCHMEN is significantly longer, not only giving you more of a bang for your buck, but increasing the amount of pleasure you'll experience from reading this book.

My only real gripe about this book is to do with the art. Don't get me wrong--It's amazing stuff, filled with vivid colors that you wouldn't expect to see in such a dark story--but the action sequences leave something to be desired. Compared to THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, filled with tons of cool blurs, lines and other cinematic goodies you'd expect to make a comic book feel more animated, WATCHMEN is severely lacking in that department. If you try to see the book as a cartoon, like many of us do, it will look like a poorly animated one. Or, simply a series of stills, which is what a comic book is, but almost all comics successfully create the illusion of animation and movement within their pages. Nevertheless, the art is still amazing to look at, it will just require more imagination to see the characters moving.

If I were you, I wouldn't read any other reviews or check any futher into this great graphic novel. If you do, you might back out, thinking that it sounds too corny or not your type of book. Some people are turned off by the whole superhero idea, but Watchmen basically handles it in the most intimate and unconventional manner, bringing a whole new light to those imaginary masked-defenders of the Earth. If you enjoyed THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, this should be right up your alley, delivering more of what the former excelled in. If you aren't into comic books, then you should probably just head over to your nearest book store and read the first 10 pages or whatever. Chances are, you'll find that you love this and then you can buy it on the spot.

Rating:
Summary: The ESSENTIAL work of graphic literature
Review: Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen cements forever the important role comics play in the field of literature. But having said that, Watchmen is much more. It is like reading a great book, watching a great movie, and studying great illustration all at once. To say it is the best comic ever written is missing the point: it is the ESSENTIAL comic. It is about why comics even exist, the purpose of their existence, and how that reflects upon our society - hell, on our world.

The only trouble with Watchmen is, Alan Moore set such an impossibly high standard for himself, he could never live up to it again, as richly satisfying as almost all of his work is. Everything following Watchmen is just icing on the cake.

Rating:
Summary: Lightyears beyond The Dark Knight Returns
Review: Watchmen is one of those comics that is so well written that you just forget about the occassional flaw or gimmick that comes along from time to time. I don't know what the fuss was about with The Dark Knight Returns because this one just plain blows it out of the water. It juggles numerous side stories but all of them are somehow interconnected and the missing pieces fall together in the end. The characters are incredible and well-developed. When one of them bit the dust in a later issue I felt a pang of emotion (and I don't have much). Honestly this proves all the naysayers wrong who think comics [are bad] because it goes beyond all that. It's utter perfection if not better.

Rating:
Summary: "NOTHING ends, Adrian. Nothing EVER ends."
Review: Ah, Watchmen. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

1) The quality of the writing here is astonishing. I mean, all false modesty aside: I've read the New Testament, Shakespeare, Joyce, Toni Morrison - you name it. Alan Moore's writing is at that level. Seriously.

2) The artwork is incredibly beautiful. Dave Gibbons works squarely in the tradition of such comics greats as Wallace Wood and Bill Elder, but takes their work to a whole new level of symbolic complexity. Just the draftsmanship here will take your breath away.

3) The sense of cinema Moore and Gibbons bring to the work is beguiling. One almost has to look to films like Citizen Kane and Touch Of Evil (and novels like Ulysses and The Sound And The Fury) to find an analogy to the enormity of their accomplishment in this medium.

4) The juxtapositions of words and pictures are wonderful. Moore and Gibbons are constantly playing text off illustration (and vice versa) to often stunning, often hilarious effect.

5) "Marooned", the comics-story-within-a-comics-story in Chapters III through XI, is one of the most harrowing things I've ever read in my life.

6) I love the way the story, like Joyce's Finnegan's Wake, ends up where it begins. As Manhattan finally says to Ozymandias, "'In the end'? NOTHING ends, Adrian. Nothing EVER ends."

Rating:
Summary: Overated, but still great
Review: While Watchmen's reputation as the pinnacle of the art form is grossly exaggerated, it puts forth a powerful argument in favor of the literary potential of comic books. Dave Gibbons' artwork is brilliant in its clarity. The subtly of each characters gestures and movements should serve as a lesson to the popular school of comic artists who favor crude visceral bursts of color and speed lines. You will have to re-read Watchmen again and again, just to catch all the detail in Alan Moore's meticulously crafted script. Unfortunately, it has the occasional air of self-importance. Some bits of supposed symbolism are puny, little more than puns or double entendres. Still, this is a fairly minor fault to one of the most ambitious modern comic series that is well worth its price.

Rating:
Summary: The Daddy
Review: Pilgrimage (which my dictionary defines as a journey to a shrine or sacred place as an act of devotion, in order to acquire spiritual merit, or as part of a process of self-discovery) can take many forms.

The Egyptians, for instance, journeyed to Sekket's shrine at Bubastis or to Ammon's oracle at Thebes; the Greeks sought for counsel from Apollo at Delphi and for cures from Asclepius at Epidaurus; the Mexicans gathered at the huge temple of Quetzal; the Peruvians massed in sun-worship at Cuzco and the Bolivians in Titicaca. Huge gatherings of people intermittently all the year round venerate Kapilavastu where Gaukama Buddha began his life, Benares where he opened his sacred mission, Kasinagara where he died; and Mecca and Medina have become almost bywords in English as the goals of long aspirations, so famous are they for their connexion with the prophet of Islam.

Me? I just re-read Watchmen.

Okay, I don't have to walk as far as regular pilgrims do (the distance from my chair to my bookshelf), but the act is at least as holy, I am at least as devout. Watchmen is my shrine or sacred place. Reading Watchmen is my act of devotion. Through Watchmen I acquire spiritual merit (at least in my own eyes). Reading Watchmen is part of my process of self-discovery.

If you know Watchmen, you'll understand why I feel the way I do.

If you don't (if you've been worshipping the sun at Cuzco, for instance, or the Gaukama Buddha at Kapilavastu), it's probably best if we start at the beginning.

It is 1985, and we live in a world that has known superheroes for thirty years or more. Years ago, the public loved them, years ago when superheroes meant Minutemen. But that was a long time ago. Now there's legislation. Superheroes aren't something that the Government want to encourage. That's why the Watchmen had to disband. And yet it seems that disbanding isn't enough for some people because some people - who we don't know - want the Watchmen dead . . . Rorshach (who is sort of a skinny Philip Seymour Hoffman playing Judge Dredd as Ignatius T Reilly), who is probably the finest invention within a graphic novel ever (far outstripping Miller's Dark Knight and Morrison's Invisibles and Gaiman's Sandman and anybody else you'd care to mention), is on the case but whether he'll be able to find out who the perp is before the world ends . . . That's another matter altogether . . .

The use of TV, the various clocks that appear throughout (with the minute finger edging ever closer to the white nuclear midnight), the character of Rorshach (you keep coming back to that), the ketchup-streaked smiley face, the white frames, the colour, the pirate ship, the horror (the horror) . . . I could go on (and would at the least invitation). Watchmen is the first word in graphic novels, the first word. If there was a word that could somehow suggest something was MORE than essential, that would be the word I would say to you now (and the word would trigger a Manchurian Candidate-style response from you, such that you rise from your seat and don't stop until you hold in your hands a copy of Watchmen).

This is the Daddy.

Rating:
Summary: The First "Comic" I Ever Read... and WOW!
Review: It is hard to describe how good Watchmen is. It is important not ignore Watchmen because it is a comic. Watchmen is a great mystery thriller, analytical read, political commentator, and comic satire(even though I don't evactly know what is saying here) all in one. Watchmen is character driven with a rock solid plot, the entire story relates back to one, insignificant seeming, scene, which is brilliant.

The use of graphic novel as a medium helps to express the multi-layered story. After reading Watchmen, I realize that comics can portray more action, speech, narration, and characters thoughts than books, movies or any other medium. The use of the Pirate Comic as commentary and comparison is excellent.

I can't understate how heavy and moving the story is. I reflected on my entire life and beliefs after reading Watchmen, like The Matrix or American Beauty, but more heavyhanded(almost to a Fountainhead point). I only hope I can find other comics as entertaining.

If you have never read comics, start here. Watchmen has "superheroes" as characters, but not really a traditional superhero book, like Batman: Year One, which I am reading now. By the way, Rorschach and the Comic are my favorite.

I am a reasonably well read peson, who likes a good story, but longs for substance, this book gave me both. Watchmen is a must read!

Rating:
Summary: The Comedian is Dead, but not Forgotten
Review: Long before "Kingdom Come" meditated on a world without heroes, around the same time as Frank Miller's "Dark Knight" returned, and executed more forcefully than the "X-Men"'s story of Sentinels and Mutant Registration Acts, Alan Moore & company asked "Who watches the Watchmen?"

Set in a world where heroes and vigilante justice have run their course, and the last era of superheroes are living out their days quietly with their own ghosts, "Watchmen" is an amazing piece of literature and comic book artistry. The series itself, twelve issues now commonly packaged in one booklet, is sprung from the golden age of graphic novels - the 1980's, where graphic novels told stories and presented images where normal comics, movies, and televison shows feared to tread. Perhaps most importantly, the themes of the story ring as true today as they did then, and the emotionally-invested reader will perhaps see themselves in the everyday characters talking sports and entertainment as the newspaper headlines blare klaxons of war and pending doom. Society entrusts its safety to a greater body politic, but who watches the watchmen and what is the price paid for handing over the responsibilities of self-defense and indulging in a comfortable apathy?

These are the driving themes behind "Watchmen", a graphic novel so stunningly well-written and well-drawn that I do not hesitate to recommend it to even the most ardant skeptics who look upon comics with disdain, never thinking to read anything remotely associated with them. "Watchmen" represents the perfect synergy between the use of pictures, the potency of the written word, and the sublime power of symolism that drives artists wielding either brush or pen to record their art permanently on canvas or paper. A worthy investment that stands tall amongst the great literary works of the latter part of the 20th century.