Watchmen

Posted by Joshua S. Hill

October 17, 2007

Thought I’d spend a moment to touch on the trade comic Watchmen. It’s gone down in history as one of two of the best and biggest comic releases ever, along with Batman the Dark Knight. I am only recently getting back in to comics (the past 2 years) and I’m a super-hero fan. But, I thought I would try out Watchmen to see how it went…

Well, I’m loving it. I love the juxtaposition of using the stereotypical comic style mixed with biographical pages.

The story is really well done as well, especially for a fan of the Cold-War era stuff. I also love the alternative timeline thing that Alan Moore has going on.

I’m only halfway through chapter 4 at the moment, and it really is good! I’m a bit worried as to how they’re going to portray Dr. Manhattan in the movie Zack Snyder is directing. Seems to me to be too much of a comic character, a bit like the Martian Manhunter out of the Justice League. Just a bit too ethereal to make it properly on to the big screen. But, I haven’t seen the end of the book, let alone the movie, so I won’t complain just yet.

I really love Rorschach’s character, mainly because I identify a little with him. The whole “I don’t care what you think” attitude is something I like to take to heart. I am waiting for him to come back in to the storyline, as it seems to be doing a bit of an expository look at various characters, ie, Dr. Manhattan.

But there is no doubt about the storyline, and the masterpiece that I am reading. On the front cover of this trade it is named as “One of Time Magazine’s 100 Best Novels” and, being a massive reader as some of you will know, I am willing to begrudge it a place in that list.

Gibbons - who is the illustrator and letterer - does a really good job too of capturing the authors mood in the strips. There is no overt nudity, despite a few sex scenes to keep the lustful happy, and the fight scenes so far have been really pleasing.

I won’t get in to much more right now, as I haven’t finished the whole thing, and know that more awaits. However, I will try and write more about it at some point as I get further in.

Also, I’m hoping to make a bit of a habit of reviewing books and trades here, so I hoe that you enjoy. Please comment, I love to see the discussions play out beneath each post.

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