Does anyone have an honest opinion of the Watchmen trade?

Question

I have heard allot of mixed reviews on the watchmen trade and just wanted to know if it lives up to all the hype.

Answer 1

Although the book is depressing, the topic, the end of the world, can be depressing. For an uplifting look at the topic, try Moore's "Promethea", vol 1-5. ("It's the end of the world, AS WE KNOW IT, and I feel fine!")

I read and re-read the dickens out of "Watchmen" while it was being released. Sold a lot of copies & discussed the dickens out of it with my customers, too.

It's a book which rewards close re-reading. I just got done AGAIN reading the trade three times in the last month and a half.

Who, off the top of their head, could say where Laurie obtains the handgun with which she attempts to shoot Adrian Veidt in #12?

Who noticed that Adrian Veidt read 'Tales of the Black Freighter" comics when he was a youth? At least #s 23 & 24...or surely #24!

Who could say the name of police detective Steve Fine's partner? First & last name are mentioned...once each...separately.

And the number of times the same scene is shown from two different points of view.

And that 'Lady or the Tiger' ending.

Let's not blame Moore because some of his literary tricks have been picked up by other writers. Instead, let's celebrate that as a result of his writing, the writing level of comics has improved.

It's a great comic. Yes, "Sandman' topped it, in my opinion, but "Promethea" topped that. Alan Moore's got IT, has had IT since "Swamp Thing" ("You can't kill a vegetable by shooting it in the head!"), had IT when my distributor was importing 'Warrior" before that ("Marvelman", later "Miracleman",) and shall be honing it into his prose novels ("Voice from the Fire", & more to come.)

This is a Good Thing.

You young kids are spoiled; you haven't read nearly as many mediocre comics as I & don't know when you're well off. (Excuse me if that sounds snide. It's not really meant that way.)

Answer 2

Having read and collected the original series, I can truthfully say that anyone who enjoys Alan Moore books should pick up the trade;I picked up a trade just to read, and re-read.

The real magic of the book lies in the layered subplots. The art is stylish, but not flashy, meaning that it takes nothing away from the writing, and is actually an integrated part of the writing. A great deal of thought was put into every cover, and probably every panel. It is very cinematic in its layout, and was very ground-breaking at the time the original books came out.

The story itself presents the superhero story in a realistic, human sense. The characters portrayed in the book are actually modeled on superheroes that DC had actually purchased the rights to, including Captain Atom and Blue Beetle; DC had plans for those characters, so putting them in Watchmen would not have worked out for the company.

The book is a mystery, a history, a crime drama, a superhero saga, and epic journey for the reader. Getting to read it in trade paperback form is great, because you can read straight through, without the long wait between issues.

Its not a story with a happy ending, but it is a shock to the finish, and a roller-coaster ride to get there.

Highly Recommended....

Answer 3

I read the Watchmen back when the issues first came out years ago... It's an interesting story, but at this point the hype is surely greater than the actual book.

We've seen a lot of great TPBs in the 20 years since the Watchmen was originally published, many of the story elements that were revolutionary back then have since been done & redone to death.

Answer 4

Watchmen is great. Just don't expect it to give you warm fuzzies.

Watchmen was written while Reagan was in the White House and the Berlin Wall was standing. It does a brilliant job of bringing Cold War paranoia into the superhero realm. It's easily one of the best written and illustrated mature (as in grown-up, not XXX-rated) graphic novels you will ever find.

I don't know how you could consider it boring at all. I think anybody who finds parts of it boring are not paying attention to the layers of the story. As always, Alan Moore fills each panel with detail (perfectly drawn by Dave Gibbons) that furthers the story in some way. You don't just read it once. The same goes for Moore's "V for Vendetta" (yet another story not meant to make you laugh).

If you want something more like "traditional" comics, look someplace else. I highly recommend the trades for "Nexus" by Mike Baron and Steve Rude, "Zot!" by Scott McCloud, and "American Flagg!" by Howard Chaykin. Happy reading!

Answer 5

I tried reading it but got bored after the first couple of pages.. same for V for Vendetta. The only book i seemed to liked from alan moore was Batman the Killing Joke.

But i enjoyed timeless graphic novels such as Eisner's A Contract with God, Sandman: Season of Mists, Dream Country & Ramadan, Batman: Dark Knight Returns, Frank Miller's Wolverine, Thor: the Ballad of Beta Ray Bill, Stan Lee/Moebius' Silver Surfer, Tomine's Sleepwalk, Kraven's Last Hunt, and Mignola's adaptation of Fafhrd & Grey Mouser.

Answer 6

I'd say ignore the hype and read it without any preconceptions. It was groundbreaking when it was written, and was a reflection of the time period. While it's held up well and isn't dated, it doesn't have the punch it once had. When it was written, it broke new ground that has been revisited lately by others. It's still a good book and good storytelling, though. You'll probably like it if you don't mind depressing stuff.

Answer 7

It`s a great book by almost any means. Technically it`s perfect. But.... I find it rather depressing. The storyline is not all that logic to begin with and its a little boring at the beginning.
In conclution, its a good read, a great read, and I`d recommend it to anyone who likes science fiction or comics. But if what you want is a FUN read, then look for it somewhere else and buy something by Frank Miller, Peter Milligan or B M Bendiss...

Answer 8

I tried to get through it. I found it boring. I think the idea behind it has been re-done in subtle ways since it's initial run. It's not as cutting edge as it used to be. I think they need to reprint it with new color techniques. That might help it out.

Answer 9

no thats honest