Let's open by saying that if you're into comics at all, this is the first classic of the graphic novel genre, and you really need to read this book for the insights it gives into what might drive people to put on tights and fight crime, and where that choice might lead them. At the same time, this book is not for children - besides the (relatively) graphic violence and complex moral issues, there are sexual situations (no nudity, of course) that fall well beyond anything normally seen in comics. If you're a sci-fi/fantasy fan who's not really about comics, but willing to give it a chance, this review's for you.

Set in an alternate America of the 1980's, Moore paints a bleak picture of a world on the brink of nuclear holocaust, where the growing power of evil infects even the costumed vigilantes who have dedicated their lives to fighting it. The story takes a long hard look at what makes these "heroes" tick, and shows that the kind of people who take this path are certain to have their own demons - demons that cause them to at least occasionally, act demonically. The story opens with the brutal murder of a hero who calls himself "the Comedian". Brief, fragmented glimpses into his past show him taking down criminals, winning for Uncle Sam in Viet Nam, but also heartlessly shooting the Asian girl who claims she's pregnant with his child. The Comedian's murder is investigated by a hero called Rorschach, who has himself crossed the line by brutally disposing of the murderer of a six-year-old girl. Rorschach believes he has uncovered a plot to kill and discredit costumed heroes, but their true purpose remains a mystery. Ultimately, Moore asks us to decide who the real heroes and villains are, and suggests that perhaps even the best of us may feel the need to kill sometimes, for the greater good. But do the ends ever really justify the means?

Even aside from the content, this book is notable for some unusual techniques seldom seen in comics. Each of the twelve chapters ends with a page or three of text, supposedly excerpts from various documents that shed further light on the characters and situations described in the body of the story. Another unusual (although not as effective) technique is the interpolation of a "meta-comic" - an old-style pirate comic that a boy reads at the newsstand. More uses this comic as well as flashbacks in another interesting technique - that of showing us one scene while describing another, bleeding back and forth to help inform us of the characters' emotional states.

To be sure, the plot has some serious holes, and the ending isn't as satisfying as it might be (although it's certainly unexpected) but the intense dramatic situations and powerfully drawn (yet quite humanly flawed) characters more than make up for it. No, this isn't Dostoyevsky, but this is not your father's comic book, either.

Not much I can say about this that hasn't been said more eloquently by others. Watchmen changed the comic book industry.

If you read it when it came out and have the pristine copies bagged, boarded and boxed, then go get a copy of the graphic novel so you can reread. If you've never read, then shame on you, go read it now.

Don't forget the movie is scheduled (if the legal issues get worked out) to come out next year. Beat the rush an order your copy now.

The novel was in top condition, and arrived two days before the estimate date. Very reasonable price for such a good graphic novel.

As I always am when it comes to popular culture, I was skeptical to the idea of enjoying Watchmen when I first heard about it. I am a filmmaker and was recently in awe of the trailer for the upcoming movie in 2009. I plan on seeing this movie, but I couldn't see it without reading the graphic novel first. That's just wrong.
So I bought a copy, still thinking that it wasn't going to be as great as everyone said it was. Well... within the first chapter, I was completely hooked. Alan Moore has a way of crafting his work that works flawlessly within a comic book atmosphere. And David Gibbon's art has never been better.
Watchmen takes place in an alternate 1985, where vigilantes are a common part of society. However, they have all but completely disappeared, some retired, some with other jobs. But two remain, Rorsach and The Comedian. Upon the murder of the Comedian, Rorsach takes it upon himself to find the murderer, and ultimately answer the infamous question, "Who Watches the Watchmen?"
The story almost looks upon comics books and superheroes in a satirical way, underlined with a deathly serious message. This masterpiece holds its own against almost any other modern competitor, and should definitely be something you read soon!
Happy reading!

Don't call me a comic book! I am one of Time magazines top 100 "novels". And I won a Hugo. So there!

Indeed. This 1985 graphic novel by comic book great Alan Moore is one of the most impressionable pieces of literature that I've read in years.

Is Watchmen some comic book about superheroes? Wait! Who you callin' "comic book!?" And we'd prefer "costumed adventurers" instead of superheroes please...with the exception of one character in the book. The difference between superhero and costumed adventurer here is the difference between super-powers and plain old bravery and smarts. And just plain old bravery and smarts can't protect you from a bullet or a stronger man (or woman).

So when one of the approximately five still practicing costumed adventurers is murdered, Rorschach, a tough, ink-blot mask wearing anti-hero makes it his business to find the killer and warn the other adventurers of a villain potentially bent on getting rid of the remaining "masks".

I mentioned earlier "an exception" to the costumed versus super-powered adventurers...that exception is Dr. Manhattan. The question is not what can Dr. Manhattan do that's so special; the question is, what can't he do? So with a guy like Manhattan on your side...whether it's literally "your" side or say "your county's" side, ya can't lose, right?

But what if Dr. Manhattan decided to skip town for a while? Yeah. Exactly. You guessed it. Like if Tiger Woods left golf for a season due to injury...who'd watch golf anymore? Who'd watch the Watchmen?

Alan Moore tells a sensational tale here and Dave Gibbons brings the words to life. This novel is a must...not just for comic book and graphic novels fans, but for fans of Truth, Justice and the American Way! Add this to your cart.

Side note: Speaking of bringing the words to life....It's no secret that Zack Snyder (300) plans to bring Watchmen to the big screen in 2009. Can't wait!

Obviously, Watchmen was a landmark achievement. The narrative complexity, the "realism" and the more-thoughtful-than-average consideration of what superheroes would do to the world were they to really exist all make Watchmen shine.

But if you peel away all of the glamor and try and figure out what the work is really about, what it really says, you'll be disappointed. The self-destructive nature of man that sets the stage for the whole drama, as expressed by the imminent apocalypse, may have been convincing in 1985 but after the fall of the Soviet Union, it's hard to buy in to. History sure seems to have sided with the United States. The nuclear stand-off ended peacefully. Perhaps Moore is mocking those who thought that there could be no peaceful resolution. Given his other views and works (re conspiracy theories, cia secret missions) it seems he really bought into it. I'm sorry for him that he didn't have a chance to say, "I told you so."

As a student of physics, the made-up science stuff always makes me cringe and Dr Manhattan was no exception. When I understood that Moore introduced Dr Manhattan as a way to ask the question, "What would a truly SUPER hero do to global politics?" I was more forgiving. When I realized that all he wanted to say was that all political entities should always have exactly equal powers, my stomach started to turn again.

Dramatically, though, I think that the total suspension of the physical laws of nature for Dr Manhattan while everyone else was bound to all that and more (psychic shock wave??? come on!) made for a fundamentally unbelieavable story. A bit of suspended disbelief is expected but having two sets of rules for the universe simultaneously operating and affecting one and other??? Of course, he has artistic license but then again, I have the ability to stop caring about the story when it becomes too ridiculous.

SPOILER WARNING
So, was Ozymandias right? Why would a momentary external threat erase millenia of conflict between people? Ozymandias' plan was supposedly going to end all conflict including the simple inter-personal street conflicts taking place on the street. He is presented as "the smartest man in the world" and then has this infantile naive idea of how to solve the worlds' problems a la the gordian knot. No justification is given for how one small catastrophe could so easily change human nature. And yet, Ozymandias and Dr Manhattan, the characters that have been presented as being wiser than all others think that it would work. If Moore meant to mock everyone in his universe, then I agree. But if he really buys into this drivel, and it seems that he does, the ideas that he is presenting are SO childish and ridiculous, they are insulting to be exposed to.

The beginning of Watchmen showed great promise. Fascinating characters, a sort of puzzle--piecing together all of the heroes' pasts, some intelligence, fun references, detailed images. But the story gets more and more ridiculous and when Moore starts to actually reveal what the real story is, the reader is hit with a two-headed attack: [1] he has had to go through so many suspensions of disbelief that he doesn't really care anymore and [2] the "real story" is so patently absurd that the reader wishes he hadn't discovered it.

One might claim that I "didn't get it." I just think that ultimately, there isn't much in it to get. And what there is is either obvious or obviously stupid. Maybe I should re-read it. Frankly, I regret having read it once.

If you're interested in the issues broached in Watchmen, about superheros in the real world and don't want to feel insulted and bored by the end of the work, don't waste your time with this drivel. Just watch "The Dark Knight." (If you must waste as much time as it took me to read this book, watch it a few times. And maybe throw in "Batman Begins" as well.) Nolan obviously was influenced by Watchmen but created a much finer, more intelligent and less painful-to-experience work of art.

This book was amazing. It kept me guessing all the way to the end, which in my opinion was ripped-off. It has great character development and a complicated but superb storyline. Highly reccomended.

This is the only graphic novel that actually lives up to the term. If you have never read it, you should.

Great story, well written, and something someone who is not into graphic novels can enjoy(this is the first one i've read). I highly recommend it and if the movie is anything like the novel it will be nothing short of phenominal.......

Watchmen immediately grabs you with its undeniable style and its deep, complex, and riveting story.

For those not familiar with the term "graphic novel", this is a comic book. In my own personal opinion, the character development in this book was great, but the story was mediocre at best. I thought this book was very dry, and the only reason I continued reading was to so I could put the book down and start something else. Disappointing.

Maybe I got caught up in the hype of this graphic novel. After all, the cover notes that Time considers it one of the best 100 novels of the last "x" years. Well, after getting through this graphic novel I have to say that I've read at least 100 novels that were far better than "The Watchmen" so I think TIME Magazine book critics need to start reading better stuff off the bookshelves.

It's not a bad read, but it's a bit confusing and twisted and I began to grow tired of the various characters and their constant angst and anger and jealousy. The "Super Heroes" all have their own neuroses and as the novel ended I just didn't really care for any of the characters except for Dr Manhattan.

Anyway, it may be a bit overhyped. Maybe I expected more and was let down.

I bought Watchmen based mainly on reviews and the super-hype I read about. It starts off pretty good i must admit, setting the scene nicely for an interseting read. But all to quiclky it becomes self involved, with little interest in entertaining the reader. It essentially waffles! I cared little for the characters, so why would I care about their histories/psyches? Art is very good considering when it was written.

Being new to the graphic novel genre, I focused more heavily on the words than the images. The story is compelling, dark and very well written. The images enhance the message and help give "life" to the words. An excellent read whether you are a super hero fan or a fan of top flight literature that happens to be about super heroes.

I'll preface this by saying that I don't hate Watchmen, and in fact I *liked* it, but I don't *love* it.

The plot is competent, but it's also rather predictable. Moore is obviously trying hard to break cliche's, but he does so by just doing the opposite thing, so it comes off as just a cliche in the other direction and, as I mentioned, utterly predictable.

The other problem is that most of the characters are underdeveloped, underutilized, or both. Other characters are overdeveloped, but serve little purpose. The end result is that the vast majority of the book is consumed by flashbacks and oddities that are only tangentially related to the main plot of the book (which could likely fit in to about 20 pages taken alone).

As far as characters go, the two obvious extremes are Rorschach and Dr. Manhattan. Rorschach is developed minimally, but brilliantly written and vivid. His actions and thoughts are clear and consistent, even though he's enigmatic as a character. Dr Manhattan meanwhile is developed hugely, but changes personality almost from page to page. He also comes off flat, and as a character with such potential isn't really all that important to the book in the end.

Is this worth a read? I'd say yes, especially if you're in to comics. If you buy in to the hype and aren't too picky, you'll probably even love it. But if you spend too much time reading in to it, you'll find this book is a pretty basic story that's so wrapped up in obfuscated, unnecessary backstory that it merely seems more mature and involved than it really is.

I love watchmen after reading this novell. What i would like from this product is an bookcover in a sturdier (or what's it called?) paper quality. To flimsy papertexture to be an nice collectors item.

I've got a confession to make, and I'll say it right here so there's no doubt about it: Before "Watchmen," I had never read a graphic novel. I remember, as a boy, my mother purchasing me a comic book (or two, if I was exceptionally good, which I really tried to be) from the local grocery store. I think I collected a grand total of ten. They never really moved me. They never interested me, until later, after I gained a bit more literary experience. Now in my early 20's, I noticed a lot of my friends enjoy comics and graphic novels; I decided that I should give them a try as well. All this being said: I shall not judge "Watchmen" as a graphic novel, for I am not qualified to do so. But being an avid reader of novels, short stories, essays, nonfiction, poetry, and song lyrics, I shall judge "Watchmen" as a work of literature. And the verdict? A masterpiece.

1985 in some alternate universe, where Nixon is still president (dear God), we won the Vietnam War (not as great as you might think), and superheroes were once part of American culture. Spurred by comic books, ordinary men and women took up costumes and monickers, patrolling the streets of their cities. Some of them even united together. But, in 1985, the only operative superheroes are those sponsored by the government: like Doc Manhattan, once a man, now possessed of indescribable capabilites; and the Comedian, a rough and tumble anti-hero (I hesitate to include "hero" at all) who has just been murdered.

Rorschach, a masked vigilante who was once a hero and is now wanted for murder, investigates. He sees a disturbing pattner. A "mask killer"--someone out to kill superheroes. Teaming up (if somewhat reluctantly, on their behalf) with retired heroes the Nite Owl (II) and the Silk Spectre (II), he sets out to investigate what happened, uncovering a conspiracy to rival all conspiracies, one that may just lead to World War III...

Ah, okay. Obligatory plot summary out of the way. It doesn't begin to cover it; "Watchmen" is so layered with subtext and imagery, a mere summary of the novel's surface plot is almost an indulgent excess. Let me just say this: Alan Moore is a paranoid but fantastic writer, and Dave Gibbons is a gifted (and slightly disturbed, all for the better) illustrator. I could not put "Watchmen" down; I had the fortune to read it while I was sick (and thus equipped with a dandy of an excuse to skip class). I'm not sure it made me feel any healthier...in fact, much to the contrary...but it inspired me to delve deeper into this literary medium. I'm not sure if anything I read from now on will stand up to "Watchmen;" I can only say that I thoroughly enjoyed my forray into this twisted and cruel (and utterly realistic) world, and that I am a wiser and more cautious person for it.

The write up on the book cover says it all. Best Graphic Novel, opened a lot of peoples eyes to the medium. Can't wait to see the movie!

The story was very real and authentic. It was very connected to the real world and i felt sympathy for two of the characters especially the comedian and rosarach. Those wo characters showed that this story was really connedcted to the real world. There is nothing more that i can say, This comic book is the best.

Bought this after seeing the preview for the movie during the new Batman. Sat down, read it front to back in one sitting. Great comic.

Watchmen was always one of those Comic Books I had always heard about, but never got a chance to read. Only recently did it occur to me that if I want a thing bad enough, Amazon probably has it.

I from the first page to the last I was hooked in, twists, turns, ins and outs... It creates a strange paranoid and sad universe that sucks you in. To wax any further on it would only weaken the sense of awe that the book will honestly inspire in you.

Above A+ work from Moore and Gibbons.

Recommend to anyone who is actually reading this review.

Watchmen was always one of those Comic Books I had always heard about, but never got a chance to read. Only recently did it occur to me that if I want a thing bad enough, Amazon probably has it. I've made a good dent in the comic, and literally from the first page I was hooked into it.

Solid story telling, and moody artwork (both terrible words to describe such an amazing example of Art) are the best I can do to describe what you'll find between the covers of this Graphic Novel (if you want to Justify it to coworkers).

Recommend to anyone who is actually reading this review.

Watchmen is truly amazing. It feels more like a novel than anything else. The characters are brilliant and very 3-d. The art is very nice, but nothing too special. panel for panel, Watchmen is the best comic/grahic novel ever written

Great book and it arrived quickly - thanks.

ps. Don't lend it to anybody, this is the third one Ive had to buy.

Harry.

this is one of the best stories I have ever read. I love the plot development and the ending was a huge suprize. If you like conspiracy & mystery stuff read this!

I'm not a comic book reader, ie. I don't buy or read comic books with any regualrity but this book is fantastic. Good story line, better than most novels. Well drawn and interesting characters. Someone told me theres a movie on this coming out but they'll probably screw that up. Highly recommended!

When I was a kid ('60s) I read comics, but those were just comics (in tone, style, and depth). As an adult, I do not read graphic novels, but I do read novels and non-fiction. So, it took a lot for me to buy this. However, I am very glad I did. Although not Tolstoy, it has an amazing level of depth for the form, and a really nice mixed media style. It uses a combination of graphic novel techniques (narration, dialogue, pure image, slow motion image, allusion by image, etc), written form, book within a book, and comic within a comic. Sometimes the techniques feel forced, but for the most part, they are very effective and drive the story arc and message. The comic within the comic model such that it has two stories intersecting is very effective and unlike anything I have seen before in a book (it is a movie technique). It gets the message across very powerfully.
I found this very readable and enjoyable once I got past the graphic novel aspect. That is, a book normally uses scene descriptions to help you understand the context, but these use drawings. So, far less text than a book and of course dialogue in balloons and all, but you get used to it.
I felt the ending was somewhat artificial, like the author was told to finish it up, but other than that, it is really worth reading if you enjoy literature.

Excellent read for a darker look into the minds of man. A cool spin on a world of superheros. i wouldnt recomend this book to those who dislike violence language because there is alot of it

I really enjoyed it. There are a lot of layers here and the art is first rate. Well worth it.

After years of hearing this graphic novel lauded as one of the greatest comics of all time (and admittedly intrigued by the buzz surrounding the upcoming film adaptation), I finally sat down and read Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' magnum opus.

And I was blown away.

Absolutely, completely enthralled and blown away by this "comic book" that transcends the boundaries and stigmas attached to its medium to become a truly compelling piece of literature, as stimulating and thought provoking as the works of Dickens or Faulkner.

I should point out that while I have always been a fan of superheroes, I am not an avid comic book reader; in fact, "Watchmen" is the first graphic novel I've ever purchased. I state this to illustrate that this is a work that can be enjoyed by anyone, not just comic book enthusiasts.

Everything about this book, even 20+ years after its original publication, is thrillingly fresh and compelling. Set in an alternate 1985 where Richard Nixon is serving his third term as president, one of the novel's many pleasures is seeing just how thoroughly thought out every aspect of this alternate history is. The story begins with the murder of a former masked hero (the book fittingly avoids the term "superhero," as only one of the characters has supernatural abilities), and what starts as a whodunit quickly escalates into a meditation on power, government, politics, technology, and the direction humanity is headed. Yes, the Cold War-era nuclear-holocaust material slightly dates the tale, but the theme of mankind's ever growing ability to destroy ourselves is still relevant today.

Yet for all its philosophizing, "Watchmen" remains firmly grounded in character study, and the costumed adventurers found withing are given incredibly complex psychologies. Everyone is a realistically flawed human being doing their best to figure out their place in the world. By the novel's end, you come to understand all the characters, even the ones who have done the most horrific things (including an attempted rape and some graphic murders). Moore and Gibbons do not pass judgment on their characters, leaving the reader to ultimately decide how he or she feels about each one.

The way the narrative is told is absolutely riveting, filled with flashbacks and concurrent scenes juxtaposed to maximum artistic effect. And in between each chapter is a wealth of supplemental materials to fill in the gaps of the novel's backstory, each done in the fashion of publications that exist in the Watchmen world (newspaper clippings, excerpts from fake novels, etc.). And artist Dave Gibbons expertly supports Moore's text with detailed artwork packed with symbolism and hidden meanings. You could easily spend hours pouring over the panels to find small symbolic details and hints of future plot twists. The final panel alone masterfully and succintly brings the work full-circle and is chilling in its implications.

In short, anyone who is a fan of literature (not just comic books) needs to read "The Watchmen." While I have high hopes for the film adaptation, it cannot hope to match the complexity, breadth, and depth of the source material. This is one of the most stimulating books I have read in a long time, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

It started off slow/confusing, but as you read more and learned more, it just became SO difficult to put this down! I picked up this book because my friends that love comics had told me it was a great book, and I wanted to read it in anticipation for the movie. I'm normally not a fan of comic books, but this one really kept me on the edge of my seat!

i read this after seeing the movie preview, and i have to say, it was my first foray into graphic novels but definitely will not be my last! it was a little disconcerting having to look at the pictures while reading the words at first, but once i got used to that, this novel moved quite fast. the alternate world the author and artist have created is fascinating, and the characters are extremely well-developed. a definite must-read.

I read this graphic novel in anticipation of the movie, and because it keeps showing up on best fiction lists.
I will preface this with the admission that I am a casual consumer of graphic novels, not a connoiseur.

I was impressed by the depth of the characters and their dilemmas. I can totally see how Watchmen influenced graphic novels and comics to come with its density and thoughtfulness, its antihero stance, and articulate commentary.

That said, having changed the future, I found it feeling a little dated, perhaps like listening to the Beatles. You realize the power of the message at the time, but from 2008, it isn't quite as fresh.

I much preferred Moore's "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." To me, that seemed timeless and yet carried the same emotional resonance as Watchmen.

Currently 22 years old but more relevant than ever, this story is one of the greatest novels EVER created-it's one of those things to read before you die and ideally before the movie comes out next March!! [sidebar: go to the offical site-you'll find it, and watch the trailer if you haven't already: OMG. That's all I'm saying. Here's hoping the movie does a good job of honoring this amazing book.]
Personally, I wouldn't read it if I was under 17, it's a bit strong on the violence, it's brutal, gory, very dark-though not without humor, but there are no excesses here; everything including the few sex scenes and strong language serves only to move the story forward.
In short, this is a work of SHEER GENIUS.

Although I come to this as someone quite new to graphic novels-picking them up because of the Iron Man movie this year and the ever brilliant Heroes, you have to trust me on this and after the first 3 pages, you'll be glad you did!
Without giving anything away, (I didn't have a clue about this when I picked it up, I got interested because of a vibrant movie magazine cover) it's a superhero/save the world deal in it's most basic essence.
Sometime in the late 1930s, regular joes, inspired by Superman comics and the like, decide to don costumes and fight the crime in their neighborhoods. For the most part, they don't actually have superpowers-except the blue guy, but the was due to an accident in the lab. Anyway, having a common goal, they come together.
In 1977, these vigilantes are outlawed so most of them retired and went into other ventures.
In 1985, the year the story is set in, it seems that someone is killing off these once masked heroes while Earth is fast approaching the brink of World War 3.
One still active, despite being a wanted man, is on the trail: What will he find? Will he live to tell the tale?? Will there be yet another war to end all wars???
Well now, there's only one way to find out-until March anyway, but come on, books are (99% of the time) always better!
From the first frame to the last and every single one in between, (provided we don't take Sally Jupiter's hair into consideration,) is FLAWLESS. And once the ride's finished, you'll want to go on it again.

An absolutely fantastic read, even if you're not usually interested in "comic books." The great artwork and a very compelling story will keep your attention from cover to cover. If you've caught the Watchmen movie trailer and it has peaked your interest, be sure to read the book first so you get the whole story instead of the edited and shortened Hollywood version. I can only hope the film lives up to this masterpiece.

I never really got into superhero comics, and while Watchmen is quite a bit more sophisticated than most of the ones I've been exposed to, it indulges in enough of the genre's brash fantasy to keep me from being as excited about it as a lot of people are. That said, I did really enjoy it. Alan Moore's alternate 20th century is more interested in its (mostly) mortal heros' politics and relationships than their powers and gadgets, and through their trials, it asks some good questions about social reform and the complex nature of human conflict. It is literate, well-structured, rich with subtext, and strikingly rendered.

Book arrived in short order and in excellent condition. The panels are high-quality, four-color separations that pop off the page, and the story is one of the standout pieces of fiction among the hundreds of books in the genre I've read. "Watchmen" is worth the time it takes to read and enjoy the unfolding tale.
And Amazon, as usual, took good care of me. Thanks.

This graphic novel is the best of its kind. The story line and illustrations are beautifully merged to create one very entertaining work of literature. I can't wait till the movie comes out...hopefully it will represent this graphic novel well.

Book was good. Reads easy and exciting. My 16 yr. old son recommends this as a good book.

While I was a huge comic fan as a kid, this was the first graphic novel I've read, and the first comic I've read in 8 years. It was a great reintroduction to a wonderful medium. I had always been more of a Marvel fan in my comic heyday, but DC held ingenuity I hadn't seen. The story is more believable than your traditional superhero vs. supervillian.

I decided to read "The Watchmen" after I heard that it had won a Hugo Award, and was on the Time list of top 100 novels. The Watchmen has set the bar high for graphic novels, and I look forward to dabbling more into this genre.

I think most people can relate to being so busy with daily life that you have little or no time to read. Thank goodness for the graphic novel. This piece of literature is very well known and very highly regarded by many enthusiasts. I finally found out why. If you are a reader of novels, please don't assume this giant sized "comic book" can't deliver. I assure you it does. The artwork is very good and the story telling and character development is top notch.
Watchmen is more of a social and political commentary of the Cold War / Post Cold War Era. It focuses on the weaknesses and flaws of the masked heros of the time and shows how imperfect they are. It's very well done. The characters have great depth and stunning psychological profiles. The novel sucks you in right away and never let's you go.
Watchmen does tend to show it's age and the ending does get a little corny, but these are very minor complaints as you can see by me giving it five stars. I can't imagine the movie being able to do the book justice. We'll have to wait and see.
Highly recommended. Not for children.

I do believe that this is a modern day classic work. It has been so long since I looked at anything like this. I have read Dostoevsky, Sartre, Camus, Nietzsche and many others. I cannot think why this work should be treated any differently. It is a work which makes you think. It also covers aspects of the graphic novel which can take you into the unreal or surreal. My only worry is that when Hollywood does it, it will destroy it, as it so often does, and disappoints us all by doing 'The Hollywood Ending', and in the process, put many people off enjoying the original...this book.

I came across this book on a BBC program. I believe the program was by Armando Ianucci, who I respect and realise to be very intelligent.

Anyway, I was intrigued enough by all the positives which were said in the program to seek Watchmen out. I checked out my local bookshop, and thought it a tad pricy for what is essentially a collection of graphic novels, which I used to read in my formative years. As I am now in my three hundredth year, I set about checking online for a better price.

Now I am a Scotsman, though now living in Ireland. I checked prices and decided to see if there would be any difference in price ordering from the Dubya country as opposed to UK or Ireland. I got a good deal from Amazon in US, though they said it was going to take three years to deliver. I did not care. I wanted it, and I got it... the next week, I think.

I was getting filthy looks from my family, due to lack of communication as my head was stuck in my 'comic', as my wife informed me, and my regression into childhood, which she then qualified as a condition I had never actually moved on from... this childhood thing.

The punchline, of course, is that I went into another shop the day after I finished Watchmen and saw it in the sale for a pound cheaper than I had paid for it.

The work created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons is one of those rarities that transcend genres. Rorschach is the main character and his personality makes one wonder if he's the good, the bad, or the ugly. Is he judge, jury, and executioner or is he the outlaw he seems to hunt? So if Rorschach is the "hero" who plays the villain? Ah, that is something you'll have to discover for yourself...I will tell you the "villain" has almost the same personality traits as Rorschach. As for the graphics....simply splendid. This is a book you'll kick yourself if pass on it.

Editor of the highly recommended novel: Fates by Georgiou, Tino Fates (2nd Edition)

Every once in a while a miracle occurs... and the miracle of comics is WATCHMEN! This tale is perfectly spun from the superheroes of old. Watchmen shows what graphic novels can achieve moving it from child's play into a piece of art. Words cannot describe the complexity, brilliance, or power that this novel brings. No one has ever achieved what Alan Moore has in this novel. He redefined the medium, he brought it to its knees. Inspiring and moving comics to intellectual pieces of talent. This masterwork is brilliant think of it as the Godfather of comics. Really nothing can describe it just read and be awestruck...

This isn't really a review (what more can be said?), but more about how became acquainted with this masterpiece.

I've never been big on comics, but recently I began reading manga (already an anime fan). I discovered Watchmen on a forum that was questioning whether this or a manga called 20th Century Boys is better, which is a tough choice, but I choose Watchmen because of the symbolism, metafiction, and because Dr. Manhattan is a god. Anyway, I decided to buy it a week later, and then after three days or so of reading (decided to spread the 12 chapters over 12 days. It was very hard to do.) I discovered that a film version is basically done and coming out next year. My God! I'm glad that I was able to read this before the movie's release, and I respect the long-lasting fans that have been much more patient in waiting for the project to come to fruition.

I love it. It's one if the best graphic novels I've read. I just hope the movie lives up to the book.

Whats ironic about re-reading this book now is the fact that the world is where it is. Poverty, homelessness, lack of tolerance, invasions, corrupt people and government, the human heart and our need to be loved and understood. Of course these aren't new things, BUT Watchmen does it in such a brilliant way. Can't wait to see if the movie does it justice.

This is a fantastic graphic novel. Do yourself a favor and immerse your mind into this book before the film version comes out next March. I looked around for it and I found it cheapest on Amazon.

This is the story behind the movie. It is a deeper insight - you can be a spoiler for all your friends. If you have any interest at all you have to read this!

Absolutely phenomenal book. I know you can buy it anywhere now that the movie's coming out but Amazon's price is the most reasonable by far. This book is worth every cent I paid and it's definitely worth owning. I loved it!