It’s interesting to see how comic book culture has become such a commodity in this day and age. If you look back into the past, it was merely “geek” culture. A medium of expression for individuals trying to find an escape in a world that continuously bombards them with monotony and banality. I remember when society deemed comic books to merely be a “childish” pleasure and that it had no literary merit.

I’ve read many comics that I would consider to have “literary merit” and should be considered classics. One comic book series comes to mind when it comes to a literary classic, it’s called Watchmen by Alan Moore and David Gibbons.

watchmen

You probably remember the film that came out circa 2009. It wasn’t bad, to say the least, but it doesn’t truly grasp the sheer philosophical intensity that the comic book series has within its pages. In my honest opinion, I believe that Watchmen is one of the greatest comic books ever to be written. Completely destroying the concept of the obligatory superhero story.

One of my biggest issues with the comic book world is the idea that all superheroes must be perfect individuals with absolutely no emotional baggage of any sort. I mean, you have heroes such as Batman and the Punisher, but people tend to lean towards Marvel’s happy-go-lucky superheroes that have comedic relief and all that sort of junk. I think they are completely missing the point of what a comic book is supposed to do. It’s a story that transcends into artwork.

Watchmen reminds you that superheroes are still people. They still have emotions and can be completely distraught, awful individuals. That the world continues to spin without them. It’s a harsh reality, but it’s so true to what we experience every day. In a way, it’s a lens that reflects on humanities fear of living a life completely meaningless and random. Everything is a chance and existence is merely a joke.

Overall, Watchmen is something everyone should read. It’s a comic book that I believe should be considered an “essential” in anyone’s collection. It’s something that goes beyond the tightly narrow walls of the comic book world. It’s such a beautiful and painful experience. It’s something to remind us that we are all still human, whether we are the heroes or the villains in our own personal stories.

Article written by Bookmans Ina Customer Service Supervior, Flavio Collins