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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
One of Times top 100 novels of all time Watchmen is easily the most famous Graphic Novel. Taking place in an alternate 1980s where super heroes have existed and been a part of the American narrative for years. But, these are not the same super heroes we are used to. They are flawed and have questionable motives. For the first time a book really explored what makes an average person put on a mask and what that does to them. If you are going to see this movie make sure you follow it up by reading this book.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
yeah this was sick
I'll definitely have to reread this and look more at the art because there is so much exposition and foreshadowing in the background of the panels it's crazy.
I'll definitely have to reread this and look more at the art because there is so much exposition and foreshadowing in the background of the panels it's crazy.
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the nuances of how so many of the plot points and actions taken by the characters were morally gray, but I agree with other reviews that I feel as though it could have been something even more nuanced or fleshed out not in graphic novel form, or at least if it was better organized? The comic within a comic sections were tough to pay attention to in the midst of the action going on, and I would have preferred if those were interludes between the action or between chapters so I could focus on them and not have to jump back and forth. This could also just be my style of reading, and I'm not normally a graphic novel or comic book reader to begin with.
I also felt like the pacing was a bit off, the first quarter (roughly) of it was good and paced well, then it kind of fell off until around the halfway mark where it picked up again, then it dropped off again slightly until the last quarter where it really picked up in the climax. Again, this could have been well-paced in comparison to other graphic novels, but I'm not a graphic novel reader so the pacing came off to me as a bit strange at times. In addition I could also see some of the twists coming, although only a few pages or earlier in the chapter before they were revealed (does that count as seeing them coming?).
Overall I did really enjoy it (especially the Dan/Laurie/Jon subplots, and Rorschach's character as a whole), it's a solid 4/5 for me and I can see why it's so highly regarded.
I also felt like the pacing was a bit off, the first quarter (roughly) of it was good and paced well, then it kind of fell off until around the halfway mark where it picked up again, then it dropped off again slightly until the last quarter where it really picked up in the climax. Again, this could have been well-paced in comparison to other graphic novels, but I'm not a graphic novel reader so the pacing came off to me as a bit strange at times. In addition I could also see some of the twists coming, although only a few pages or earlier in the chapter before they were revealed (does that count as seeing them coming?).
Overall I did really enjoy it (especially the Dan/Laurie/Jon subplots, and Rorschach's character as a whole), it's a solid 4/5 for me and I can see why it's so highly regarded.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first time reading Watchmen and I was not disappointed. It was a great fleshed out story that must be read.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Depressing and brutal as hell but really well written/illustrated, Watchmen has been on my list for years and I’m so glad I finally got around to reading it, it did not disappoint. This could have been published this year and it would have been just as good and applicable in its themes, truly a timeless classic and a work of art.