Watchmen
Writer: Alan Moore
Artist: Dave Gibbons
Rorschach's Journal. April 23rd, 2013: Watchmen outdoes itself!!!!!
Ranking: 5 stars
Ever since I read Alan Moore's sensational work on BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE, it has been my goal to find another work of his that had the same psychologically innovating tone to it. It wasn't easy though. Alan Moore is one of the most acclaimed writers in the comic's medium, and is known for dark and grim, yet innovating works such as V FOR VENDETTA, FROM HELL, PROMETHEA, SWAMP THING, and LOST GIRLS. I have my limits when it comes to dark content in media, which made it a challenge to find another compelling work of Moore's. I first made an attempt with Swamp Thing, which seemed promise a tragic monster tale, but its occult themes pushed my limits. But I was still determined to dig up another great Alan Moore book, and I uncovered it with his most popular book of all: WATCHMEN!!!
Watchmen was designed to break the boundaries of what a superhero comic could achieve, but it went far beyond that. It became a psychological breakthrough, and transformed the minds of comic book fans worldwide. Watchmen takes place in an alternate America during 1985, where despair and corruption has plagued society. The U.S. is now on the verge of nuclear war with the Soviet Union, and superheroes that were once a major symbol of American society have been outlawed since 77'. The members of the Watchmen (Rorschach, Nite Owl, Dr. Manhattan, Comedian, Ozymandias, & Silk Spectre) have since disbanded, but ominous events soon change everything. The story begins with the death of the Comedian, who was mysteriously murdered and thrown out his apartment window by an unknown assailant. With the rest of the world focused on the approaching apocalypse, the only one to investigate the Comedian's murder is the rogue vigilante Rorschach. Rorschach believes that someone is killing off former costumed heroes, and that the conspiracy is linked with a plot to ignite a World War III. The rest of the Watchmen ignore Rorschach's "mask killer" claims, but after Dr. Manhattan exiles himself to Mars, and Ozymandias is attacked by a hit man, one can only wonder if Rorschach's theory is true. With the doomsday clock slowly ticking towards midnight, and vigilantes suffering attacks from an unknown mastermind, one question remains: "Who watches the Watchmen?"
Watchmen surpassed all of my expectations! The story is extremely well written, and the plot drives on the force of the moral standards of characters in a world without hope. The characters themselves have complex psychological profiles that allow us to identify, and feel for them, despite their obvious flaws. Rorschach is the best of the batch! In him we see a man tormented by the sin and corruption in the world, that has changed him into a cold redeemer of justice, with a black and white perspective of reality (his mask reflects his personality with its ever changing inkblots)! He is one of the greatest superheroes I have seen since Spider-Man and Batman. Dr. Manhattan is the only hero with actual superpowers, separating him from the rest of society, and making him gradually less human with each passing moment. Despite the fact that Comedian dies at the beginning, he is the force that drives the all of the characters and events in the book, as his death sets the mystery and plot into motion. Comedian is the most flawed of all the watchmen, as he has committed unforgivable acts in his life, but the method of his portrayal allows him to be likable to readers. Nite Owl is the weakest in my opinion; as he feels too similar to Batman (even though his approach is technological, and not direct), but even he provides moments that make him more than just a character on the printed page. (Besides, his airship is just cool!)
The book is indeed Graphic (I'd strongly advise caution towards readers under 17), but even the suggestive content has strong meaning to it, as it places superheroes in the real world, and shows how fear, and corruption dominate a society swiftly approaching nuclear war. I've found an Alan Moore work that not only lived up to my experience with THE KILLING JOKE, but also surpassed it completely! Alan Moore not only successfully displayed what superheroes would be like in the real world, but also gave us psychological roller coaster ride of a comic book that has been tough to surpass. It makes me want to take a look at the prequel BEFORE WATCHMEN, even though Alan Moore had no involvement in it. It is a book that is essential for all comic book fans to read! It's an experience like no other comic can offer you.
"[They] will look up and shout 'save us!' And I'll look down whisper 'no.'"
-Rorschach's Journal. October 12th, 1985