I just finished reading through Watchmen, Colin has been a monkey on my back about it for quite some time now. I think the connection between imagery and exposition to be killer. The reciprocal enhancements of each by the other takes the whole experience to another level. One of those things where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The artwork is great, although there is close to no action frames. This isn’t an action story, despite the myriad of heroes, both costumed and super, and Watchmen discusses the difference. The characters are top notch and most if not all, even some unnecessary faces on the side, are really fleshed out. That’s what Watchmen is all about, the people behind the masks. Everything written is dialogue, with few exceptions. We are not an omnipotent reader who sees inside the thoughts of the characters on the page, and in this way it feels more like a film, a well made film that shows us all we need to see without giving it away. The only time we see any other writing is in the form of one man’s journal, a comic book within the comic, and some literature and artlicles and interviews that transition the chapters.

The story itself is underwhelming. I was sucked in during the first half, but I now realize that I was just intrigued by the characters and the other elements of the book. The story itself is rather light, and especially seems rushed at the climax after so much slow but steady movement up front. The idea presented at the climax is a great one, but one I had seen before in The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut. That story involves a very similar plot device, as well as a similar character to the Watchmen’s Jon. The sense of time mentioned by Jon is also reminiscent of Slaughterhouse Five. I dont know if these ideas originated here, but I certainly see the connection.

I feel like the context and execution of the book are phenomenal but the foundation it’s based on is a little weak. Great book though.

Now, I’m feeling like getting dirty with some Star Wars novels. Going to start with the Han Solo trilogy. Anybody got suggestions after that?

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