by Joe Schmoe

Created on: October 02, 2008   Last Updated: September 28, 2011

SPOILER ALERT - Details about certain graphic novels are exposed in this review, but nothing that would ruin the story. Still, beware, this does spoil certain minor parts of certain graphic novels.

Watchmen is by far, one of the best Graphic Novels I have ever read. The intricacies of each panel never ceased to amaze me while I was reading Watchmen. The way in which every little event, especially the seemingly unimportant events, all tied together really amazed me. Another thing that really caught my attention were the little mini-stories, news articles, secret documents, and pictures that Alan Moore fabricated and put in between each chapter so that you could get a background, or in some cases get more in-depth information on each individual character in the group.

Alan Moore is a genius when it comes to writing Graphic Novels. The first of his books that I read, V For Vendetta, was incredible. The political innuendos involved in the story blew my mind, as I am sure they blew the minds of all first time readers. It's unlike most other comic books in that the hero can be viewed in many different lights. In one sense, he is the vigilante fighting for justice and freedom; however, looking at V in a different point of view, it is easy to see him as just another terrorist, or just another anarchist fighting against the government. It is also unlike other comic books in the sense that it is a very dark book, not just in the sense of colors, but in the sense that there is no real storybook ending where the good guy saves the day and rescues the damsel in distress.

Watchmen is very similar to V for Vendetta as well in the sense that there are no clear cut heroes. It is also very dark, and includes elements of mystery, rape, and extreme violence. It is a very political Graphic novel, and delves into Nazism and neo- Nazism, communism, leftist radicals and extreme conservatives. Every hero is a multifaceted person, and while each one of them has served their country, they all have dark sides as well. Rorschach for example, a key character in the novel, has extreme issues with his image and his family life, and is a withdrawn person who has no friends save his Watchmen colleagues, not to mention he is on the run from the police for the murder of a convicted rapist. Adrian Veidt, AKA Ozymandias, is attempting to create Armageddon in an attempt to start the world anew and create a utopic civilization. The comedian understands the humor of life, and is worse off for it.

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