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Overanalyzing Anime
Blog Owner & Lead Writer
Following the death of one of their own, a disbanded group of former vigilantes must come together to uncover the true reason their former comrade was murdered.
It only just dawned on me yesterday, as I wrote my review on the movie, that Watchmen was the first comic book that I had ever purchased. I can remember my fourteen year old self reveling in the action & plot twists; so satisfied with simply reading, without necessarily understanding the significance of the content. Now, ten years later, I understand the material in ways I never did before; completely aware (& in awe) of the level of intelligence & sophistication of this story.
While many would (rightfully) argue that the brilliance of Watchmen lies in its realistic depiction of vigilantes & the cinematic style of its illustrations, I can’t help but feel that the most brilliant aspect of this literature is its ability to allow audiences to have a genuine dialogue on the nature of humans. While its easy enough to discuss the climax of the story & the major players involved, I enjoy the fact that almost every character can be examined on a deeper level. It’s rare to find a story that uses every ounce of material its allotted as masterfully as Watchmen does.
Watchmen is also one of the few comics I know that has incorporated additional information on the story in the form of end of chapter asides - such as the excerpts from Hollis Mason’s book or the Scientific Journals that attempt to analyze the advent of Doctor Manhattan. I also have a new found respect for the Tales of the Black Freighter series & how masterfully the “comic-within-a-comic” mirrors the events of the main story.
There’s a reason Watchmen is heralded as one of the greatest graphic novels of all time; with its unique characters, exceptional use of illustrations, & the abundance of detail it pays to even the most minute of details, it’s easy to see why this story is a genuine masterpiece.
My rating: 10/10
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