But they cannot change the fundamentals of some characters. Though they may try, they remain unbreakable, and forever American.
Posted on 12/11/2005 8:00:37 PM PST by Mobile Vulgus
Who watches the watchers? A comic book as political commentary
In the field of comic books, a 12 part series called Watchmen, created by the writer as a political commentary on its time, was hailed as having "transcended its origins," becoming a watershed in comics entertainment. This series, published in 1986, was at the front edge of a wave of comics in the early and mid 1980s that attempted to demolish the heroes of the past and replace them with a post-hero world of darkness and pessimism.
Watchmen was a reflection of the contemporary political positions held by an influential minority, sure enough. But in the final analysis, it is so imbued with the over wrought and ill-conceived notions of the political left that it fails to wholly represent a true understanding of what was really going on in the world or what, in retrospect, we really had to worry about. Further, it is just the type of stuff being peddled to our kids (as it originally was in Comics stores) to which we should pay attention.
As to subject matter, it wasn't "just a comic book." It hit all the 80's hot-button issues. Homosexuality, rape, war with Russia and "the bomb," crooked US politicians, corruption, murder, sexual impotency, welfare mammas, and homicidal maniacs were all aspects of the story line. But it's philosophy of nihilism and anarchy was its underlying message.
The Left, so sure that they are the ones qualified to "watch the watchers," fail to see that it is they, rather, who need the watching.
(Excerpt) Read more at renewamerica.us ...
Its a little late to start reviewing somthing that was released 19 years ago. I love the Watchmen, for many of the reasons that the reviewer hates it. I guess it just doesn't float his boat.
But they cannot change the fundamentals of some characters. Though they may try, they remain unbreakable, and forever American.
"Unfortunately, the series ends up being just another way to tear down standards, another way to complain about the old ways while offering nothing with which to replace them. That being the case, nothing new has been learned in the Watchmen. The only thing "new" is the forum in which the questions are being raised; a comic book."
The purposes of the Left are clear: they are undermining our society. Comic books like this undermine morale---especially of the young.
Third ... it's easy to look back on comics history and see escapism and idealism, but that's a total gloss. The driving creative forces in the medium have always been darker, and more suspicious of human nature, and more adult than people are willing to give them credit for now. The Marvel franchise was built on guilt-ridden heroes and allegories about the scary stuff the world deals with every day. "The Watchmen" was a quantum leap in portraying heroes as stinky jerks like most of us, but to lament that its legacy is a bunch of anti-American antiheroes ... I'm sorry, but there's PLENTY for a good conservative to enjoy today.
As for the Manga influence, well, to each his own. But that seemed like a cheap shot, too, considering every book gets the style that fits the story. Plus, if you watch Adult Swim or read some of the better Web comics out there, you can see many examples of what a good influence Manga has been on a generation of American cartoonists.
Bah. I think the article's author is reading too much into Watchmen. Sometimes a comic book is just a comic book.
That said, I'm still not sure Watchmen can be conveyed in any medium except comic book form. In fact, I think that's one of the reasons it's been so acclaimed; it told a story in the medium in a way that's never been done before. Maybe it could be done as an animated series, but as a 2 hour movie? It would be butchered to all heck.
Also, Watchmen still is a product of its time. The story doesn't work well at all if you don't have that cold war backdrop.
actually, according to his creators, The 'S' on Superman's chest referred to another "S" Word
The Incredibles opened with a sequence straight out of those two comics.
I liked it, especially Rorschach, what a nut job!
It is a pretty weird and dark, though.
You must not know very much about the series then. Alan Moore, the creator of the books, MEANT all the politics to be "read into" the series!
It isn't the writer of the Op Ed that is "reading thngs into it". It is what the creator of the series meant to happen.
I prefer "The Dark Knight Returns", great comic with a brillant ending. Bruce finally realizes that is it not the criminals on the street he should go after, but those that are in office.
If you are a fan of Rorschach, you need to check out the Justice League Unlimited series, starting with the episode "Fearful Symmetry" (yes, Season 3 and 4 of Justice League are partly inspired by the better parts of the Watchmen comic), which introduced the Question character to the DC Animated Universe.
The Question in the JLU series is more similar to Rorschach, than to the comicbook Question and to put icing on the cake, the Question is voiced by none other than Jeffery Combs, and he plays the character to the helt.
The inspiration of those characters goes like this, Comicbook Question, then Rorschach, then JLU Question.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.