Super Nihilistic

By Patrick M.

            Watchmen, written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, takes place in an alternate 20^th century reality in which costumed heroes emerge and dramatically impact America. To tell the story, chapters of nine-panel grid layout are juxtaposed with excerpts from one hero's autobiography. The graphic novel portion contains the main plot, while the excerpts of the autobiography tell much of the backstory of how these heroes came to be. Throughout the story we see how the coming of these heroes has affected events in the 20^th century, and how such a role affects these characters. Only one of these several heroes has real superhuman abilities, Dr. Manhattan, making the story feel mostly grounded. When one of these heroes, the Comedian, is murdered a chain of events is set off forcing this group of mostly retired heroes to cross paths and reconsider their roles in the world.

            Unlike many superhero stories, Watchmen is not one overflowing with hope and idealism. Collected in 1987, it reflects many contemporary worries of the time. This society does not seem to be concerned with providing for the needs of the many, or retaining responsibility worthy of great power. Instead, this alternate America seeks to control their world in every aspect. The public comes to hate their costumed heroes and they become a force of power, putting down protests violently, and often straying from the path of pure heroics. Dr. Manhattan is not seen as amazement, but rather a military advantage in a time of paranoia surrounding nuclear warfare. This dour take on the world of superheroes is perhaps my favorite thing about Watchmen. In a modern world over-saturated with superheroes mostly symbols of fantastical good, its refreshing to see a world of real and very flawed people attempting to handle the weight put on them by the symbols they are supposed to represent.

            Watchmen is not just an interesting superhero fling, it's a great story. It is a sprawling epic, balancing several characters, establishing a vivid alternate reality, filled with subtext and a depth all too often absent in most fiction. Do not let the graphic novel format fool you into thinking that this is a simplistic and exploitive tale. Alan Moore has more to say in a character's thought bubble than most authors do in entire novels. Watchmen is recommended for everyone looking for an alternate take on superhero tropes, but also anyone who just wants a great story.