INTRODUCTION TO WATCHMEN – A RETROSPECTIVE:

With the much anticipated WATCHMEN movie, directed by Zach Snyder, coming to theatres this March, I thought it would be cool to post  a review style article on each individual issue of this massive graphic novel. Each week I’ll dive into another issue. If I’ve timed it correctly, I’ll cover the entire 12 issues by the time the movie hits theatres.

THE CREATORS:

Alan Moore is the mastermind writer behind this great graphic novel. He’s one of the most acclaimed writers in the graphic novel medium. With such great works as V For Vendetta and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen under his belt, WATCHMEN became his masterpiece; his opus.

Dave Gibbons picks up the pencil for WATCHMEN. He’s also the letterer. Famous for his runs on Green Lantern, Superman and Batman, Gibbons’ brings a sense of realism to his pages that brings you into the story. You feel as though you’re a part of that world, and his cityscape is so detailed and consistent, you always know exactly where the characters are. There’s so much detail in every panel of every page that you find yourself noticing new things for the first time on your second, third and even fourth time reading it.

FUN FACTS ABOUT WATCHMEN:

When someone who hasn’t read WATCHMEN asks me to describe the book to them, I’ll tell them it is, at it’s core, a murder mystery. That, of course, is the book at its simplest. But as it goes through it becomes so much more. It takes place in some kind of alternate universe where Nixon is still president, superheroes are a common, everyday part of society, and comic books focus on pirates rather than superheroes.

Briefly, its important to note that there are some things you notice as you read through the book more and more. Little recurring plot devices and design choices in the story that add so much depth to the story. Its fun to reread the book and find new and interesting things you didn’t realize were there before.

The characters, for instance, are a pretty big deal. Each one was originally meant to be something else. Rorschach, for example, was originally meant to be The Question. Night Owl has obvious nods to Batman, although it was most likely meant to be the Blue Beatle, and Dr. Manhattan is some kind of cross between Superman and Captain Atom, and so on. Its interesting to me how obvious the similarities are when you first read the book and those other famous heroes are so vividly represented by these new characters, yet it doesn’t take very long for you to forget all about that. From early on these characters take on a life and legacy of their own and those other heroes don’t really return to your thoughts.

Its fun to note that the cover to each issue is always the first panel of the first page of each issue. Likewise the first page of each issue, directly pertains to the last page of that same issue. Almost like bookends; matching so perfectly but somehow reflecting opposite ends of the spectrum.

Other constants in these twelve issues include the inside of the back cover to each issue is always an all black page, with a clock at the bottom, and blood dripping down from the top, each issue more and more blood covers the page until its all but completely covered in blood. That, of course, becomes a key element of the story which we’ll touch on in later issues. There’s also the use of clocks, and the smiley face button with the drop of blood. As you read the book, take note of the graffiti all over the walls of the city, which always includes the phrase “Who Watches The Watchmen?” The phrase is never completely visible, however. There’s always something obstructing your view of the full thing. Then there’s all the newspaper articles and so on, and so on. This book has countless things to grab your attention and imagination.

Lets talk about the first issue itself now…

Behind the jump, I’ll dive into the first issue. It goes without saying that this will be a spoiler filled look at the issue. If you haven’t read it, do so before continuing on.

- SPOILER ALERT -

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