Who watches the Watchmen?

I really enjoy reading comics, and those about superheroes are my favorites. I strongly believe that all of you (if you have read comics) have the same feelings. What I loved the most about Watchmen is that the author presents superheroes as ordinary people who have to face their own ethical conflicts and personal issues. This story tells the reader about the journey and destiny of the characters related to the superheroes’ world. Perhaps, the most important part of the comic is how these superheroes change the world and give us as a result an alternative version of the real world in 1985, closer to our world.

Throughout the story the author uses some resources (like flashbacks ot appendix with extra-information) to make them closer to the reader I guess, probably to make it more realistic. Also, throughout the book, there is a lack of written boxes and we almost never read words from the writer. Thus, look with favor on the realism of the story. What is also important to mention is that there is no onomatopoeic sounds like “Pow, crash or boom”, something that is typically part of most comic books.

Watchmen is not as the normal superheroes’ comic book. In this story, these superheroes are ordinary people wearing costumes and acting anonymously, people who are fighting for justice but also fighting against people’ disavowal. In other words, they help people who contempt them. It seems that they are kind of phenomena living for a sick society.

For those who have not read the comic yet, it is presented into twelve chapters which are divides into two parts: The story by itself and a section developed as fragmented items and little books written about the superheroes. These second sections are used for revealing part of the story, basically the internal fight in every chapter and their own ideologies which represent themselves.

There is a movie based on this comic book; however, in my opinion, there is not enough material to create a good movie. Probably the best option would be to produce a miniseries because maybe it is not a huge story to tell, there is not an expected ending but it is a splendid journey that you will not regret to live.

I have a present for you! Here you can watch a video of how Watchman would be if TV showed it on Sunday morning. If so, would you watch it?

References

Hughes, J. A. (2006). “Who watches the watchmen?”: ideology and “real world” superheroes. The Journal of Popular Culture.

Klock, G. (2002). How to read superhero comics and why. A&C Black.

Moore, A. (1986). Watchmen (Book club ed). New York: DC comics Inc.