Watchmen by Alan Moore

Moore, Alan, Artist, Dave Gibbons. Watchmen DC Comics, Inc, 1986 ISBN 0-9302-8923-4
Summary
In 1988, Edward Blakes, murder is discovered by New York City police but have no leads to a. costumed vigilante Rorschach decides to do some investigation on his own, what he gets is more than he bargained for. Edward Bloak, was once a superhero named The Comedian, who was employed by the US government. Rorschach believes that he has discovered a plot to terminate superheroes and begins to warn his old superhero friends, Dan Dreiberg, Nite Owl, Doctor Manhattan, Laurie Juspeczyk, Silk Spectre, and Adrian Veidt, Ozymandias. With the rise of nuclear war becoming more of an issue between Russia and the US, superheroes are needed. More important Doctor Manhattan who is believed to have the power to stop it but after realizing that he might be the cause of his loved ones death he exiles himself to Mars. Earth is left to battle on its own while the rest of the superheroes are paranoid for there lives. Earth and superheroes are in danger and there is little hope left for humanity.
Critical evaluation
It is not the ordinary superhero book because it does not have all the same elements as one. There is only one character that has superhero capabilities, Doctor Manhattan, who received his after a freak accident in a lab, which is the story for most characters. Besides him, most of the other characters have gadgets and wear costumes that create there powers. It is a great story line because it creates an alternative universe then our own but it incorporates elements from it. For instance, it shows JFK’s death but it was done by a superhero or Nixon never resigned but was reelected three times! Its illustrations are well done and very detailed. Gibbons and Moore create a novel that captures the reader with its brilliant graphics and excellent story line.
Readers annotation Set in an alternate universe in the 1980s the planet is on the eve of destruction from nuclear war. Rorschach and Dreiberg begin to question a fellow super hero who might be on the path of destruction.
Information About the Author
Alan Moore won a Jack Kirby Comics Industry Awards for Best Writer/Artist combination in 1987 for Watchmen.
Genre
Graphic Novel - Superhero
Curriculum Ties
English
Booktalking ideas
1) Dialogue between Doctor Manhattan and Silk Spectre in Mars (157-161
Reading level/interest age
15 and up
Why book included?
One of the most famous Graphic Novels.