What makes a graphic novel a classic in the genre? A timeless story presented in a new way? Ground-breaking artwork? A moment of utter and absolute shock dropped on the reader so that it actually shocks the person enjoying the graphic novel? In many ways, this does indeed describe many of the classics in the graphic novel world, and is why Alan Moore’s Watchmen is considered one of the most classic of the classics. With the movie soon to be released in theaters nationwide, a review of the source material seems like it would be an apropos addition to this webpage.

Watchmen tells the story of superheroes in the real world during the 1980’s, some government sanctioned, some retired to keep from getting arrested, and some still working as vigilantes, on the run from cops, villains, and themselves. The plot evolves along the idea that someone is killing former and current masked heroes, and that only those who used to work together could stop whoever it is. Along with the engaging plotline are the ideas of sinning and redemption, violence, personal baggage, and a hundred other nuances which make the characters into real people despite their two dimensional appearance.

The artwork of Watchmen is typical of Moore’s work, looking very much like comics of those days. While this isn’t ground-breaking in the normal sense of the word, it is certainly something to consider when the artist uses this style to tell two different stories, one being the frame narrative of a boy reading a pirate-themed comic book, the other the true story of the graphic novel, about the characters whom need the love and support a cold world has denied them in one way or another.

When one thinks about the characters in Watchmen, names come to mind that either excite or leave chills down your spine. Rorschach, Ozymandias, Dr. Manhattan. These are names that belong in comic books and find homes within the world that Moore has created. The characters face real situations that grappling guns and well-learned punches cannot defeat. Problems that range from infidelity to the loss of a lover, personal impotence and the world exploding around them in a way that is impossible to control. And what do they do about it? They act, for lack of a better term, like heroes.

If the movie released on March 6th is only half as good as Alan Moore’s masterpiece, ninety percent of the audiences will be blown away by what they see. If it is better than that, even some super fans, such as myself, will be willing to pay even more money to see it yet again before it is available on DVD. Expecting anything more from Hollywood would be a letdown, but there’s always a first time for a superhero movie to win an Oscar.