"Watchmen"
1) The author of the book is Alan Moore. Alan Moore is a revolutionary writer who wrote my book, "Watchmen". He is a self pro-claimed anarchists and is known for fighting against corporations. Alan Moore has written many critically acclaimed graphic novels; he was a big part of the adult comic book movement. Moore has written 230 comic books, graphic novels and fictional stories; this is not including interviews, introductions, articles or strips in newspapers and magazines. Moore has had four of his graphic novels made into movies including "Watchmen". He has also appeared on an episode of the Simpson's, one of his favourite shows.
2) In "Watchmen" Moore explores what would have happened if heroes had surfaced in the 40's. In this alternate universe the heroes and eventual super-hero have effected the cold war and have made nuclear conflict imminent. The main characters are the retired heroes. The first generation of heroes are happy with there lives; they are glad about what they did and happy to be retired. The second generation heroes are not in the best of spirits, and they hate that they were heroes and hate that they were forced to retire or work for the government. After the murder of one of the original heroes, who was government employed; one outlawed hero, Rorschach, starts to investigate the death of his comrade. During his mission to uncover the mask killer he brings other heroes out of retirement. Together they brave the police, angry civilians and angrier heroes to try and stop the devastating plot before it gets too out of control.
3) The setting of "Watchmen" is an alternate past. The past is changed when heroes arrive in 1939. These masked vigilantes have no powers but some cool technology and awesome fighting skills. As time goes on they effect the state of the world negatively and the world changes until 1985 when the story takes place. The heroes have made nuclear war a certainty. The threat of nuclear war causes the atmosphere of the story to be a dark one. The evil corrupting society and almost certain mass nuclear murder, make everyone edgy; few are optimistic. I have to say the atmosphere is very depressing and full of death. Lots of what happens is in New York; although, there are scenes anywhere from that antarctic to Mars.
4) Rorschach is the sanest insane person ever. He is out of the world, yet understanding of it. One of his personality traits is his discipline. He has a no forgiveness approach to the problem of society. He tries to do nothing wrong not realizing that people make mistakes. I think he is too hard on people not leaving any room for forgiveness, just punishment. He kills those that do wrong and seems to think of him self as above everybody else. I think this is just a security net he built after his mother verbally and physically abused him.
Another trait of Rorschach is depression. During the day he pickets about the end of the world. He lets everybody know they are going to die. His apocalyptic attitude is frightening and is also most likely from growing up seeing his mother, a prostitute, at work. Things like that scared and scarred him, and so did the boys home he went to. His tortured and demented mind realized that the world was going to end soon; even if soon didn't mean tomorrow.
5) I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a very fun read and really made me think about the state of the world, and how far is too far when stopping a war. Besides the great questions of heart and opinion this book offered an interesting look at the hero genre. I liked how it displayed the heroes; as real people. Definitely a 5 out of 5.
