Back in the good old days, they were masked vigilantes, fighting crime in capes: Nite Owl, Silk Specter, Captain Metropolis and many others. Now, the even though it's been years since government the government forced the heroes into retirement, the "masks" are slowly being picked off.
Watchmen, written by Alan Moore and with drawings by Dave Gibbons, is the superhero graphic novel. It's widely considered to one of the best in its genre, and Time magazine even ranked it as one of the greatest novels of all time. The story is not your usual comic book fare; it's dark, very dark, believable, and unnervingly down to earth. The caped crusaders of the novel are not superhuman (with one notable exception). The eclectic style of graphic novel panels interspersed with prose excerpts fleshes out the world of the Watchmen in emotional detail. Taken as a novel, Moore's story works remarkably well and won't be forgotten quickly.
Don't let the comic book label deceive you: Watchmen is not for young children. The tense, realistic atmosphere is set with lots of honestly portrayed violence, sexual material, and language; although none felt gratuitous, it was quite disturbing at times.
Watchmen, written by Alan Moore and with drawings by Dave Gibbons, is the superhero graphic novel. It's widely considered to one of the best in its genre, and Time magazine even ranked it as one of the greatest novels of all time. The story is not your usual comic book fare; it's dark, very dark, believable, and unnervingly down to earth. The caped crusaders of the novel are not superhuman (with one notable exception). The eclectic style of graphic novel panels interspersed with prose excerpts fleshes out the world of the Watchmen in emotional detail. Taken as a novel, Moore's story works remarkably well and won't be forgotten quickly.
Don't let the comic book label deceive you: Watchmen is not for young children. The tense, realistic atmosphere is set with lots of honestly portrayed violence, sexual material, and language; although none felt gratuitous, it was quite disturbing at times.
Pros:
*Well written
*Contains lots of food for thought
*An essential in the superhero lit cannon
*Well-drawn characters
*Will make watching The Incredibles even more enjoyable
Cons:
*Quite a bit of sexual material
*Quite a bit of violence
*Quite a bit of language
*A thoroughly bizarre ending dampens the drama and suspense
that was built up throughout the rest of the novel
