Watchmen

by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons (Illustrator)

Overview

A New York Times Best Seller!

Considered the greatest graphic novel in the history of the medium, the Hugo Award-winning story chronicles the fall from grace of a group of super-heroes plagued by all-too-human failings. Along the way, the concept of the super-hero is dissected as the heroes are stalked by an unknown assassin.

This edition of WATCHMEN, the groundbreaking series from Alan Moore, the award-winning writer of V FOR VENDETTA and BATMN: THE KILLING JOKE, and Dave Gibbons, the artist of GREEN LANTERN, features the high-quality, recolored pages found in WATCHMEN: THE ABSOLUTE EDITION with sketches, never-before-seen extra bonus materials and a new introduction by Dave Gibbons.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781401245252
Publisher:	DC Comics
Publication date:	05/13/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 10.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Alan Moore is perhaps the most acclaimed writer in the graphic story medium, having garnered countless awards for works such as WATCHMEN, V FOR VENDETTA, SWAMP THING and Miracleman. He is also the mastermind behind the America's Best Comics line, through which he has created (along with many talented illustrators) THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, PROMETHEA, TOM STRONG, TOMORROW STORIES and TOP TEN. As one of the medium's most important innovators since the early 1980s, Moore has influenced an entire generation of comics creators, and his work continues to inspire an ever-growing audience.

Interviews

An Interview with Dave Gibbons

Barnes & Noble.com: The classic graphic novel Watchmen has just been reissued in an "Absolute" edition by DC Comics. How much input did you and Alan Moore have in the creation of Absolute Watchmen?

Dave Gibbons: Alan had no input, since it was primarily a matter of presentation rather than content. I've always believed that design is an important part of the total effect of a work, so I came up with new designs based on the existing iconography. The main hands-on part of the work was the digitally remastered coloring, which was handled by original colorist John Higgins.

B&N.com: What's it like working with Moore?

DG: Alan and I have always had a friendly and enjoyable working relationship and it's never less than fun. Challenging and hard work, but still fun! Alan is a very giving and perceptive collaborator, always tailoring his scripts to the strengths of his artists.

B&N.com: Watchmen was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 best English-language novels of all time; most notably, it was the only graphic novel on the list. What was your reaction when you heard the news?

DG: Surprised but flattered!

B&N.com: A long-planned film version of Watchmen has been delayed yet again. Are you in favor of a film version being made?

DG: I don't think it's necessary. The book is the true work. I'd be interested to see a movie of it. Maybe delighted, maybe horrified, but interested. It's out of our hands, anyway.

B&N.com: Why do you think there's been such a large "British Invasion" of American comics over the years?

DG: I think that we Brits have the same familiarity with the characters and concepts as our American cousins, but a whole set of divergent cultural attitudes that enable us to bring a slightly skewed and fresh feel to it.

B&N.com: Comic book geeks worldwide have been clamoring for Watchmen action figures. Do you think they'll ever be made?

DG: I have no idea. I'd quite like a set, myself. But then, I'm nothing if not a fan-boy!

B&N.com: Do you see any similarities between the fictional world you and Moore created, and today's real world?

DG: We were not aiming to be prophetic, just analytical. I've seen a few electric cars, and Asian food seems ever more popular, but as yet, no blue supermen or popular pirate comics!

B&N.com: What's your next project?

DG: I'm enjoying myself deep in the heart of the DC Comics Universe at the moment, working on their science fiction characters, particularly the Green Lantern Corps. I'm also writing a series that's being drawn by John Higgins, called Thunderbolt Jaxon. It's a revival of a great old British comic character.

Editorial Reviews

"A work of ruthless psychological realism, it’s a landmark in the graphic novel medium. It would be a masterpiece in any."
–TIME, TIME MAGAZINE’s 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present

From the Publisher

Alan Moore, the master storyteller behind V for Vendetta, and Dave Gibbons, a brilliant draftsman, have long been revered by comic book fans as the creators of Watchmen, a groundbreaking graphic novel that subverts the superhero genre as easily as a toddler upends a house of cards. Rather than focusing on superhuman abilities, Moore instead zeroes in on the humanity of his characters and leavens what is essentially a murder mystery with enough social commentary and political intrigue to fill a shelf of graphic novels several times over. Gibbons, too, in his detailed yet understated style, conveys a wealth of emotions that easily rival any Oscar-winning performance. Factoring in added treats like excerpts from Moore’s original working script (complete with highlighted notes), character studies, page thumbnails, and cover sketches taken directly from Gibbons’s sketchbook, this deluxe 20th anniversary edition is simply a must-have.

bn.com

Originally published in 1986, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's serial epic received instant recognition; indeed, it was the first comic book ever to receive a Hugo. This superb reprint edition belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in visual narratives or graphic design.

Watchmen is peerless. — Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone

A brilliant piece of fiction. — Richard Gehr, The Village Voice

Village Voice

The would-be heroes of Watchmen have staggeringly complex psychological profiles: beneath his mask, the hard-nosed vigilante Rorschach is not a billionaire Bruce Wayne-like playboy but a troubled loner with a sociopathic streak. The gadget-dependent Nite-Owl is a sexually impotent pushover. Dr. Manhattan, the lone character who genuinely possesses supernatural powers (gained from a quantum physics experiment gone horribly wrong), is so close to godhood that he can appreciate human affairs only at a subatomic scale.
— The New York Times

Dave Itzkoff

When first serialized in 1986-7, this extraordinary story took the comics world by storm, and its fresh approach, more mature and realistic than most other mainstream comics of the time, became a template for much of what came later. In a world where superheroes have been outlawed, the murder of amoral government agent and ex-superhero the Comedian leads some of his former colleagues to investigate, and thereby uncover a plot of incredible scope and impact. Moore and Gibbons delve deeply into the psychology of the heroes, including the uncompromising, illegally operating urban denizen Rorschach; the wealthy super-intelligent businessman Ozymandias; and the atom-powered, blue-skinned, aloof Dr. Manhattan, and the heroes' political, technological, and cultural impact on their unsettled world is thoroughly delineated. Further, Moore proved himself an immensely skilled scriptwriter, weaving together complementary plotlines that comment on and deepen the book's main action. This remains a pinnacle of comics achievement, and no collection should be without it (with mature themes and some nudity, it's recommended for older teens and adults). This new oversized (12"x8") hardcover, with its colors revised by original colorist John Higgins and with preliminary sketches and story notes appended, is the finest version available. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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