Title: Watchmen

Author: Alan Moore

Publisher: DC Comics 1995

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 416

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; April Read-a-Thon; Page to Screen

Another graphic novel... or is this a trade paperback?  Okay all you geeky people, feel free to correct me.   I saw the movie before I read the book, but I really did want to read the book.

The novel: Different characters narrate different chapters.  This gives a greater insight to those who tend to be one dimensional on screen.  For example, Dr. Manhattan seems like a tool until I read chapter IV: Watchmaker.  Moore lets us see the conflicts inside Jon even when others don't understand.  We actually get a sense of seeing all of time as one.  Brilliant!  My favorite quote:

Perhaps the world is not made.  Perhaps nothing is made.  Perhaps it simply is, has been will always be there... A clock without a craftsman.

Beyond the characters, I loved the inclusion of excerpts from Hollis' book.  The movie mentions it, and we see much of the past through flashbacks, but I loved hearing him telling it.  We see the rise and fall of the superheroes along with the rise and fall of the country.  It makes so much more sense with the bit of history.

The movie: I watched the movie right after it came out, but decided to watch it again after reading the novel.  The rewatch affirmed that I really did like the movie.  I just understand it a bit more after reading the novel.  The visuals are stunning.  I loved the colors, the music (it's in the book, but in quotes), the costumes.  Seeing everything come to life in a slightly nonrealistic way was a highlight.  Overall I think Zak Snyder did a good job bringing Watchmen to life.