Okay, so I read the rest of Watchmen.
It has, overall, left me with conflicting feelings.
I think that the only way I can determine exactly what I think of this graphic novel is to weigh the pros against the cons. (Yes, I actually do this on a regular basis. Perhaps it is a bit too anal, but honestly it just makes me feel better. What can I say, lists give me a secure feeling. They are structured and to the point.)
So, here are the pros:
The story was more interesting as it reached the end. This could be attributed to the fact that more action was taking place at the end of the comic.
I liked how the story was developed. The themes and characters intertwined nicely. The presentation of art panels was thoughtful and well planned.
It was somewhat historically influenced. Although, history was skewed to give it a fictional flavor (or, to give it that “we’re all going to die” or “it’s the end of the world” viewpoint.
There were recurring references to certain people (Veidt), objects (nostalgia, the anti-rape poster), diners (Gunga something… Gunga Diner?). It was kind of fun to see these things hidden in the back ground. Or to recognize that Rorschach was referencing a line from the pirate comic (the one the kid at the newsstand was reading) when he was on the owlship.
I liked the pirate comic and that it occurred simultaneously with the actual comic. It’s dark theme of a man who becomes the very thing/person/monster that destroyed his world is almost poetic, in a masochistic kind of way. It also reflects the overall theme of what’s going on with some of the Watchmen. Rorschach, Veidt, the Comedian, in the end they all become the monsters they used to strive to fight and destroy.
And then the Cons:
The story was more interesting as it reached the end. This may have been because of the fact that I was almost to the end of the comic.
Slow-paced.
Depressing. There is no upside. Moore gives you a glimmer of hope that things may turn out alright and then snatches it away again.
The characters. I didn’t like or connect with any of them. Perhaps, this is what the writer was trying to achieve. Perhaps, he wanted us to not like the characters in order to point out how messed up the human race is, and how worthless/unlikeable/despicable we all really are.
Here are some of my own character descriptions. (You may see why I don’t like these characters).
Laurie is bitter. She never stops bitching and whining until the end, when she’s a blond (Is there a correlation… I don’t know:)
Dr. Manhattan is apathetic. Why should we care about him if he doesn’t care about us? Yes, he has that moment at the end when he’s like “Ya know, I think there’s something nice about the human race,” but then, after Veidt’s stunt, he’s just like “Ah well, it’s only a million lives lost… Oooh, is that neutron about to bond with that atom?”
The owl guy just lets everybody push him around. This is great for Laurie since she clearly has control issues and needs a man she can push around, but it’s not so interesting for the reader.
I might actually like Rorschach. . . if he wasn’t a right wing extremist murderer. Although he is the obvious crazy in the bunch, he is also the only one who tries to do what’s right at the end of the comic. The only person who wants justice for the all the people who were killed is a crazed killer; now that’s irony.
I don’t really understand Veidt’s personality. I didn’t realize that “geniuses” and “intellectuals” were so prone to moral fanaticism that is more similar to some sort of religious quest than to the pursuit of a world which values knowledge.
The Comedian is just afraid. He’d rather kill or rape to get what he wants then actually have to deal with people.
So, basically, people are all scum.
The world is a horrible place.
People should hate everything and everybody because of these previous two principles.
So, those are the pros and cons. Now, here is my opinion. I thought the comic was well-written and well-planned. However, I disliked the characters and I thought the storyline dragged. Really, did it have to go on for that long? I understand what was going on in the story. I understand the point the author is trying to make, or at least, I think I understand his point; that apathy, not caring, can be just as bad as having a hand in the hurt and destruction; that everything needs checks and balances. Who watches the Watchmen? Someone has to, because heroes are just as messed up as we are. And I like that point. I think it’s important. But I didn’t enjoy reading the story. I think, since other comics have made a similar statement (although I don’t know if they did it so dramatically), that there may have been a more interesting way to say this message.
And that’s all I’m saying about that.
