Watchmen ~Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons
–published 1995
–416 pages, DC Comics
–1988 Hugo Award
–4.5/5 stars
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes, “Who watches the watchmen?”
There are seminal works in the comic book medium, some that I have read and others that I have not. One of those that had been on my radar for years was the award-winning, critically acclaimed series Watchmen, written by Alan Moore. I am familiar with other works of Moore that I have really enjoyed (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Promethea) but had yet to read what is arguably his magnum opus. With the imminent release of the theatrical version of Moore’s creation, I had been debating whether or not to read this prior to seeing the film when it arrived as a birthday gift from my friend Scott. Knowing how glorious the League graphic novel was and how abhorrent the film turned out to be, I decided that it might be best to read this now in case the film turns out to be one of those that would scare me away from ever wanting to pick up the book.
Reading this story almost entirely over the bulk of the last two Sundays, with football playing quietly in the background, has turned out to be a very rewarding experience.
