Review: 'Watchmen' graphic novel by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbson

Greetings all! While those of you in the northern hemisphere shiver and rug up, my little part of Australia is experiencing a heatwave. We have had 40 degree days since Monday and the nights have not given much relieve. A storm swept through the region last night with not very much rain, but a few lightning strikes causing fires. Nothing of serious impact to me and my family at the moment though. I am staying cooped up in side to avoid the worst of the heat. The weather should cool down to the 20s over the weekend.

Meanwhile, I've started doing a bit of editing on my first-draft for WALLS. Some awesome friends offered to workshop the first chapter for me and I've gotten some good feedback and helpful criticism. I might get chapter 2 edits underway later today.

And now for a review. My awesome boyfriend gifted me a copy of Watchmen: The Deluxe Edition by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbson for my birthday last year and I've finally read it. I'm going to cheat and give you the Goodreads summary, because I want to keep this blog pot relatively short:

Who watches the Watchmen?

In an alternate world where the mere presence of American superheroes changed history, the US won the Vietnam War, Nixon is still president, and the cold war is in full effect. WATCHMEN begins as a murder-mystery, but soon unfolds into a planet-altering conspiracy. As the resolution comes to a head, the unlikely group of reunited heroes--Rorschach, Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandias--have to test the limits of their convictions and ask themselves where the true line is between good and evil. 
Reference here.

And once again using the post from Lynda R. Young's blog as a reference...

Characters: My favourite was Rorschach, because I always love the really messed up guys, especially when they're still the good guys despite all of that. While he presents the darkest point of view throughout the comic, the way he talks is sometimes also funny. I really enjoy the way he recounts things. My least favourite character would have to be Laurie Juspeczyk, the second-generation Silk Spectre, mostly because I found her to be an over-emotional strumpet. She just bugged me.

Plot: It's a close one, but although Rorschach is my favourite character, Dr Manhattan's point of view is also amazing and I loved the part where he *SPOILER ALERT* went to Mars and was reflecting on his past, but how it wasn't his past because there is no such thing as past, present, and future, and everything is happening all at once. It's a confusing concept and I canNOT explain is sufficiently, but it was pretty cool. There were a few points during the story where I felt things moved a little too quickly and didn't delves into the details and reactions of characters enough after certain things happened, but aside from that it was pretty great storytelling.

Setting: Alternate U.S as per the description in the summary. Considering how different they made it to what it really is, I think they did a brilliant job with world-building.

Style: Being a comic, the majority of the writing was dialogue and it really helped me to get to know the characters. Each had a distinct way of talking, whether it be the words they used or didn't use or the sophistication of how they phrased things or the particular things they talked about.

Originality: While I thought a couple of the ideas in the comic were a little bit far fetched, I cannot fault this comic on originality. This was a really different take on the world and good vs evil. An excellent read.

Well, I think I managed to keep that relatively short considering it was meant to be a review, so now I'm going to write and continue to stay cool indoors.

Have you read the Watchmen graphic novel? How is the weather where you are?
- Bonnee.

P.S - due to some social pressures and a need to keep in contact with some otherwise uncontactable friends, I have created a Twitter and Tumblr account. Twitter is going to be mostly writing related micro-blogging and Tumblr is just whatever. Please see the Find Me page if you would like to follow me on either.

I'm a Comic-Book Girl / 'V for Vendetta' Graphic Novel

For those of you who didn't already know, my favourite movie ever is 'V for Vendetta', starring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman. It has been my favourite movie for years. About two years ago, I discovered that the movie was based on a graphic novel, and I decided I wanted to get my hands on a copy. Of course, I never went ahead and did it. I just put it on my Christmas wishlist.

Guess what Santa (or my boyfriend) got me for Christmas?

I got stuck into the 'V for Vendetta' graphic novel last week and finished it today. In all honesty, I only spent three days reading it (the other days were spent doing other writerly things), but when it was in my hands I could not put it down. I hate the fact that I haven't read comic books before, because this was so good, and yet I kept getting lost and confused because I couldn't distinguish some of the minor characters, but it was still awesome!

*SPOILER ALERT* There's definitely a severe difference between the movie and the graphic novel. Things were added and taken away from the movie. For example, I was most disappointed to discover that V never does the huge speech with words starting with the letter 'v' when he introduces himself to Evey in the comic. And then the movie omits the fact that Evey is actually a 16 yr old prostitute, or that she ends up having a sexual relationship with Gordon before he dies. On the other hand, I was severely relieved that both the graphic novel and the movie included the scenes were Evey is imprisoned and tortured and finds a letter from a woman named Valerie in her cell. It was my favourite scene in the movie and it's still my favourite scene in the graphic novel. *SPOILERS OVER*

I think that I might have to try for some more graphic novels and comic books. I already have 'The Watchmen' and 'Hush, Hush' on my list. Any recommendations from those of you elsewhere in the blogosphere?

Have you read the 'V for Vendetta' graphic novel before, or another graphic novel or comic that you loved?

- Bonnee.