The End is Nigh

Today marked the conclusion of my adventure through Alan Moore's brilliantly imagined universe in Watchmen. I had never even heard about it until about 6 months or so ago, but gradually I got caught up in the hype train for Warner Bros.' upcoming movie adaption. The combination of an isolated superhero universe involving heavy thematic overtones originally written by V for Vendetta mastermind Alan Moore and directed by the 300 film's Zack Snyder were more than enough to pique my interest, and since then I have discovered just why it is considered to be the best graphic novel of all time (though I must admit, it is the first one I have read cover to cover). Finally finishing the book has only rendered me yet more excited about the first in a series of episodic games--starting with The End is Nigh tomorrow--and, of course, the debut of the film, which I will be observing in all its IMAX glory this weekend (stay tuned for a review/comparison!).

As for Moore's original masterpiece, I must say the first thing

that struck me was Moore's talents as a writer. Even in a medium where you'd think descriptive writing would fall by the wayside (due to its accompanying illustrations) Moore utilizes an astonishingly proficient command of all aspects of language in presenting his world. It was very humbling, being a prospective writer myself, reading the words of a true master of his craft, comparable in his command of rhetoric only perhaps to J.K. Rowling. The universe he has invisioned is equally astonishing, and its not really until you get near the end that you appreciate just how carefully crafted the details of the backstory really are. Moore captures your attention right from the very beginning, and the ride only picks up speed until it screaches to its sudden and unexpected finale. Though the main ending itself left me somewhat disappointed, no other ending would have supported the themes quite as well, and the overall end sequence was superb. Overall, the story is expertly written and envisioned, and even though there are a couple quirks with the presentation, this is definitely not one to miss. Check back next week for impressions from the film and an analysis on how Snyder's vision stacks up to its source material!