Watchmen Graphic Novel Should be Left a Comic Book

Back in 1986, writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons formulated a mystery based on the Cold War, wherein the threat of nuclear warfare is an imminent fear. The story explored the possibility that superheroes existed in the 1940s. And the Watchmen were born…

And in this setting of the Watchmen graphic novel, superheroes are roughly classified into two. They are either working for the government, donning their suits while on retainer and paid by people’s taxes, or they are outlawed. Most superheroes not working for the government have decided to embark on other productive endeavors like business, and leave crime-fighting and costume-wearing behind. Some continue to be heroes, but are considered as fugitives, thanks to the law that was passed outlawing superheroes.

Creator Alan Moore cannot be blamed for wanting his art to remain in the chosen medium it was created. Not only due to the huge differences between reading a comic book and watching a film, but also because of the previous experiences he has had with his publisher and the process of converting his work from paper to film.

Initially, he thought that separating himself from the process of converting his work to a movie would turn out fine. Moore admits that he was wrong about distancing himself. The latest of his work to be released as a movie is the Watchmen graphic novel.

“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen,” one of Moore’s works, was also adapted into film. He distanced himself from the process, feeling that as long as he didn’t see any of the film and had nothing to do with it, everything would be fine.

He was fairly surprised when producer Martin Poll and writer Larry Cohen filed a law suit against 20th Century Fox for alleged plagiarism. They claim that their script – yet to be produced – was copied. Indeed, the two scripts bore many similarities, but these were elements added to the film and were not in any way found in Moore’s comics.

Due to the lawsuit, Alan Moore had to testify in a deposition. The experience, he described, was shockingly painful. As if the misery was not enough, Fox settled the case, signaling to Moore that it was an admission of guilt, something he stated he had no involvement in.

When “V for Vendetta” was made into a film, producer Joel Silver stated to the press that fellow producer Larry Wachowski had talked with Alan Moore, and that Moore was excited about the project. But according to Moore, he adamantly refused to be part of anything with films, and still wasn’t interested in Hollywood.

Alan Moore wanted a public retraction and an apology. While he got an apology from Silver, who appears had also been deceived by Wachowski, there never was a public retraction.

Aside from this, Moore claims that the comic book was specifically about anarchy and fascism. Nowhere in the movie was these two things even seen or mentioned. Clearly, the adaptation of the comic book into a film reinvents Moore’s work into something totally different, something Moore would have not created and would definitely not want to be credited with.

The Watchmen graphic novel became the latest of Moore’s being adapted into a film, and was released in 2009. And anyone who has read the graphic novel and seen the film knows that the film was yucky to say the least.

Due to the lack of ability of Hollywood to translate his works into films that fairly reflect his work, it is understandable the reluctance and displeasure expressed by Alan Moore regarding film adaptations. It is bad enough that he doesn’t get paid for his work, he is also stuck with his name attached to work inherently at odds with what and who Alan Moore is.

If you haven’t read Watchmen, you have a treat in store, but read before you try watching the film…

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Graphic Novels – Ten of the Best for Any Christmas

Thanks to the surge in interest for comics and graphic novels, due to films such as The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk and Watchmen film adaptation, many people are turning to the painted page in search of the perfect Christmas gift. Getting into graphic novels can be extremely daunting due to the sheer number of available titles, so here’s a run-down of ten of the best graphic novels of all time. These are title which fans new and old should have in their collections. These are amongst the finest examples of the genre’s art and writing and the comics industry as a whole. They are presented here for your edification in no particular order.

Watchmen – Widely acknowledged as the greatest graphic novel of all time, and certainly the bestselling book to hit comics shelves. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created something so monumental that it has been a bestseller for almost two decades, not to mention spawning the most anticipated film of 2009.

V for Vendetta – Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s original graphic novel that inspired another hit movie. A moving and gripping masterpiece that is considered one of the genre’s landmarks.

Marvels – The beautifully painted artwork of Alex Ross was the perfect accompaniment to Kurt Busiek’s flawless script in this superb book. A unique and near perfect exploration of the Marvel Universe’s early years.

Kingdom Come – Alex Ross also supplied the artwork for DC’s incredible alternate future story. Complex and engrossing, Kingdom Come, written by Mark Waid, cemented Ross as one of the true stars of the comics medium.

Civil War – The biggest event to rock the Marvel Universe in years. Hero faced off against hero as the debate over the superhero registration act spilled over into violence. A truly monumental thriller, which saw writer Mark Millar take the core Marvel characters to a new level of drama.

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (10th Anniversary Edition) – Frank Miller transformed the comics industry, and more specifically the character of Batman, with this seminal graphic novel. Batman has been retired for ten years, and Bruce Wayne once more takes on the mantle of the Bat in order to take on a new breed of villains.

Maus – This is a unique memoir by Art Spiegelman, presented as a graphic novel, which thirteen years to complete. It recounts the struggle of Spiegelman’s father to survive the Holocaust as a Polish Jew told in a stark black and white story featuring stylized cats and mice.

Preacher Vol. 9: Alamo – The multi-volume DC Vertigo series PREACHER is one of contemporary comics’ greatest works. Written by Garth Ennis and featuring gorgeous art by Steve Dillon with covers by Glen Fabry, it is a harrowing and gripping tale of redemption, religion and vampire hicks.

Y: The Last Man, Vol. 1 – A fascinating, multi-part epic following the misadventures of Yorick, the last man on Earth, and his monkey. A deeply moving examination of a very dark future indeed.

Batman: The Killing Joke – Currently the most sought-after Batman title published. This stunning one-shot provided some of the source material for the mega hit movie The Dark Knight, and features a typically sparkling script by Alan Moore and sleek art from 2000 ad star Brian Bolland.

These are just some of the groundbreaking trade paperback graphic novels that have enthralled comics fans all over the world, and have cemented the comics industry as a force to be reckoned with. The impact of these works is huge, and has seen the genre move from being a niche interest to an entertainment and literature phenomenon in recent years. There are countless others to enjoy, but these are tsome of the best and would make a good starting point for your Christmas gift list. Happy reading!

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