The Watchemen

I am a comic book geek. I was raised on comic books throughout my entire childhood (If you want a really good portrait of my childhood family life you can read this article by my mother about my father's comic book collection, I am the child described in almost every anecdote). As a result of my comic book education, when questions about comic books come up regular conversation I am the go to guy. Also when things related to comic books become big events in pop culture every person I know asks me if I am as excited as they are. This is usually a good thing because I love to flaunt my knowledge to anyone who will listen but lately one question has made me regret being a comic book fan: Are you excited for the Watchmen movie?

I fear this question simply because I do not know how to respond. Yes, the Watchmen is the most critically acclaimed comic book of all time. Yes, it is written by Alan Moore unquestionably one of (if not THE) greatest comic book writer of all time. Yes, the story is more mature and complex than any graphic novel that came before it. Yes, it is probably the most ambitious comic book movie yet. But I can't let myself get that excited for it. There are a few reasons for this.

For one thing I have only read the Watchmen one time, and I don't remember all the details of it. This statement amounts to blasphemy to some comic books fans but it wasn't my favorite book. Hell, it wasn't even in my top 3 favorite Alan Moore books.  I know I should give it another try (and I plan on reading it again before seeing the movie) but it just didn't hit me right.

A little background on Moore and the Watchmen: Alan Moore has made a career out of writing books that are commentary on the superhero comic books of the 1950's and 60's. Some books he has written, like Supreme or Tom Strong were brilliant observations on the constant reworkings of the Superman continuity. Other books like Top Ten break down the interactions of characters in a world where almost everyone has a superpower. This book was one of Moore's first treatises on silver-age superheroes. For starters each character in the Watchmen is based on a character from Charlston Comics (later acquired by DC)... Here are the Watchmen characters and the characters they were based on

Dr. Manhattan

Captain Atom        

Ozymandias

ThunderBolt

Rorschach

The Question    

Nite Owl

The Blue Beetle

The Comedian

Peacemaker

The Silk Spectre

Phantom Lady

Moore uses each of these characters to explore what would happen to the psyche of superheroes in real life. Dr. Manhattan has endless power and as such has lost his connection with humanity. Rorschach is psychotic in his pursuit of justice. Nite Owl is a dissection of a character who was complete as a costumed adventurer and doesn't feel whole in retirement. Other characters I will leave you to dissect (or search the Internet for) on your own. 

When this book came out in the 80's it marked the first time anyone had really delved into the psyche of people who are crazy enough to put on costumes and fight crime, but it was far from the last.  Since Watchmen comic books have evolved to the point where almost every story told is more about the powers affect on the character that has them than the powers ability to save ordinary people from harm. 

Ok, this story (as written by Moore) is pretty awesome... and it does a lot more with the superhero genre than any movie has done before. Also from the previews it looks visually stunning. The photos and clips I have seen of it make me feel like it will be the best cinematic experience I have had in years (if not ever). That is why I can't tell people what I think. I don't want to let myself be as excited as I really am. Because if this movie is bad... it will break my will to live... and then Zach Snider and I would have a bone to pick.