What a cool graphic novel we have here. I mean seriously, it's good, REALLY GOOD! In the words of Neal Patrick Harris, it's Legendary! Now, with this ranting, I realize that everyone knows this. Everyone who has read the Watchmen has agreed that is one of the best graphic novels that they have ever read (including members of my family, though that is a bit misleading because this is technically the only graphic novel anyone in my family has ever read). I also know that this has nothing to do with the Avengers, but I had to get this kind of excitement off my chest.I read this book because I saw the trailer for the movie and thought it looked trippy and colorful (saw it before The Dark Knight like the entire world). It was a curious trailer, a tantilizing trailer that made me want more. Before seeing this glimpse of the movie, I had settled down to a friendly game of cards and heard that the Watchmen was considered one of the best graphic novels ever written. I didn't really think about it until I saw the trailer and it perked my interest. So I hastily bought the book (which was really hard to find) using money that was going to go towards back-to-school clothes. I guess having no new clothes is the price I will have to pay, but at least I will be able to spread the Watchmen gospel.
In case you are not part of the comic world, Watchmen is written by Alan Moore (who also wrote the fabulous Killing Joke) and is (in my opinion) the first true look into the minds of real world crime fighters and superheros. It was a huge success and some say it is one of the best novels ever written.
As a basic review of the comic book, I thought it was a well written, well drawn, interesting character study of superheros/masked vigilantes (basically it did what it set out to do). Each character has their own back-story and their own problems. Thankfully, all of these back-stories and problems are interesting and carry siginificant weight to the overall themes of the book (like time or smiley faces).
Having so many interesting characters does, however, bring about certain issues. You begin to feel for the characters that you think are cool and loose interest in the main-plotline. For instance, I thought that both Dr. Manhattan and Rorschach were to the coolest people in the book. Being the cynical teenager that I was, I began to not care about the other side-bits (though I loved Nite Owls story, just not as much as the stuff with Dr. Manhattan and Rorschach). This made some aspects of the story tedious for me, but rushing through the random segments in this novel just made me really confused by the end. But if you take the time to read ever nitty-gritty detail, the book's complexity comes together perfectly. You have to start reading it knowing that this not an Archie comic.
That all being said, damn if this book is not one of the more interesting comic book experiences I have had. You get caught up in the world of Watchmen. You envision the book's alternate New York (and it ain't pretty). It's the kind of book that makes you happy that this medium exists. And that Rorschach is a really scary, interesting character who for some reason I immediately liked. That's rather bad considering he is pyschotic, but anyway...
I am totally ready for the movie version. It looks really like it be a really bamf film. If you haven't seen the trailer, I encourage you to check it out on youtube. If all of this stuff is news to you, watch the trailer, look at some photos, and see if you're interested. And if you like what you see, look all over the country for a copy of the book. If you know me, I'll let you borrow mine.
3 comments:
Good post.
Why does Rorschach keep a journal? Given all of his anger and ferocity, he doesn't seem like the journalizing type.
Do you see any correspondences between the usual comics universe including such superheroes like Batman or Superman and that of the Watchmen? Isn't the Nite Owl like Batman? Do you suppose that the Watchmen franchise is in part Alan Moore's reply to these better known figures?
Well, Rorschach is one of those kinds of people who has a lonely side. He doesn't have many sweet friends so he is caught up in his own delusions. He always believes he is doing the right thing even as he is killing people. The way to speak his mind privately is through his journal. It is also a convenient way to show what he is thinking.
As for the other characters, they kind of correspond to known DC heros. Nite Owl is very similar to Batman except he doesn't have the same emotional problems that the Dark Knight has.
Alan Moore seems to enjoy putting a spin on normal superhero stories. For instance, the classic story of the Joker VS. Batman (in The Killing Joke) was altered to develop the personality between them, something that had not really been done before. In terms of the Watchmen, he seems to be focusing on spinning the generic superhero mentality by creating multiple unique personalities to this crime fighters and making them feel real.
All of this is my opinion.
Little known fact: Rorschach is not actually insane.
I'm only mildly entertained by the song, btdub.
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