Daredevil Message Board

hylozoii · Playing to the Camera Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 148

I bought the Watchmen tpb about 10 months ago. I read about half of it on and off, but I couldn't finish it. It was just too slow for me. Last week I picked up where I left off and finally finished it. I know I'm in the minority, but I just couldn't get into it. Could someone tell me why this book was a classic? Was it because of when it was written?

Also some questions:

1. What was with the backstory guy shipwrecked? Was that a story read by the guy at the newstand?
2. Why did the hero destroy NYC for the betterment of mankind?
3. What else did I miss in this story?

This was obviously a wordy mystery story about the antihero. Maybe during the time it was released, it was a great story.

Solid Snake PAC · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:42 am Post subject:

1.the Black Frieghter is a comic read within the story. But it's story has allusions to what is happening within Watchmen.

2.Oz destroyed NYC to bring peace to the world. Us and Russia are close to nuclear destruction...what can bring them together. A massive attack on a city by a third party in this case an "alien"...causing both nations to work together to rebuild.

3. You missed alot of undertones...too many to bring up. Rorschach's existence alone..is one of them. Etc...

Sandman · Flying Blind Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 27

as to the whole "Black Freighter" story in Watchmen. -I struggled with this particular storyline for a few reads myself. Then someone pointed out an intersting line that I had glossed over:

SPOILER

-After Ozymandias has acheived his goal and Dr. Manhattan has silenced Rorshach, the two half a brief chat (when Jon walks up the wall to Veidt's room). Ozymandias makes begins to make the comment that he had the strangest dream, in which he was swimming towards a ship -and then quickly dismisses it before continue the conversation.

If you look at the story of the black Freighter with Ozymandias in the main role -you start to see a few parallels to the main story.

hope that helps!

Sandman

james castle · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject: Re: Watchmen

hylozoii · Playing to the Camera Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 148

You shouldn't pinpoint on one quote I made. It was a generalization. I'm not saying I totally was lost in the story. It was definately a mystery of "who dunnit?" For me, it felt like there was a lot of backstory that wasn't really integral to the main theme or moral. I understand what Moore was getting at, but to me it was slow. I liked the characters, but Oz was hardly a part of the story in the beginning. I think it would have been much better if Oz had been in more scenes to foreshadow the end.

Sandman, are you saying that Oz is the man in that story? Also, it seemed like the Owl and friends were surprised that Oz said he could catch a bullet. Did nobody know the extent of his powers when they were together? And did the blue man send in a fake when he died? That's why he was saying "Must follow Oz." all the time. Nobody even knows the extent of his powers either. Now that I write this, I feel I was lost in the story because there was no buildup of characters and abilities. It went right to the mystery of the death of heroes and then filled in holes with backstories.

Sandman · Flying Blind Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Posts: 27

I was NOT saying that Ozymandias was the main character in the Black Freighter story. I was saying you could put him into the story in substitute for the main character. It helps define just how Veidt (Oz) sold out on all his ideals to achieve his goal.
It's pointed out in parts of the backstory that The Comedian made comments that led Veidt to his decision.

-As to backstory not revealing enough about powers, I feel that you may have missed some here as well. (I'm not criticizing your read of the book here. -It's not the easiest read in the world and if drawn out over a length of time without much rereading -there's a LOT to miss!)

As to Dr. Manhattan's power levels not being described in depth, look at what happened right after Veidt disintegrated him. When he came back moments later -he told Veidt (as seen in his backstory) that the very first trick he learned was reassambling all his molecules. -And if he can do THAT -well, what CAN'T he do!

Veidt's power levels aren't as explicitly revealed ahead of time -I'll give you that one. But you saw that the man had nearly every contingency plotted and planned out ahead of time. -So sending an assassin after himself, you KNOW that he was going to be able get out of it somehow. Sure, catching a bullet seems farfetched to you. It did to NiteOwl too. -That was a way to emphasize just much Veidt was truly capable of as a mortal man.

hylozoii · Playing to the Camera Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 148

Thanks for your help Sandman. I'm trying to review the story again.

Dave Wallace · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:24 am Post subject:

Here's a review I did not long ago - hopefully it explains why I like Watchmen.

http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/reviews/116577491411149.htm

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