A Brief Background on Watchmen - Assignment Example

A Brief Background on Watchmen In 1986, writer Alan Moore and illustrators Dave Gibbons and John Higgins collaborated to create the first part of a monthly series of comic books entitled Watchmen that would later become a complete graphic novel. The paperback edition of the novel would win the Hugo award and would appear on one of Time’s list of the 100 best English-language novels, the only graphic novel to achieve either honor. The book is set in 1985, in an alternate history of the United States where the country was edging closer to a nuclear war with the Soviet Union, America had won the Vietnam War, and President Nixon had been re-elected. During the war, civilians had turned to costumed adventurers – superheroes – to protect them from the perils of a world growing dangerous and uncertain by the minute. But as the superheroes gradually became regarded with fear rather than with gratitude and admiration (due to their roles as vigilantes, seemingly outside the law), the people of the United States turned against them and demanded that a means of control be imposed. Throughout the novel, picket lines and rallies against the superheroes are shown, some exploding into violence. The superheroes became feared and hated, when once they were celebrated and revered. Graffiti are scrawled on walls such as the words “Who Watches the Watchmen?” with the word watchmen referring to the ever-watching superheroes, thus the title of the graphic novel. As a result of the continuous public outcry, the US Government created a law called the Keene Act which required the masked adventurers to register with the Government, and to either work for them or not work at all (as superheroes). While most chose retirement, some superheroes, like Dr. Manhattan, agreed to work for the government while others like Rorschach defied the law and continued to work as vigilantes under the radar. The Graphic Novel: A Genre In reviewing the graphic novel Watchmen, I would like to begin by discussing the genre of the graphic novel. The graphic novel is very similar to the average comic book, except that its plot usually spans several issues which can then be combined and republished as a collection as opposed to an issue-long comic book that is typically shorter. Despite the fact that relaying information in the form of illustrations and through the written word has been around since time immemorial, the combination of the two which is utilized by the graphic novel has long been undervalued. This is due to the fact that the graphic novel and comic book genre have always been regarded more as a form of entertainment rather than an avenue for serious literary work. However, due to such works as Frank Miller’s Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Allan Moore’s V for Vendetta and (of course) Watchmen (Itzkoff 2005), people have taken pause and reconsidered the role of the graphic novel in literature. These titles were clearly not merely for entertainment value and were in fact marked with a similar dark and realistic theme, despite the fact that they are all about superheroes or masked vigilantes. As mentioned earlier, the genre of the graphic novel not only makes use of the written word but also employs illustrations in the telling of its story. Through this, its readers are provided with a clearer picture of the world that they are immersed in while reading the graphic novel. More importantly, the graphic novel can make use of icons and imagery that can then be analyzed using iconography, which is a branch of art history that studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images (Moore 1997, p.18), in telling its story. Coupled with the presence of imagery, there is also the narrative of the graphic novel which adds to the experience of exploring the worlds presented in the novel through dialogue. More than knowing the characters of the story through their appearance, we are also allowed to explore their thoughts and beliefs through the things that they say or think. The Art and Illustrations of Watchmen More than listening to the things that the characters say or do in Watchmen, I got a hint of each character’s personal dilemmas and beliefs by their outward appearance or the way the artists sought to portray each of them. In studying the illustrations of Watchmen I was able to appreciate the effort and detail put into these characters by the artists, who were able to incorporate these characters’ personalities into their physical forms. For example, we see Dr. Manhattan1 with clear, white eyes that often hold a blank expression. He can choose to be of any color (due to his ability to manipulate matter) but he chooses to be blue, literally. His use of that particular color can depict coldness and detachment, as opposed to the red of passion and emotional upheaval (Moore 1997, pg. 65). He is rarely shown with clothes on, and is also often seen as gigantic in proportions. From the visualization alone I could already tell that Dr. Manhattan was someone who was less, or more, than human. Through the visual portrayal of his character, I could detect that he was a being who felt disconnected from those around him, from even his girlfriend, the Silk Spectre. His face, often portrayed as expressionless and stoic, sometimes gives way to a hint of sadness and maybe even loneliness. Another example of the effective use of illustration would be the character of Rorschach. His superhero costume is composed of a trench coat, a hat, and most importantly, a mask that has an inkblot on it, similar to an inkblot found in the Rorschach Inkblot test. The Rorschach inkblot test is a psychological test which seeks to examine people’s personality characteristics and emotional functioning. It is employed in diagnosing underlying thought disorders and differentiating psychotic from non-psychotic thinking in cases where the patient is reluctant to openly admit to psychotic thinking. This hints at the public’s regard of the character Rorschach as an individual who is mentally unhinged. Interestingly enough, Rorschach refers to his mask as his face in the graphic novel, hinting that it is his mask-less self that he considers a disguise whereas he regards his masked and trench coat covered self as his real identity. Another character to be considered would be Ozymandias, whose blonde hair and blue eyes invite trust even from the most suspicious of readers. His clean cut look and gentlemanly demeanor makes it easy to cast him in the role of the good guy. In this case, the visual depiction is manipulated to elicit a specific response from the reader. I certainly failed to suspect Ozymandias until the very last chapter of Watchmen. More than the images used in portraying the characters of the story, Watchmen also made use of powerful imagery in portraying the setting of the novel. The dirty city streets, blood against the pavement, and the constant use of shadows all helped in drawing the reader into the world of “accumulated filth” as stated by Rorschach (Moore 1986, p.1). While there are comic books that make use of sparse lines and colorless art much like that of the minimalist movement, Watchmen made full use of details and color, making the scenes being portrayed more realistic. The art and illustrations of Watchmen play an important role in adding to that sense of realism that I felt while reading the novel, particularly since the visual depictions were all too familiar - they were pictures of the dark side of a city, with angry mobs, and graffiti, and dark alley ways. This feeling of familiarity really helped in drawing me into the story and into the world of Watchmen. The Narrative of Watchmen Because it is often thought that graphic novels are meant merely for entertainment, the general outlook towards graphic novels is that it is not a form of literature, or at least a form of literature that should be taken seriously. But comic book companies such as DC Comics continue to make attempts to disabuse readers of such notions by continuously upping the bar for its writers, to have the form be respected as literature (Jennings 2003). In the case of Watchmen, it might have just worked. In terms of depth, character development, and the influx of ideas, it is difficult not to take Watchmen as anything but a serious work of literature. Despite the fact that it is a work of fiction that deals with superheroes and villains, it is able to explore society and raise important questions about its nature. In the novel, the character Rorschach states that “this city is afraid of me, I have seen its true face,” (Moore 1986, pg. 1). In fact, some of the lines were so powerful and provocative that as a reader I found myself becoming slightly disturbed. Even more disturbing were the ideas that were being presented to me throughout the novel. There is the idea of absolutism in the form of the character Rorschach. Rorschach views the world in terms of black and white, the good and the bad. For him, there are no levels to the gravity of a crime – all crimes are to be punished by the law, none can be overlooked. His staunch opposition to crime is equaled by his total lack of empathy for criminals, whom he treats as almost non-human. This is reflected in his statement which has become one of the most famous lines of the novel, “The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up above their waists and all the whores and politicians will shout ‘Save Us!’… and I’ll look down and whisper, ‘No.’” There is also the philosophy of Stoicism, presented to the reader through Dr. Manhattan. The Stoic belief states that everything should be considered indifferent except for a person’s character. To elaborate, it means that the only thing that is important is how we shape ourselves as human beings, and how we shape our lives to reflect good character regardless of what we achieve in actuality. While Dr. Manhattan is technically employed by the US Government, the novel shows that he does not truly feel any loyalty towards America or its people. Because of his near-omniscience granted by his abilities, he remains aloof from people and is portrayed as almost emotionless. He is a character who regards everything as indifferent, which is reflected in his refusal to wear clothes unless asked to do so for cases such as TV appearances. In the scene where Dr. Manhattan’s fellow superhero and long-time girlfriend, Laurie Juspeczyk2, leaves him, she states “I walk out after twenty years, and you know what I bet he’s doing? His big emotional reaction? He’s either smartening up for his TV interview or watching quarks get stuck to gluinos. Maybe both.” (Moore 1986, pg. 1) Watchmen also delves into the ultimate question of humanity, of what it means to be human. As the heroes of the graphic novel struggle to find their place in a society that has rejected them, their very human problems and fears made it easy for me to relate my own experiences with theirs (despite the fact that I don’t run around in a mask and cape at night). While reading the novel, I felt the characters’ despair in a world that was crumbling down around them, which mirrored the growing fear regarding economic crisis and the furiously changing world stage that changed the life of thousands if not millions. As stated by Dave Itzkoff (2005) “nearly 20 years after the original publication, "Watchmen" shows an eerie prescience: the symmetry between current events and the conclusion of its story, concerning a villain who believes he can stave off real war by distracting the populace with a trumped-up one, and an act of mass murder perpetrated in the heart of New York City, is almost too fearful to bear.” There is also the underlying theme of the search for purpose, and the fear of the unknown. Such elements, constantly revisited and presented in different forms, hold true for readers of any age or era because of its inherent relevance to humanity and existence. The Element of Realism in Watchmen While discussing the art and writing of Watchmen I often mentioned the graphic novel’s use of realism. In this part of the review, I will try to expound on the realistic nature of the Watchmen, and how it affected my reception of the novel. It was Itzkoff who said that “when the first issue of Moore's 12-part magnum opus, "Watchmen," made its debut in 1986, what made it so remarkable was how conventional - and authentic - its universe felt,” (2005). The realism of the setting, and of the atmosphere, of Watchmen was what set it apart from other graphic novels, especially from other superhero graphic novels. In Superman, Clark Kent always managed to save the world from any and every alien invader or mad scientist villain. He also always manages to save Lois Lane from imminent death, as well as the thousands of other people in his beloved and pristine city of Metropolis. And he does all this without compromising his Boy Scout values. Superman would not think of killing, no matter the gravity of the crime or the expansiveness of the goal. As a superhero, Superman is admired by all and is considered an all around good guy. He is a role model for children, and is a celebrated figure by the media and even by his fellow superheroes. This contrasts sharply with the superheroes of Watchmen who aren’t imbued with actual powers (except for Dr. Manhattan) but are ordinary people who choose to don the mask and take justice into their own hands. And while they were initially celebrated, the public adoration waned soon enough (except for those who could afford PR people like Adrian Veidt aka Ozymandias) and adoration quickly transformed into suspicion and abhorrence. Instead of being treated as role models, the Watchmen became targets for the public to throw their dissatisfaction and fears at. Angry mobs gathered and called for the government to make the act of donning the mask illegal, a scene that eerily mirrors many protests that I see on the news. Much like real protesters do, the mobs in the Watchmen had a chant which goes – who watches the watchmen? Unlike Superman who refuses to kill, Rorschach has come to perceive the refusal to take a life as a weakness. For him, the guilty are to be punished and not to be coddled. And for Dr. Manhattan, there is hardly any difference between the living and the dead, which is clearly pointed out when he said “A living body and a dead body have the same number of particles. Structurally there's no difference” and “in my opinion, the existence of life is a highly overrated phenomenon.” The heroes of Watchmen aren’t exactly role models either. They are all plagued with their own demons and the skeletons in their closets. This could not be made clearer than through the Comedian, who is barely worthy of the title of human being, yet is a hero in the novel. Despite supposedly being an enforcer of the law, the Comedian takes too much pleasure in hurting and killing people. It seems that he had donned the mask so that he could participate in chaos rather than create and uphold order. There is also Nite Owl who is a good enough guy but is obviously not the hero type. I would even venture so far as to say that he is a bit too ordinary. He gives the impression of being shy and elusive. He doesn’t possess a strong will and is often portrayed as nervous. The setting for Watchmen is also no Metropolis. It is a rough city in a rough world, filled with rough people. Thugs wait around corners to mug people, while old heroes are murdered in their own homes. The streets are often depicted with trash, and shrouded in darkness and shadows. It looks too much like a real city, with the dangers of a real city. And the villains within it are not megalomaniac geniuses but are serial killers, rapists, street thugs, child molesters, and kidnappers – villains that must truly be feared. In reading Watchmen, I was drawn to examine not just the novel’s reality but my own reality as well. I think that that is where the power of the novel lies – in its deep rootedness to the darkness and fears of our own reality. The realism employed in Watchmen has also been used by its author, Allan Moore, on some of his other projects, most notable in V for Vendetta. In V for Vendetta we also have a hero who is all too human, and who is bordering on being a terrorist and an agent for anarchy. He is a glorified anti-government protestor who hides his face behind a Guy Fawkes mask. The popularity of both graphic novels may indicate that there is a growing niche for graphic novels that are more than just lighthearted comic books but instead seek to question relevant societal norms. In other words, graphic novels that make a reader think, and question his reality as the characters in the novels question theirs. Conclusion As a graphic novel, I found Watchmen to be refreshing and original, especially in terms of the superhero genre. It changes how superheroes are viewed and reminds its readers of their all too human frailties and problems. It reexamines the mold of the superhero and opens up the genre for other possibilities, as opposed to the tried and tested formulas. The depth and magnitude of the story is also quite remarkable, to the point where the graphic novel became a bit difficult to digest as compared to other graphic novels. Or rather, the plot and the story of the novel were more profound and intricate than I expected of a graphic novel. The visuals were also notable, especially in its use of certain imageries and icons. An example of this would be the doomsday clock which can be seen at the beginning of each of the twelve chapters, with the hands of the clock getting closer to midnight or to doomsday for each episode. Another example would be the powerful image of Dr. Manhattan’s glass ‘house’ in Mars – a structure so cold and so alien that it put great emphasis on the fact that Dr. Manhattan was a being not of our kind. But at the same time, it was reminiscent of his fascination with clocks and timepieces as a human being, and hints that there is still a piece of humanity left in the superhero. Another image that struck me was the Comedian’s badge – a yellow smiley badge that was forever portrayed after his death with a drop of blood on it. The smiley badge with blood was very ironic and also quite chilling, as if to mock those who do not see the danger approaching. The writing in the graphic novel was also noteworthy, and not at all childish or derivative. In fact, the graphic novel is very well written, and has several lines that were thought provoking and stayed with me long after I finished reading the novel. If it is the desire of those who create graphic novels to have graphic novels validated as a legitimate media for literature and art, then they wouldn’t go wrong by putting their money on Watchmen. It is a complex, complicated, and daunting world that it introduces to its reader but it is all too familiar, which makes it all too inviting. The ease in which it introduced complicated ideas and the manner in which it portrayed the intricate and convoluted realities of its characters and their world shows how well-developed and mature this novel is. It is also a testament to its worth that it is able to raise difficult questions in the mind of its readers, and to encourage them to seek out the answers for themselves. Ultimately, that is what Watchmen leaves its readers with – questions. A question of which character they could be given the same situation, or given any situation. A question of how far they could go to do something that they believe is right. A question of whether they could die for their beliefs, or whether they could kill for their beliefs. It is in the ability of this graphic novel to elicit thought that its distinction and potential truly lies. Bibliography Arnold, A 2003, ‘The Graphic Novel Silver Anniversary’, Time, 14 November. Itzkoff, D 2005, ‘Behind the Mask’, New York Times, 20 November. Jennings, D 2003, ‘Beyond Comics, The Graphic Novel, New York Times, 15 September. Moore, A 1997, Iconography of Religions An Introduction, Fortress Press, Philadelphia. Moore, A 1986-1987, Watchmen, DC Comics, United States. Read More