This comic was recommended to me, but I would never have picked it up myself - it looks like and has the feel of the old superhero comics which I do not like at all (except for The Spirit). But this one is deeper than you might think - it's a serious looking parody on these very supermancomics, which makes it nice. I still don't really go for the looks of this comic, but the story is really good.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about "Watchmen"? I first read this graphic novel when it first was published. I was newbie at collecting comic books and a good friend said "Hey man, you've got to check this out." And I did and was floored, never had we (comic book readers) seen anything of this depth and caliber. I mean, "The Dark Knight Returns" was ground breaking, but "Watchmen" was something totally different. It was a novel, a incredibly detailed journey to an alternate superhero reality and it worked. I absolutely love this book and I am looking forward to Zack Snyder's interpretation. If you haven't read this book and you love comic books, then what are you waiting for?

This makes about the 10th time I've been through this series. It really was an amazing turning point for comics. I caught it a few years late, but the impact was no less effective. The shifts between current and flashback, the relationship of the side stories to events in the characters lives - and particularly the dark, adult subject matter explaining the motivations of the various flawed characters made it so real - a little too real at my first exposure.

Although it's not the most clever story in the whole, my favorite character to analyze has always been Dr. Manhattan. As kids we played superheroes and the inevitable escalation of powers always led to the taunt "well, Superguy (or whatever) can do anything". As an adult, Watchmen explored the idea of exactly what could happen to a person that can basically do anything - how it affects his mental shift, values and relationships. It remains the most intriguing mindplay from the series, at least for me.

I don't have to extol the values of the series; they're well documented. This series and the Dark Knight Returns series was what brought my attention back to comic books from my grade school days with Jack Kirby and Stan Lee.

I finally bought Watchmen after hearing and reading about its greatness, and looking for something epic to fill the void I've seen in comics recently, I decided to give it a read.

Watchmen truly deserves its title as one of the greatest graphic novels/comics ever, although i do believe it is a TAD bit overrated. Granted, the character development is unmatched as well as the amount of detail that goes into every panel of every page of every chapter. However, i felt that the story progressed a bit too slowly for me. Furthermore, the ending (which I won't give away) was, for lack of a better term, dumb. I mean...are you serious?maybe it's just me, but what the "villian" does in the ending was surely questionable in the sense that I, nor the heroes of this novel, couldn't take him seriously.

With all that said, and in all its failings, it still has to be one of the greatest things i've ever read, merely for the character development and detail that was put into this. They storyline is in the B+ range, especially for nowadays when the villians motives are so commonplace. I know, it shouldn't hurt Watchmen because it was probably Watchmen that influenced so many later stories, but the simplicity of Watchmen's ending doesn't hold true as it once might've. The art surely fits the storyline.

I would rank this as in the same range of work as a piece like "Kingdom Come" by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. Definitely a collector's item, but just slightly overhyped by various people. 12/13 stars if possible, because the last chapter (in my opinion) didn't hold up as well as the others.

Brace yourself. This is the contrarian review. I've had this recommended to me since the 1980s, and finally decided to put my nickel on the counter to see what it's about. I'm underwhelmed.

It's got some nice things going on. There are a few reversals of loyalty, some of them more grounded in making it through the day than in high ideals. That works for me. Sanity as a negotiable quantity works for me, too, I'm sorry to say. Moral and social issues, in combination, dominate the last one or two of the original comic series. Those matter, at least to any thinking reader. Open-ended (mistakable for weak) choices left Adrian where he wanted to be - I hoped for better. Even so, I follow along with all of that. But.

I come for the art, too. Gibbons's drawing and Higgins's coloring narrate, effectively, even if they don't innovate. I want my eyes to learn, to be brought to a higher level of seeing a story told. Didn't happen. Nice, but only nice. And, I have to admit, the story didn't snag me until the last two or three of these dozen-ish comic book reprints.

I like comics. I like good ones a lot. I like this one. I just don't like it all that much. I'm not sure I'll keep it. Maybe back then it advanced the frontiers of comics - but today is today, and it doesn't.

-- wiredweird

Brace yourself. This is the contrarian review. I've had this recommended to me since the 1980s, and finally decided to put my nickel on the counter to see what it's about. I'm underwhelmed.

It's got some nice things going on. There are a few reversals of loyalty, some of them more grounded in making it through the day than in high ideals. That works for me. Sanity as a negotiable quantity works for me, too, I'm sorry to say. Moral and social issues, in combination, dominate the last one or two of the original comic series. Those matter, at least to any thinking reader. Open-ended (mistakable for weak) choices left Adrian where he wanted to be - I hoped for better. Even so, I follow along with all of that. But.

I come for the art, too. Gibbons's drawing and Higgins's coloring narrate,
but never innovate. I want my eyes to learn, to be brought to a higher level of seeing a story told. Didn't happen. Nice, but only nice. And, I have to admit, the story didn't snag me until the last two or three of these dozen-ish comic book reprints.

I like comics. I like good ones a lot. I like this one. I just don't like it all that much. I'm not sure I'll keep it. Maybe back then it pushed the frontiers back - but today is today, and it doesn't.

-- wiredweird

One of the best novels I've read, period. Add in fantastic drawings and a gritty, realistic world and you have a fantastic must-read for everyone.

I've been collected comics for the last 20 years, and I never had the time to read this series until someone bought this for me as a gift. I heard all the rumors of how amazing this book was for its time, but after reading it and making up my own mind I can honestly say that the book is a tad overrated. Now don't take this the wrong way, its a great book with a very deep message, but if you've been an active comic reader for the last 10 years you would agree that this book is a little on the tame side compared to todays products.

Overall its a good book, but I wouldn't put it in my top 10 list of all time favorite comics.

Being a comic book fan I figured this was a must read. I hate the hype this novel receives because I believe it creates unattainable expectations. While I think the hype hurt this novel for me, I have to agree this was an amazingly well crafted graphic novel. From the stories within the story to the inclusion of "newspaper articles" and biographies, this book sets the bar for what a great graphic novel can be. Within the short span of 12 chapters, Alan Moore has created a universe that will suck you in. The only reason I give this a 4 rather than a 5 is because it didn't quite live up to the grandiose expectations I had. While it was impressive, I don't think I would call it perfect. I do, however, agree it deserves to be on anyone's "Must Read List."

This is constantly regarded as the graphic novel that started it all. Graphic novels still aren't favorably looked upon by many, but if you look at this story with it's complex psychological overviews of every single character and its amazing story, it may as well be regarded as fine literature...as a matter of fact, it is. Time Magazine named it one of their "100 Best Books" Not 100 best comic books...best books. The story and artwork presented here tells why the heroes feel the way they do and you actually feel for them.

The only graphic novel on the list of 1001 books you should read in your lifetime, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen is an interesting deconstruction of the superhero mythos. The story is a little dated, as the original 12 issues were published in the late 80s and deal with more Cold War issues such as the constant immanent threat of nuclear war, but many of the questions raised would still be relevant today. It is also a study into what it takes to be a hero, and the lengths that one hero would go to to ensure world peace.

The art is a little sparse, but it fits for the tone and feel of the story. Told in a more cinematic style, you should pay attention to the panel flow and the stories in the story to find hidden correlations in the story.

Overall, even with the slightly dated material, it is an amazingly well thought out story, both in dialogue and the visual aspect of the story.

Normally when I see or hear a lot of hype about something, I choose to ignore the subject, due to being disappointed too many times in the past. But with this product I'm glad I gave in and tried it.
I've never read a graphic novel in which the characters are as well fleshed out as these.
I can recommend this award winning book to anyone who wouldn't usually pick up a graphic novel.
(Winner of the Hugo Award.
One of Time Magazine's 100 best novels.)

Normally when I see or hear a lot of hype about something, I choose to ignore the subject, due to being disappointed too many times in the past. But with this product I'm glad I gave in and tried it.
I've never read a graphic novel in which the characters are as well fleshed out as these.
I can recommend this to anyone who wouldn't usually pick up a graphic novel.

I heard about Watchmen back in the 80's when I was still in middle school but was not able to obtain a copy, not many comic shop's back then, so when I realized Amazon was offering a copy I jumped at the oppertunity.
This book lives up to all the hype I heard when I was younger, and since i was old enough to understand was was going on back then it was easy to remember all feeling's and emotion's of that decade. I love that Moore put in the "villian reviles is plan to heroes" cliche in the book with the twist that the heroes, armed with the information, were powerless to stop him. It's a good read, worth adding to any home library or graphic/comic book collection. Now I just have to wait and see how the movie does, can it live up to the book?

Every page is like a lesson in craft. This is how its done. Textbook.

This is one of the definitive works of this genre. While the artwork is not outstanding, the story is deep and compelling. Watchmen is one of my favorites.

If You've Never Read This... Well, for the comic book lover then it's a must read. It's funny how often I run into someone who reads comics that hasn't read it. This is a staple, must read book...

Having said that, modern comic book readers will be reminded how much better comic book art and coloring looks now compared to when this was released. (Not that Dave Gibbons is not great because he is, but the look of comics has greatly improved) Also, this was groundbreaking when it was first published, now it's quite common to see SuperHeroes with so many flaws. Still, when you read something like Ultimates, it's important to know who first crafted such a tale.

Despite any disclaimer I may lay on a young, modern comic book reader who has no memory of newspaper print paper, limited color pallet or any idea what a thought baloon is... Watchmen is still the most amazingly crafted example of comic book art ever. This story never moved me much emotionally, but amazed me at how it was crafted, and made me as an adult believe in superheroes again.

The best graphic novel ever created.

Buy it.

Wolfe

I can remeber it all so clearly, picking up "Watchmen" for the first time in the late 80's...shortly after devouring Frank Miller's "The Dark Night Returns".

The Watchmen treats us all like adults, and gives us the depth, detail, artistry, and excellence that defines the benchmark in the genre. This is high art and a literary masterpiece - if you are newbie, this is simply not to be missed.

I own the original series, the softcover collection, and the Absolute edition. My kids will read it when they are old enough.

A truly fun and entertaining read. I didn't get too much into comics until 2 years ago, so I'm glad I waited to read this. I don't think I'd have appreciated it without a solid comics knowledge.

No, really. This is one of the most amazing books I have ever read.

This book tells the story of a world in the year 1985, when the doomsday clock is five minutes to midnight(the end of the world) and in New York happen the dead of one "MASKED ADVENTURER"(HEROE WITH NO SUPERPOWER) and one of his old pal, begins to investigate his dead and convince others to help him because this person who kill they former teammate is related to create the world war III, no more spoiler. I begin to understand the meaning of "DINAMIC ART" that means the secuence of actions are drawed step by step, and of course gives you an excellent piece of pop art. The story has a lot of twist that will blow your mind. I want to see the movie because I think is going to be really difficult to make.

I have seen several articles about the new generation of graphic novels, the increasing acceptance of them in literary circles, and also many guides that claim to help turn you into a fan of comics. Invariably these have cited several major works, and Watchmen is one of them. I have only read it once, but plan on reading it several more times. Watchmen has so many connections, so many story arcs and sub-arcs, and because all of them are nearly flawlessly crafted to fit together, I know this is a novel that no one can fully grasp with one reading. Many say that the drawing style was revolutionary. But, I don't feel like I can comment on that, being that it was published before I was born. I enjoyed the contrasts and almost harshness of some panels, but it might not be palatable for all. This graphic novel was an interesting read, contained perplexing moral conundrums (for me), and was beautifully drawn. I will enjoy this novel for years to come, and encourage all others to give it a try.

This is a classic and well worth the price. Very far ahead of its time, and still a great read.

Superheroes are never messy, tired, weak...

You name it. The Watchmen are all the above and Moore. Under all that spandex and leather is a human being; flawed and scared.

The whodunit on steroids; The Watchmen is a glance over the shoulders of a dysfunctional team of retired costumed adventurers investigating the murder of an apparently amoral collegue. As the mystery unfolds, they catch glimpses of themselves and their human frailty. The limitations and personality flaws are both the affliction and advantage of the team as they hinder and guide themselves to the awful truth.

The characters are defined well and distinguished almost as they would be in a movie or a novel. From their costume choices and methods of operation, they are exeedingly individual. Journals and bios are referenced to indicate origins of profiles. You are given the "why". I'm afraid for the comic book genre and I'm a huge fan of it. The standard has been raised...quite unexpectedly...and quite high.

The Watchmen...Damn.

Simple the best edition available. The color is incredible and the giant sized artwork makes it possible to notice details like never before.
The added character sketches are also cool.
A must have for all serious Watchmen fans.

Buy this book. Seriously, you must. If you've never read a graphic novel before then, believe me, Watchmen will convince you that the form has merit. And even if you never read another graphic novel you'll still be able to say "I've read Watchmen" if the topic ever pops up, and people will respect you for it.
If you are a fan of graphic novels and you still haven't read Watchmen then WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU? It is an absolute masterpiece! Everything in this book is wonderful: the characters are so perfectly realized, the world they live is so utterly convincing, and the story that unfolds is without a doubt one of the most riveting and poignant tales ever told. Oh, and it's about superheroes.
Basically, this is a must-read book. It's brilliant and I'm sure you will enjoy it. And, trust me, you really want to be able to say that you've read it.

I absolutely loved this comic. The Character development is brilliant and is one of the strong points of the story. The story line is intriguing and is always surprising; in fact it was so good that it was extremely hard to put this one down. In the Watchmen Alan Moore has created a masterful universe especially through the atmosphere the characters live in. This comic is perfect for any new comer to comics (although I don't recommend this to kids 12 and under) and is equally perfect to veteran comic readers. The character Rorschach is one character you will never forget and he really is another high point in the novel. I should warn you that the ending is a little iffy but if you think about it for a while it makes sense to end the comic book that way. I cannot wait until the movie version of this comic comes out next year, but until then I will most definitely read the Watchmen as many times as I can!

The Watchmen is a very detailed and deep work. The characters are very interesting, and realistic. The book also touches on many issues including nuclear war, homosexuality, rape, violence, love, and the meaning of life. Not bad for a comic book. Alan Moore is a very interesting person, and a great writer!

This graphic novel was the first I have read in a long time.
I was introduced to the title from some casual friends on a message board.
The writing in this book is amazing and captivating. The characters are vibrant and believable (even if it is about superheroes!).
The subtext and the social commentaries found within ring with eerie harmony with what is happening today with current global struggles and corporate involvment in our daily lives.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted a though provoking graphic novel. Just don't blame me when you read it in two days.

This is graphic novel perfection. I could not stop reading this on my first read. On my second the magic was still there. Anyone who doubts the vaule of the graphic novel should weep in shame because of this book

This was my first serious graphic novel and to be honest when I first opened the book I was turned off by the art in looked like your typical "The Phantom" strip which as a child always thought was boring but after a while it grew on me and turned into an amazement at the detail that was placed into each panel as well as the dynamics of them. The story was not a turn off. From page one I was interested and had me reading late into the night. No wonder it was on Times Greatest Novels list. I can't wait to see how this movie is done. Hopefully it comes out more like the new Batman (Dark Knight) movies then Spiderman, Hulk, Fantastic Four (gag) or other pop superhero movies. A must read for anyone looking to branch out from typical reads (books) to more exciting mediums (graphic novels, web comics, manga, video games, interactive novels, etc)

This is the book that got me into graphic novels. Never before did I think a graphic novel was capable of something like this, but Watchmen achieves something that would only be possible in the graphic novel format. My expectations were absurdly high when I first started reading it, and somehow they were exceeded. Bravo to Alan Moore for creating such a perfect piece of fiction.

To start out, let me first say that if you are not in the mood to have to think about the importance of your existence, and how much life really is insignificant and a waste of time, then please do not read this. However, if you are not the faint of heart, this is an amazing story told with artwork to die for, and is the best example of modern comics being aimed at a higher level of audience.

Its central theme being the cold war struggle with the clock approaching doomsday sets the tone for the story right away. Doomsday seems more possible then ever in this alternate history, and it is up to these retired vigilantes to do something about it.

Vigilante justice is usually more about vengeance then actual justice usually, however the Watchmen is an example of vigilante justice taken to the level of trying to save the world.

One of the Greatest reads that I have enjoyed. A Graphic Novel masterpiece. A masterfull piece of writting and illustration that gives strength to the Genre. This cemented Alan Moore as one of my Favorite writers.

Watchmen is probably one of the greatest comics ever written. Unfortunately in today's modern time the story has lost a lot of what made it great because the direction that the industry has taken. With everyone going for darker, grittier stories Watchmen just hasn't been able to stand the test of time. A great story but, you can't go in with a regular state of mind when reading it. It's a great story and worth the read.

If you like Watchmen this is a perfect way to have the whole story neatly stored in one place, with juicy extra material to go along with it.

This hardcover boxed set is worthy of the Absolute title. Paper quality is superb, excelent hardcover work and after the 12 chapters there is a collection of texts and drawings by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, all telling about the first ideas that generated Watchmen.
This edition is recommended to all readers, the new ones and even old fans. This is a book to pass along to the following generations.
I won't spend too much time talking about the history itself: it's the best coomic book EVER, full stop.

Absolute Watchmen is one of the most influential graphic novels within the past 30 years. Written in the 80s, Watchmen was one of the first mature titles that didn't involve your typical superheroes. Watchmen is about a group of superheroes who basically watch over people and stop villains. The Absolute edition is absolutely beautiful, with biographies of the characters, interviews, and other extra content. I found myself reading the entire thing, including the extra content within a week. It really does suck you in. DC decided to re-color the comic with the original artist watching over the process and I felt like they did a very good job with it. The colors look very good compared to the original. Overall I think you should atleast read Watchmen once to appreciate how far comics have gone. The Absolute Edition is the best possible presentation of it.

Watchmen was terrific when it was published as a maxi-series by DC comics in the late 1980s, and the power of the original work was only heightened when it was transformed into a graphic-novel. The innovative storytelling techniques that mixed a regular comic book, a comic book within the regular comic book, and other learned studies of the characters within the regular comic combined to produce a masterpiece of creative energy.

The storytelling and artwork are as cohesive as you'll ever find, and if you're like me, you'll find yourself picking this book up every few years to give it a fresh read.

Highly recommended.

If you are looking for a perfectly executed Absolute Edition to what I and many others consider the best graphic novel of all time, look no further. The packaging, as well as the re-print quality and the extras are all top-notch. The only minor complaint that I have is that it smells a little funny when it's new. Kinda like chemicals. Anyway, a must have.

This is my second graphic novel and it won't be my last. I found myself reading this novel every spare minute I had. I was reluctant to put it down and go to work. If you want your definition of hero re-written, then this book is for you.

Watchmen is surely the best graphic novel ever: perfect writing, perfect drawings, great story. If you don't already own it I warmly recommend it!

Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created a parallel Earth where Richard Nixon never resigned, Robert Redford ran for President and Costumed Vigilantes were good and evil...and very, very real. "Watchmen" plays out like a genuine novel in that there is a terrific story being told amongst the stunning art work. So much so, that the dialog could easy function as a standing novel.

By now, must know of the plot. In short, the old crew of Vigilantes are being killed or driven into exile, the world is teetering on the brink of nuclear war, and the surviving old heroes must sort it all out. The cast of characters are brilliant, from Rorschach to Adrian Veidt as they deal with the all too modern topics of terrorism, treachery and governments who lie to force agendas. Despite the plot being set in the 70's, this could easily be New York City 2007. The twists are wildly imaginative, and the plots within the plot are all solid. I particularly liked the kid reading the comic book who spent his time alongside the Newspaper Vendor/Chorus character.

Just as brilliant are the narrative bridges, made up as excerpts from books, magazine articles or business transactions. These color the story in ways the artwork couldn't, and texture the characters. This was the series that redefined an art-form, and continues to influence. Even the TV show Heroes nodded towards this work when they made Skylar a watch repairman. Titles like Frank Miller's Sin City, 300 and Alan Moore and David Lloyd'sV for Vendetta were born of "Watchmen's" impact. You want to see when the modern graphic novel exploded? Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' "Watchmen" is where to start.

"The Watchmen" is a tour de force of the graphic novel genre, showing Alan Moore at his best. Moore invents a graphic universe, with a unique cast of characters whose interesting histories and personalities add complexity and fascination to the entire book.

The central character of the work ("hero" is too happy a term) is "Rorschach," a psychopathic masked avenger who is tracking down whoever is killing off a cast of masked former crime fighters, who are now in middle age if now retirement. In the world of The Watchmen, "adventuring" by masked vigilantes has been made illegal. Most of the superheroes have gone along with the law, and have more-or-less happily hung up their masks, cowls and crime-fighting devices to attempt the uneasy adjustment to normal life. Moore creates a complete reality that spans generations, where now-elderly retired crime fighters have passed the baton to a younger (now middle-aged) generation. But the stirrings of adventure lie just below the surface, and it doesn't take much perturbation to bring them to the surface.

Moore's heroes seem familiar, but they're not. Night Owl, a paunchy and bespectacled nerd, wears around in a slightly-ludicrous owl costume, complete with wings and night-vision goggles. In a bit of (I think) intentional humor, his arctic outfit is actually shaped and colored to resemble a snowy owl. Ozymandias is a wealthy acrobat, obsessed with ancient Egypt, and now spins his former glory (via toys and merchandise) into gold. Silk Specter, a leggy beauty 15 years younger than the rest, is living with Doctor Manhattan, a scientist whose 1959 turn in a radiation chamber that rendered him, naked, blue, emotionally tone-deaf, and with the godlike ability to transfer between worlds and dimensions. Not to mention that he likes to go around without clothes.

The story starts with the gruesome death of The Comedian by persons unknown. After the cops leave, Rorschach arrives (through the broken high-rise from which the victim made his unintended exit) and the fun begins. The rest of the novel spins a story of dark personal secrets, an not-so-innocent world unaware of impending danger, and the desire to take up old passions -- all set against a world in which political powers are posturing and threatening each other with annihilation. The heroes spend a great deal of time dealing with their personal issues -- former loves, the loss of friends, parenthood and aging -- while wondering whether and how to engage in the growing turmoil around them.

Moore's heroes are not bound by the rules of "good guy" niceness that we might expect in comic books. They curse, intimidate, attack, manipulate, act psychopathic and work outside the rules, leaving behind a high body count. It's no wonder they were outlawed by more decent people. The strip deals with quite dark issues -- warfare, murder, rape, abandonment, even free will and determinism. It is extremely violent, sexy and rough -- way too much for even the PG-13 crowd. The story is told as an interlocking and overlapping narrative, with lots of meaningful repetition, flashbacks ad even a tragic comic-within-a-comic whose plot mirrors the novel's own. The plot is fascinating, and will keep your reading -- though much too quickly to grasp every detail. Like any good book, this one needs to be read and reread to catch the way it plays with history and characters.

I could go on and on. "The Watchmen" is an unexpected masterpiece, taking the comic book form far from its banal origins, to tell a tale that is repellent and fascinating and extremely well-executed. It's one of the books you must read before you die.

Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons is my absolute favorite graphic novel. I just finished re-reading it. It's actually the comic that inspired all of my magical approaches to using comics as a magical tool/technique. I'm also always amazed at just how in-depth the story is...how much detail is put into the characters, even the minor ones.

I also have my favorite characters, which are the Comedian, Rorschach, and Ozymandias. I like all of them because they stand out as fairly unique characters even in a comic book that already has unique characters. They have very distinctive personalities...

The comedian is a very amoral character and that amorality allows him to embrace perspectives that enable him to move past situations that would stop people. He knows his nature and utterly accepts without the moral qualms that many people would have. I like his character not because of his actions, but because he is so at peace with who and what he is.

Rorschach...well my favorite scene is where someone attacks him and he uses only his shirt to essentially trap the person...your hands, my perspective. Again his is a perspective that allows him to see past the obvious constraints and find solutions where other people won't go.

And ozymandias embodies lateral thinking overall...again that perspective, that way of taking a situation and turning it from a disaster into something else. Plus a continued focus on improving himself, being able to see what he can do...and not letting limitations stop him.

I admire anyone who takes a different perspective and makes it work.

Good book...go read it if you haven't...cause it definitely applies to the post 9/11 world.

It might be an old book, but it still holds weight today.there is nothing else to say other then, you MUST read, and re-read to catch everything in it

What can I say that hasn't been said already. This is the "Hamlet" of the comic book world. The "Godfather" of comics, if you will. The "Moving Pictures" of the comic book industry. What Moore and Gibbons have crafted here is a wonder unrivaled in the comics world. The sheer level of detail that they put into their work is astounding. Literally every single panel on every single page contains something important, some detail that if noticed, will make the reading experience that much more magical. I savored over this book for about two weeks before I finished it. It took me about two hours per chapter. This isn't the type of book that you can just breeze through, like many of today's comics. You will find yourself deeply drawn into this world and the lives of its characters. They will become like old friends to you. The mystery, the intrigue, the action...its all fantastic. You are in for a fantastic experience when you read The Watchmen.

After hearing that the book THE WATCHMEN is at last being made into a movie, I thought now was a good time to reread it and see how it would stand up today. I first read this back in the late 80's and it is just as mind catching a story as it was then. Still love it. Hope the movie does the book justice....but why wait for the movie READ THE BOOK FIRST! OUTSTANDING!

A complex work, with many themes. In the present, super powered vigilantes are outlawed, and someone has started to murder them. The insanity of possible nuclear war is always lurking in the background.

Political criticism, criticism of the comics industry and genre stultification, and integrity versus pragmatism.

Conspiracy theory vigilante Rorscach goes back to work to discover what is going on, gathering allies to get to the truth.

The conflict eventually involves others of their own fraternity.