Watchmen

Rating:
Summary: Watchmen-- Swell to the Max.
Review: If you are a fan of the comic medium- buy this book. Hell, even if you aren't, you should buy it anyway! (What is a comic but a book with pictures? And don't we all like pictures?)

Moore's THE WATCHMEN takes the comic book medium to a new level. Superheros are usually one dimensional-- a guy who throws on a suit and fights for truth, justice and the American way. (Woo hoo.) In Moore's world, however, we are presented with a group of fully developed, well rounded heroes-- we learn why they became heroes-- and it isn't just because they like the tights. In one book, twelve comic book issues packaged togethor, Moore develops his characters with more depth than any superhero before them-- and the truth is shocking.

Definately the graphic novel that reads like a book, and an overall exciting read. Something that needs to be digested over numerous readings. (When is the last time you said that about X-Force?)

Don't take my word for it, just buy the damn thing.

Rating:
Summary: brilliant gateway into the world of graphic novels
Review: Alan Moore's WATCHMEN is a brilliant piece of art and literature. For anyone who percieves artwork incorporated with text as merely a "comic" is unfortunately missing out on a world of incredible insight, meaning, depth, and fascination. If you've stumbled across THE WATCHMEN, and happen to read this review, I implore you to buy it and read it with an open mind. You will be a changed human being. And, once you have warmed to the fire of this art, move on to The Sandman and Preacher. It gets better.

Rating:
Summary: Superheroes grow up.
Review: There had been other comics that were designed for mature readers, but Watchmen changed the face of comics forever. Alan Moore originally wanted to use the Charlton heroes (The Question, Blue Beetle Captain Atom) for this series, but when DC saw what was going to be done with the characters they told Moore to make up his own. This dark look at superheroes in a relatively realistic setting creates images and ideas that were new to the medium. It seemed that Moore had decided that comics should grow up, so he used shock therapy to make it happen. The story line of heroes being murdered, which eventually builds to an end of the world scenario, was not totally new but the execution of it was. With Dave Gibbon's clear, concise art and panel placement and Moore's imaginative plotting, the book worked its way to the only ending that was true to its theme, but that ending was gut wrenching nonetheless.

Rating:
Summary: A good example of what comic books can be
Review: For myself, I'd probably stick _Watchmen_ somewhere between 4 and 5 stars. For casual readers who are not as well-versed in comic books, however, I give this book a 4. This is a good work, and I won't say "for a comic book," because it has to be understood that just as cinema does something that novels aren't expected to, so do comic books. There are several media for entertainment, and the comic book or "graphic novel" is one of these.

Anyhow, this is one of the better comic books that I've read. I think it would probably entertain most people (though I must say, it is not for children) who could bring themselves to lay aside their intellectual snobbery and pick up a comic book for once. It's also pretty well-laden with underlying visual repetitions and symbolism, as the various "Annotated Watchmen" sites on the internet attest. I'd say at best it's a good yarn, and at times even quite emotional, and at worst it can degenerate into something a bit melodramatic and full of itself. And again, it's a mature story--the comic book trappings belie some of its (for better or worse) somewhat objectionable content. Yet the worst moments are few, and the best are good enough that they far more than overbalance the bad ones. I'd say that the net result is a good one...if you're a serious comic book fan, you should read this. If you want to know what the genre can do, you should read this. If you're just looking for a good story that you don't mind receiving in comic book form, you'd do well to give this a try.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I bought this book, and i didn't put it down until it was done, it was incredible, worth every penny and probably a whole lot more, art is awesome, and Alan Moore's writing style is, unique, for lack of a better term, if you want an amazing read, this is the title for you.

Rating:
Summary: Watchmen Review From Emperor Marcus
Review: Some might "Watchmen," written by comics god Alan Moore, a bible in the field of graphic novels. These people, myself included are absolutely right. This book has it all: politicial satire, classic science fiction themes, and a thought provoking message. "Watchmen" is a book that really makes you think and after just a few pages, you're completely sucked in. I should know, I was the same way. Please do yourself a favor and pick up "Watchmen" today.

Rating:
Summary: Arguably the greatest comic story ever told
Review: Alan Moore and David Gibbons tale of disfunctional superheroes is one of my personal favorite comic stories of all time. The book is awesome, from the cinematic art, to Moore's superb dialouge and story telling. The inter-chapters are very interesting and give some nice background information. The comic book inside the comic is a nice touch, but drags on in the middle. I have only a few complaints about this, one is the pacing. 12 issues was a bit long, I got bored with it about half way through the chapter about Dr. Manhanttan, but it did pick up with the Rorshach in jail part. Like Moore's other large trade paper back From Hell, it draged a bit. The art is very functional and works well. I would compare it to Steve Dillons stuff on Preacher, it doesn't blow you away, but it does serve it's purpose. Overall, this is one of those must have trades, along with Moore's American counterpart Frank Millers The Dark Knight Returns, and Millers earlier Daredevil work.

Rating:
Summary: One to read and reread and reread
Review: Watchmen is often considered the comic book series which brought literary elements such as symbolism, heavy characterization and a basis drawn as much from the author's imagination as the last decade's issues of Time to what is thought as a kid's genre. I have not read comics since I was a kid and I loved the gritty series. Masked vigilantes have guarded high crime areas since the 1930s. Banned in 1977, they withered away or submitted to government supervision with the exception of the violent terror of the underworld, the outlawed Rorschach. It is 1985, the Comedian has been thrown from a building, nuclear superman Dr. Manhattan has been publicly disgraced inspiringm him to leave the planet, Ozzymandias has been shot at and only Rorschach sees an important pattern. But the main plot is just a vehicle to link the individual, flashback filled portrayals of masked heroes in the real world. They interact with actual occurrences as the notorious murder of Kitty Genovese inspired Rorschach to leave his menial job for vigilantism and the appearance of Dr. Manhattan put America in the lead of its nuclear arms race against Russia. They do not always do what is right as the madness of Vietnam inspired the Comedian to gun down a pregnant woman and anyone whose political believes include due process and anti-capital punishment sentiments despises the infamous Rorschach. They symbolize different things as the crime fighter, Ozzymandias turned philanthropist and renaissance man, Adrian Veidt spews Peale-style philosophy and the cold, withdrawn, omnipotent Dr. Manhattan considers if he is to help mankind of loom over it, symbolizing science in the nuclear age. I enjoyed the sharp differences between the characters' philosophies despite being compelled to do the same strange thing for the same goals. Rorschach beats a lowlife criminal timid, thinking "New York is dying of rabies. All I can do is wipe random flakes of foam from its lips." Veidt, in turn quit crime fighting because crime is "a symptom of the overall sickness of the human spirit. I don't believe you can cure a disease by suppressing its symptoms." Moore's sharp writing and ability to create atmosphere are at best as strong personalities filled with underlining clash. In one scene Veidt, the world's strongest Maslow-believer is turned against Dr. Manhattan, "the walking H-bomb." "I've walked across the sun. I've seen events so small they can barely se said to have occurred at all but you are a man and the world's smartest man means nothing more to me than the world's smartest termite," Manhattan sneers. It is confrontations like this that make this one of Moore's many masterpieces. The book features personalities and circumstance as colorful as the names and costumes of its characters.

Rating:
Summary: Not what it seems
Review: Praise is like a double edge sword. Sure, it makes people aware of a book and broadens its potential audience. However, it can also raise lofty goals and if it fails to reach it, well...it can get messy. When I came back into comics, I heard this name oer and over and over again. So, I was inclined to find out why this was a buzz amongst comic readers. So, before leaving for home, I found it..and read it..and was left rather empty. Sure, it has it moments. The ending is rather nice and certain moments makes this book wondeerful. In the end, it just falters in my opinion. It tries to weave so many storylines together and after a while, I was lost (meaning I had to read it over...and over again) and just lost interest. But, for its innovations it brought, I suggest people give it a read.

Rating:
Summary: the most overrated book since finnegans wake
Review: The praise comic book types heap on this thing is predictable; the fact that some academics fall for this third-rate sci-fi garbage is a little surprising. Moore does't know anything about any of the things he tries to write about, from physics to criminology to psychology; and he dresses all his bad ideas up in a topheavy, convoluted plotline about super-heroes who themselves are dressed up in skintight suits and chasing similarly-clad bad guys. This is genre junk of the lowest order, redeemed only by the workmanlike art by Dave Gibbons; it has a remarkable level of useless detail that is very interesting. Which is more than one can say of Moore's similar minutia in the story.