WATCHMEN?

One of my all-time favorite comic reading experiences. Masterful control over story flow by means of its regimented panel structure. Amazing characters steeped in human frailty, but no less compelling or beautiful for their weakness. Powerful themes interwoven to great satisfaction. Fascinating writing structure based in irony - is there anything more postmodern? Dense as hell, and fascinating to lose oneself in. A very emotional read.

It's definitely one of those books that I can pick up every once in a while, turn to any given chapter, and enjoy. Been several years since I've read it, and just off the top of my head the only criticisms I have to level against it deal with its sci-fi touches. Mentions of psychics once or twice weaken its ties to reality, the Big Plan is of course wildly far-fetched and cribbed from another source (though credited), and I always had a bit of a hard time with the idea that all heroes in the world are just normal guys and gals...with the sole exception of Doctor Manhatten - just seemed an odd foundation for a realistic setting.

QUOTE: And JB -- I've never understood your problem with the "aren't they all" statement -- I always assumed that all Moore meant was that "imaginary stories" are no less "important" than "canonical" stories, and that decades of Superman stories are about to be declared "imaginary" in 1986 shouldn't diminish whatever emotional connection one might have with them.

I feel about 95% sure from the context of the story that you're dead-on in interpreting the line as Moore paying respect to the DC stories about to be "wiped out" by CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. But if anything I'd say his observations about imaginary stories go one step further in their respect. When he asks, "Aren't they all?", there are no caveats that he's talking specifically about DC stories or even limiting himself to superhero stories in general - when he says "all" he's connecting imaginary stories to the whole, wide tapestry of storytelling.

I think it's a lovely sentiment.

Watchmen was awesome.  What it did to the industry was a shame.

edited because I can't spell "Watchmen" correctly.

QUOTE: Watchman was awesome.  What it did to the industry was a shame.

I'd amend that to say that what it did to the superhero genre was a shame. What it did for the industry at large is another matter altogether, as it was surely one of the books that paved the way for Vertigo, for SANDMAN, and for graphic novels that truly measure up to the implied depth of the term. The former outcome is very regrettable, the latter hugely laudable.

In the first post to this thread, Dave quotes Alan Moore from the article. The bit I found most interesting and pleasing was when Alan said "My book is a comic book. Not a movie, not a novel. A comic book." He makes no apologies for what it is and I, for one, am pleased.