The Classics: Watchmen Reviewed

I read Watchmen for the first time a few years ago (Around the time of the movie's announcement) not really knowing much about it. At first, when I was at Borders and saw it, I thought that since the hardcover and paperback copies have different covers, that there was more than just one volume and it was an on-going series. Wrong. The story consists of twelve issues long and is a graphic novel of epic proportions. Alan Moore the writer and Dave Gibbons the artist make a wonderful team with dark and dreary dialect (Especially with Rorschach) and graphic, bloody art (Once again, with Rorschach). The premise of the story is about a group of former super heroes who used to be the city's team but after the years have become vigilante. They've all seemed to have gone their separate ways hiding in the shadows and from their past (Except for the character Ozymandias who is living and bathing in the fame of it all). The novel takes place during the cold war and Nixon as president. With war against Russia increasing and a nuclear war on the horizon, a Doomsday Clock has been set up predicting the nukes. At the beginning of each chapter in the story, it shows the clock getting closer and closer to it's destination with blood dripping down. Meanwhile, with all of this happening in the background, someone is killing off costumed heroes with The Comedian, a member of the Minute Men from long ago, starting off the death spree by being thrown out a window (Don't worry guys, that wasn't a spoiler. It's in the first 3 pages of the novel). And that my friends is how Watchmen got it's logo with the smiley face with a red stain over the left eye. The Comedian's logo being the face and his blood from the fall... yeah you know what I'm getting at. Rorschach, the only one of the former super heroes who has the balls to still be a hero is by far my favorite thanks to his dark and depressing speech and actions. All in all, apart from Dr. Manhattan's junk flying all over the place throughout the story, this is definitely one of my favorite comics of all time. I even had the pleasure of seeing all twelve single issues of this epic in person at a local comic store that was near my relatives house. Asking price? $200. Thanks, but I'll stick with my used copy of the compilation I got at a used book store for $8 in Chicago. So with all of this said in mind, please comic book lovers, if you haven't read Watchmen yet, I STRONGLY advice you too asap. You're missing out. Do not weasel out either and watch the movie first because the whole book will be ruined. Not to mention, the movie changed the ending for some unknown frakin reason and the book ending is a billion times better. Read.This.Book.

Hardcover Edition

The Secret Service by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons REVIEWED

Mark Millar, (popular for his hit Kick-Ass) has recently come out with yet another series called The Secret Service with the artist phenomenon Dave Gibbons (Mostly known for Watchmen). Working with Gibbons has been one of Millar's biggest dreams since he was a teenager he's said in many articles about this new title. I had the pleasure of reading it last night and wow. This book has potential. And don't worry Kick-Ass fans. This story still delivers excessive gore (just in the first few pages a few kidnappers are beheaded by wire. Yes, badassery at its finest), just not as much. From what the first issue shows, it's about a struggling young guy who's life is going nowhere until his uncle who works for a secret organization takes an interest in him. The young guy is from London and you get to see a bit on how they talk with their slang which is... interesting to say the least. This Secret Service is apparently Gibbons and Millar's equivalent to Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. and their own take on it. Neat concept huh? I am excited for the next issue whenever it hits the shelves. But since it's Millar we're talking about, we probably won't be seeing it for a few months. He sure does love to take his time.

Issue One

Watchmen Prequels?

Word has gotten around in the comic world that there are to be a few releases this summer of 2012 that may be a bit controversial... Watchmen prequels. Some hate it and some love it. I'm on the border... would I like to know what my favorite character (Rorschach) was up to before the events that took place in Watchmen? You bet your comic collection i do... but am I weary of such an iconic graphic novel such as Watchmen falling? Yes. DC apparently announced that there would be seven series released each varying from 4-6 issues with a Curse of the Crimson Corsair mini story in the back. An epilogue will also be released after this event is over. I guess we'll all just have to wait to see what happens in the months to come...

The Rorschach Promotional Ad