Who Watches the Watchmen?

Another complex and modernized narrative of the superhero comic, this one goes the most in-depth in terms of the superhero timeline and the ‘superhero’ collective idea that we have read so far in this class. The author has spread the legacy of superheroes, and their complex backgrounds onto a timeline, one that weaves back and forth from past to present. The use of flashbacks are used so seamlessly, the cinematic feel to the comic and its eye-catching raw beginning is what makes Watchmen completely its own genre of comic.

Particularly like how ingrained superheroes are into society and the way the author thinks about the interactions, the government intervention and presence them, as well as the debate of superhero intervention.  All topics previously tackled in comics like Superman and Batman, but never wholly summed up in a dystopian universe. The identity and definition of superhero is drastically unpacked in this society, which tests the superheroes’ obligation to a public that openly rejects them. A big difference between comics demonstrating this struggle then and now is the exposure of heroism on television. It is interesting that the superheroes have visibility in the news and television, freely giving their real names such as Doc Manhattan. It seems the media world and reality are at ends in terms of superhero sentiment. There is a strange gap between the need for heroes to save the city from ruining itself and their willingness to be vulnerable under the scrutiny of the humans they’re trying so hard to protect.

Panel wise, the comic does a really good job with panel to panel scene closure, often mirroring poses to provide juxtaposition in different environments; sentiments felt in one place at one time come to mind when the character is in another location. Putting these panels together is visually very effective. I also really appreciated Watchmen’s storytelling capabilities that does not rely on big blocks of dialogue. Closer closure that reveals close action to action sequences are more telling in its implications than any text could achieve.

Another element I noticed was the drastic color scenes and the bright vivid coloration of Watchmen. When there is action or violence, the panels take on a redder hue or color scheme, rioting scenes are fiery orange. Point of view, especially on page 65 was used very effectively.