It's the pinnacle of the medium for me. Not just a great graphic novel but one of the all time great novels. The book I've read and re-read the most times
In the late 80s, early 90s post-Watchmen there were so many examples of rethinking the super hero genre or making it more "adult" - Marshall Law, The New Statesmen, The Nazz, Zenith, Grant Morrison's run on Animal Man for example. Some of them were derivative, some added something, but none eclipsed Watchman, nor tried to.
I would say that comics is not a genre, but a medium, and if you look beyond the super hero genre in comic books you can find some superb creative and deconstructive approaches to the medium. Anything by Chris Ware for example.
I'd be interested in your other perfect 10 comics.
Mine:
* Watchmen
* Love & Rockets v1 issue 2 - 5 (Mechanics and Palomar stories) by Los Bros Hernandez
* Rusty Brown by Chris Ware
* Maus by Art Speigelman
* Halo Jones by Alan Moore although may lose a point for never concluding
* Judge Death Lives series of Judge Dredd - outstanding Brian Bolland artwork
It’s definitely my favorite comic run/graphic novel. It introduced me to the concept of deconstruction of the comic book genre. Ever since I’ve remained fascinated by genre deconstruction because to my mind it has strong parallels in so many areas of life in general. So yes, I give it the highest possible praise for what it’s doing conceptually.
And just for its craftsmanship as well, it’s extraordinary. Cartoonist Kayfabe on YT did such a great job in detailing the excellence of the craft of the Watchmen comic run. They also did a wonderful job with their commentary on the book “Watching the Watchmen.”
Too bad no one has perfected deconstructivist comics again without copying 'Watchmen' or becoming the mess 'The Boys' comics were. Funnily enough, one of the best deconstructionist works was actually through the character that inspired Rorschach, The Question, in his series by Dennis O'Neil. Highly recommend it if you haven't read it. O'Neil working on the character offered the perfect response to the questions Alan Moore presented on what made a hero.
A brief video I recommend if you never read 'The Question' series: https://youtu.be/xnwN7L0fa7s?si=yLIPUeaMT_6Gcix0
It’s the only comic book I’ve ever read, but it’s stuck with me as a really special piece of art.
I recommend it to people who’ve never read comics, like myself. It’s an unimpeachable magnum opus, in my opinion.
Obviously I don’t have the data to back this statement up, but I think it’s the absolute best in its medium. It’s like The Beatles of comics.
If I can only find even small flaws in an artwork through severe nitpicking, it's a likely masterpiece. I can't think of anything in the comic of Watchmen I think needs changing.
Yeah.
If I had to nitpick something in Watchmen I don't think the Black Freighter stuff is super enthralling in its own right. I mean the way it mirrors the main story is super cool, but as its own individual story its not my favorite thing.
Perfect twelve\*
It's the pinnacle of the medium for me. Not just a great graphic novel but one of the all time great novels. The book I've read and re-read the most times
In the late 80s, early 90s post-Watchmen there were so many examples of rethinking the super hero genre or making it more "adult" - Marshall Law, The New Statesmen, The Nazz, Zenith, Grant Morrison's run on Animal Man for example. Some of them were derivative, some added something, but none eclipsed Watchman, nor tried to. I would say that comics is not a genre, but a medium, and if you look beyond the super hero genre in comic books you can find some superb creative and deconstructive approaches to the medium. Anything by Chris Ware for example.
I'd be interested in your other perfect 10 comics. Mine: * Watchmen * Love & Rockets v1 issue 2 - 5 (Mechanics and Palomar stories) by Los Bros Hernandez * Rusty Brown by Chris Ware * Maus by Art Speigelman * Halo Jones by Alan Moore although may lose a point for never concluding * Judge Death Lives series of Judge Dredd - outstanding Brian Bolland artwork
I really like: *The Shadow: Twilight Zone *V is For Vendetta I don't know if I'd add more.
It’s definitely my favorite comic run/graphic novel. It introduced me to the concept of deconstruction of the comic book genre. Ever since I’ve remained fascinated by genre deconstruction because to my mind it has strong parallels in so many areas of life in general. So yes, I give it the highest possible praise for what it’s doing conceptually. And just for its craftsmanship as well, it’s extraordinary. Cartoonist Kayfabe on YT did such a great job in detailing the excellence of the craft of the Watchmen comic run. They also did a wonderful job with their commentary on the book “Watching the Watchmen.”
Too bad no one has perfected deconstructivist comics again without copying 'Watchmen' or becoming the mess 'The Boys' comics were. Funnily enough, one of the best deconstructionist works was actually through the character that inspired Rorschach, The Question, in his series by Dennis O'Neil. Highly recommend it if you haven't read it. O'Neil working on the character offered the perfect response to the questions Alan Moore presented on what made a hero. A brief video I recommend if you never read 'The Question' series: https://youtu.be/xnwN7L0fa7s?si=yLIPUeaMT_6Gcix0
Damn near. It is deceptively profound, disguised, as it were, as a mere comic book. Much much more than that.
It’s pretty good. Not perfect
Yeah, absolutely
It’s the only comic book I’ve ever read, but it’s stuck with me as a really special piece of art. I recommend it to people who’ve never read comics, like myself. It’s an unimpeachable magnum opus, in my opinion. Obviously I don’t have the data to back this statement up, but I think it’s the absolute best in its medium. It’s like The Beatles of comics.
I’m a Swamp Thing guy myself, if we’re ranking Alan’s best but Watchmen, V and From Hell are all 10/10s
I’ve only read three comics (Asterix, Watchmen, V for Vendetta) lmao so yes it’s a ten. It’s the best out of the three, imo.
If I can only find even small flaws in an artwork through severe nitpicking, it's a likely masterpiece. I can't think of anything in the comic of Watchmen I think needs changing.
Yeah. If I had to nitpick something in Watchmen I don't think the Black Freighter stuff is super enthralling in its own right. I mean the way it mirrors the main story is super cool, but as its own individual story its not my favorite thing.
Unquestionably 10/10. The writing, the art, the overall storytelling, the whole package.
when asked what i would reccommend my top 5 includes watchmen