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Watchmen

Overman

Master Poster
Overman
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Feb 2, 2006
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Just finished reading the Watchmen again...I was reminded of it in a different thread and it had been years.

Such an amazing book.

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Since they are making a movie of it some time next year now is a pretty good time to bone up for anyone curious out there...

For those not curious...

In 2005, Time magazine placed Watchmen on its list of the 100 Greatest English Language Novels from 1923 to the Present, stating that it was "told with ruthless psychological realism, in fugal, overlapping plotlines and gorgeous, cinematic panels rich with repeating motifs...a heart-pounding, heartbreaking read and a watershed in the evolution of a young medium." Watchmen was the only graphic novel to be listed. Watchmen has also received several awards spanning different categories and genres including: Kirby Awards for Best Finite Series, Best New Series, Best Writer, and Best Writer/Artist, Eisner Awards for Best Finite Series, Best Graphic Album, Best Writer, and Best Writer/Artist, and a Hugo Award for Other Forms.
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For those that have read it...:covereyes


1. Do you think that Adrian Veidt's plan works in the long run?

2. Do you think that an alien invasion would unite the human race?

3. Got any favorite moments/chapters/insights you would like to discuss?


:) <--with a dash of blood...
 
1.
Unfortunately, no. It's just that, in the long run, I think eventually people would be going "Uhh.. where's the aliens? They just drop a biological atom bomb on New York and never come back?"



2.
Yes. An external threat could probably united humans. At least for as long as said external threat existed. After that it'd be back to the old squabbles.


3.
My personal favorite is the entire Rorschach-in-prison arc. It's the character's defining moment. And so disturbing. I was never sure if I should be rooting for Rorschach or not. His back story is certainly sympathetic but that's juxtaposed with Rorschach, very calmly, hurling boiling grease into the face of an inmate trying to kill him or Rorschach methodically executing Big Figure's henchman while he sedately keeps score.
 
MelBrooksfan said:
3.
My personal favorite is the entire Rorschach-in-prison arc. It's the character's defining moment. And so disturbing. I was never sure if I should be rooting for Rorschach or not. His back story is certainly sympathetic but that's juxtaposed with Rorschach, very calmly, hurling boiling grease into the face of an inmate trying to kill him or Rorschach methodically executing Big Figure's henchman while he sedately keeps score.
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Gotta be my favorite too..


''It is not God who kills the children. Not fate that butchers them or destiny that feeds them to the dogs. It's us. Only us.''

His revelation at the end, and how he effects the psychotherapist are just so well written...I stopped after reading that chapter and just thought awhile before moving on. So well done.

 
No matter how many times I read it, it still touches me like hardly anything else can.

1: I think the main problem is that sooner or later, it would be discovered that this monster would have a cell structure and DNA structure too similar to our own. Maybe also someone who'd understand would get access to Ror's journal as it got started being printed, but I believe that the biggest danger is in those labs... Unless of course Adrian makes sure that it'll be -his- labs that undergo all the tests of the monster he made.

2: More or less, yes. Think of humans as the Ogg family, happily feuding with each other throughout generations, until one outsider - seeing all the bickering - stupidly decides to make a crack about one Ogg, at which exact moment every single Ogg will turn on said outsider.

3:
Chapter 6, when Rorchack has his final conversation with the shrink, and ends it with "In the end, it's only us." And I share Mel's sentiments about Rorchack. There's a reason he is the most used character, it's because he's the most interesting one.

Chapter 12, when Adrian says "I did it. I DID IT!" Hell, just thinking about it gave me goosebumps right now! It's just that great a moment.

A friend of mine once said "I was giving Watchmen a 9 out of 10 until the moment Adrian said 'I did it 35 minutes ago.' At that point, it broke the scale.
 
The Absolute Edition of The Watchmen is a MUST READ! It is even more grand in the absolute format. Seriously.
 
They re-issued the hardcover last year, pretty expensive.

It has been my fave since High school

Four or five years ago when I first heard they were going to make it into a movie I bought up a bunch of the collectable stuff hoping to flip it at the top of any media hype. It's still sitting in my closet.

One of my favorite themes in Watchmen is the "Pirate" comics, how in a world that had superheros, Pirates became the focus of the comic industry. It illustrates how the people of the "Watchmen" universe see the pirate comics evolving from pulp to a popular, respected form of lit. (like our comics gaining respectability through the years). The way Moore builds that whole backstory for "The Black Freighter" just as a way to provide a running metaphor/commentary for his own story is genius.
 
Great comic, but I dread the movie - especially in light of the disastrous League of Extraordinary Gentlemen...
 
As a long-time comics reader (since 196coughcough), this truly is one of the genre's most outstanding achievements, ever. For anyone who hasn't read it, once you've read it for the first time, you have to go back and read it again in the light of what you now know. Absolutely first class!

And for me, the best bit is Rorschach's statement when locked-up in prison. "I'm not in here with you. You're in here with me." Not mere words - he means it.
 
I just re-read it last year. The previous (and only) time was when they came out as monthly issues. At the time I thought it was cool how the WATCHMEN logo tended to march across the succeeding wraparound covers. It wasn't noticeable until about issue 3 or 4 -- it was about that point that I thought, 'Hmmm, they're taking care to do that little bit of continuity, I hope this story works out!"

I got so much more out of it on my recent re-reading.
 
I really hope The Watchmen isn't adapted. I really can't stand to see another bastardization of a great comic book. Besides, it has been a struggle to get the projected film going.
 
Here's one thing that bugs me. If and when they do adapt it to the screen, there are going to be a lot of people who think that it was basically plagiarised in many ways from NBC's "Heroes". :D
 
Doc Daneeka said:
Here's one thing that bugs me. If and when they do adapt it to the screen, there are going to be a lot of people who think that it was basically plagiarised in many ways from NBC's "Heroes". :D
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Well, 'til us from Fandom set them straight.

Hrm...it would apear that the same director that brought us 300, is bringing Watchmen to the silver screen. I'd still prefer Gilliam, but I understand his "issues".

Actor Tom Cruise expressed interest in the role of Ozymandias to the director, but no casting decision was finalized.[
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FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S HOLY, PLEASE SHOOT THAT MAN BEFORE HE KILLS THIS MOVIE FOR ME!!!! CRUISE???? As Ozymandius???? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
 
The Demon's Head said:
I really hope The Watchmen isn't adapted. I really can't stand to see another bastardization of a great comic book. Besides, it has been a struggle to get the projected film going.
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Besides, there's only one person who can really play Rorschach.
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