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Comix-to-Flix #5 Mar. 18, 2005
Comments: 0
Source: JoBlo.com

COMIX-TO-FLIX is a JoBlo.com column featuring reviews of comic book graphic novels that have been optioned to be made into motion pictures. Seeing as the universe of comic books and movies is becoming more and more connected, we figured that we may as well jump right into them as well, especially since we love both mediums to begin with. We hope that you enjoy this new addition to the site and be sure to email us with your thoughts.

 WATCHMEN
by Alan Moore

BUY THIS NOVEL AT AMAZON.COM NOW!!!

PLOT:

The Comedian is dead. He was a rapist. He was a killer. And he was a government sponsored superhero. Until someone threw him out of a very high window.

And so begins what’s widely considered to be the definitive comic book tome. What follows is a mystery that unravels through the eyes of The Comedian’s contemporaries. Nite Owl, a retired technology-based vigilante. Dr. Manhattan, a being of possibly infinite capabilities and power. Ozymandias, the smartest man alive. And Rorschach, a vicious, emotionally traumatized detective in an ink-blot mask. And as Rorschach begins an investigation into The Comedian’s death, we bear witness to what might happen if America won the Vietnam War. If superheroes were real, flawed human beings. And through it all we get asked the question: what role should heroes and vigilantes take in protecting the rest of us? And exactly how far is it right to go in order to save a world bent on destroying itself?

“WHO WATCHES THE WATCHMEN?”

FILM STATUS:

WATCHMEN, after years of buzz and rumors, is finally slated for the big screen.  Directed by Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy), it’s currently in preproduction under Universal and Lawrence Gordon Productions (to be distributed by Paramount ). The screenplay was adapted by David Hayter, who also co-wrote both X-Men and X2.   Darren Aronofsky was originally set to helm the project, but dropped out to do The Fountain. [Credit IMDB] The official Watchmen movie site can be found here.

CRITIQUE:

Uh…this is kind of like reviewing The Bible of Geekdom. Know right now that there’s nary a complaint to be made about this book. But if you want to read a really original superhero story, something complex and deep and emotional, with fully rounded characters and a payoff to end all payoffs…well, this is the place to start, hands down.  To be honest, there’s so much to say about it, that I’m not even sure what to cover.

First of all, the story is just…incredibly involving. As the conspiracy unfolds over the course of the book (which is not one of the shorter reads you can find out there, be aware), you just marvel at so many things about it.  It’s astoundingly original; no one had EVER looked at superheroes this way before it came out.  And not only is the story gripping and complex, but it’s written in a thoughtful, realistic manner.  In a world where comic books often have a stigma for being very simplistic in plot, oftentimes for good reason, this is really, really refreshing.  Alan Moore, who’s name is usually associated with damn fine work, in no way condescends to the reader in this puppy.  WATCHMEN superheroes don’t fight costumed criminals, but rather deal with such things as the Vietnam War, the United States nuclear program, cancer, and even rape.  It’s a very maturely written book.

“Dr. Osterman, I’m Doug Roth, I write for Nova Express. I wonder if you remember Wally Weaver. Back in the sixties, the newspapers called him ’Dr. Manhattan’s buddy.’  He died of cancer in 1971.”

Another thing that works so well in WATCHMEN that other books (and movies) often take for granted are it’s characters.  My God, does WATCHMEN have some friggin’ brilliant characters!  Whether it’s the mysterious vigilante detective Rorschach, who by day is a sign-toting doomsayer forewarning of the apocalypse, or Daniel “Nite Owl” Dreiberg, who swaps stories with his predecessor over a couple beers every Saturday night, Moore gives us characters that are wonderfully human.  They’re unique, they’re flawed, and they’re plausible people (to an extent).  And, unsurprisingly, it comes pretty easily that you get invested in what happens to them throughout the book (and, yikes, is some of it not pretty).

“You watched me. You coulda changed the gun into steam or the bullets into mercury or the bottle into snowflakes! You coulda teleported either of us to goddamn Australia…but you didn’t lift a finger!” – The Comedian

And I’d be completely remiss not to mention the artwork of Dave Gibbons, who turns in some great, great stuff throughout.  Not only do his characters look great, with plenty of detail, but Gibbons is the type of artist who can tell every bit as much of the story with what he draws as Moore does with what he writes. Scenes (especially those involving Rorschach) where Moore’s words don’t even grace the page are still haunting and a pleasure to sit back and admire.

WHAT ELSE?

Just…so many things about this book I love, and I know this is probably a disgustingly gushing review, but there’re just so many different cool things in WATCHMEN.  Some of it’s small, some of it’s important, but it’s all just really, really great.  Just some of the stuff done with the character Rorschach alone is cool.  Whether it’s how he deals with interrogating local scum…

“I’ve just broken this gentleman’s little finger. Who killed Edward Blake?” –Rorschach

…to some of the neat visual tricks Dave Gibbons plays with his mask, he’s just one of the most interesting characters in the history of comics.  And he’s just one of them in this book.

“Because there is good and there is evil, and evil must be punished.  Even in the face of Armageddon I shall not compromise in this.” – Rorschach

There’s other stuff too. Things like a woman trying to come to terms with her relationship with a being that can pretty much do anything, including duplicate himself in bed. Or possibly the most unique, screwed up use for a grappling gun I’ve ever seen. Or the great story within a story that we get through a New York kid and his pirate comic book.

And again, this is a book with an amazing payoff, too. When the layers of the conspiracy all come together and you realize just who the killer is and why he did it, it’s a total “Holy $#!%” moment. 

 "Do it?  Dan, I’m not a republic serial villain. Do you seriously think I’d explain my master stroke if there remained the slightest chance of you affecting its outcome? I did it thirty-five minutes ago.” -- The Comedian’s killer

IN CONCLUSION:

No question about it, this is a fantastic piece of work. Good enough that you don’t even have to be a regular fan of comics to appreciate it.  With a gripping, complex conspiracy plot, well-rounded characters in which you can completely invest yourself, and gorgeous artwork, I…really, just buy the damn book already!  It’s absolutely worth your time and money, and could stand proud in even though most discriminating library.  Who watches the Watchmen? You damn well should.

"I don’t think there is a God, Janey. If there is, I’m not him. I’m still the same person. Nothing’s changed. I still want you…I’ll always want you.”— Dr. Manhattan

GRAPHIC NOVEL RATING (10/10):

MOVIE POTENTIAL (8/10):

PREVIOUSLY:

Fables
Ronin
Transformers
Luke Cage
Death
The Avengers
The Simpsons
Conan
Origin: Wolverine
Southland Tales: Two Roads Diverge

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