synopsis:

this comic tells a rich and complex multi-layered story. It is both a history of comic books and an alternative history of America from the 40's to the 80's. the story is rich in cultural allusion and historical pastiche. Loosely a superhero 'whodunnit' set in an alternate 1985 where richard nixon won the Vietnam War, 'Watchmen' simultaneously dissects comic stereotypes and studies the relation of comic imagery to the politics of its time.

The first few pages appear to be a murder-mystery. An aging government operative is thrown out of his penthouse window. There is no obvious motive. Quickly, though, the comic puts us firmly into familiar territory – yet with a difference.'Watchmen' is set in a world where superheroes are real. A world where people don masks and tights, and go out at night hunting criminals and bringing foreign military juntas to justice. Unusually, this is a world where, with one exception, all the superheroes are humans. They are frail. They grow old. Eventually, when the midnight of their lives approaches, they take their masks off, put away childish things, and live as all others. Quiet lives, with memories gathering dust between the borders of picture frames.

Against this backdrop, the initial murder-mystery plot develops. The government operative - a former masked adventurer - is joined in death by other masks, famous and infamous. Conspiracy theories abound - is there a Mask Killer on the loose?Masked adventurers come out of impotent retirement. Costumes are dusted off; old enmities bridged. Fingers are broken, relationships shattered, long-buried emotions exhumed and decades old lies and betrayals re-animated.

The worth of ordinary mortals is tested against a god. Will the mask killer dare to kill a god? Will the death of a god trigger nuclear armageddon? The future of humanity is debated, and trans-dimensional aliens invade (possibly). The ghosts of the past haunt the comic's streets. Newspaper vendors, pirates and Antarctic biodomes assume roles of metaphorical power.

on this book:

'watchmen', written by Alan Moore ('Swamp Thing', 'V For Vendetta') and drawn by Dave Gibbons ('2000AD' [see Be pure, be vigilant, behave], 'Green Lantern') is considered by many as the best comic novel ever written. it is A classic book that established the graphic novel as a serious genre. it revolutionised the comic book industry and was enormously influential for injecting a more "adult," postmodern consciousness to the medium. The fact that its story is told in comic book format becomes incidental and yet it is a story which cannot be told in any other way.this book, first published by DC in 1986 and winner of the Hugo Award, has an excellent, deconstructionist (and ultimately depressing) narrative, deeply-layered and thoroughly-explored characterisations, and themes such as fascism, political hostility, amorality, disillusionment and the influence of demigods on the citizenry.

The attention to detail across the series, and the subtle clues, pop culture references and characterisations that sit behind this tale of a world on the brink of nuclear armageddon, are only part of what captures the reader.

Originally released as a 12-part comic series in 1986, 'Watchmen' is now available only in collected form. [many thanks to the drainpipe for mentioning and describing this book on our forum.]