Many classic superhero comic book characters were created in the early to mid-'60s. One might expect to see lines such as "Jiminy Jillickers" or "Holy Smokes!" complete with sound effects "Zap!" and "Bonk!" in these early comics. They were campy, kind of corny, but mainly fun to read when first written. They were about larger-than-life characters living in a larger-than-life world. But as times changed, so did the content of comics. As comics grew older, so did their audiences, and the medium began to evolve into more mature forms that dealt with more real world issues. Nothing captures this change more than the 12-part miniseries now turned graphic novel "Watchmen," written by Alan Moore and drawn by Dave Gibbons, originally released in 1986.
"Watchmen" begins when a once costumed hero, but as-of-late government agent, called the Comedian is thrown from the window of his apartment to his death. His death is investigated by an extremist vigilante, Rorschach, who is another costumed adventurer. Rorschach's investigation of the murder leads him to track down and interview his old comrades from the crime-fighting superhero team of which he used to be a member. Rorschach believes the team is being targeted by an enemy who is out to kill all of the superheroes. In a world that no longer cares for vigilantes and has outlawed their existence, the team members start to reconsider who they are. This occurs in the midst of a complex situation that only seems to push events even closer to the brink of an impending global disaster.
There is no campiness in these pages. Alan Moore broke new ground with this acclaimed series by incorporating such realism into the story. Although the fictional characters in the series are inspired by lesser known superheroes in DC Comics, the counterparts in "Watchmen" are "normalized," completely average people who love, hate, die and even are raped. Moore portrays a real-world reaction to the costumed vigilantes who are outlawed from their trade. He depicts what a real civilian populace and its government would probably do if there were masked people running around and taking the law into their own hands. The once loved heroes are now despised and hunted.
The story of "Watchmen" and the issues it deals with were eye-opening for comic book publishers everywhere. The companies saw the splash it made and the reaction it received, which caused many of them to update how their comics and comic book characters behaved. The average comic book series goes through a good deal of writers who contribute in their own little way, some more memorable than others, but there still must be an overall tone and feel to the book. Every character has a distinct personality and behavior and usually their comic reflects this. After "Watchmen," many of the comic books became darker and much more real. Writers and artists changed to accommodate these wishes. Characters had real flaws and weaknesses beyond the occasional kryptonite, such as alcoholism and low self-esteem. Emotionally, these heroes were no longer perfect, and readers could now relate to them. Their power level and deeds still made some of them gods in the eyes of many, but in their hearts they were only human.
The evolution and maturation of comic books paved the way for other critically-acclaimed series such as Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" and another of Moore's works, "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"; two works almost as highly regarded as "Watchmen." It also changed the lives of many costumed heroes. Barbara Gordon, a.k.a Batgirl, was shot, paralyzed and raped by the Joker. Hal Jordon, the Green Lantern, was so torn with grief over the loss of his home city that he turned against his peers and became their greatest villain. These are just two examples of the new dark side of comics which show that writers have gone beyond many of the restrictions they had before, and are now free to craft the tales they want to tell.
"Watchmen" revolutionized the way comic books are made today. There is no longer a place for corny dialogue or shoddy illustrations. There are only great stories and amazing illustrations.
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