Watching the Watchmen: The Definitive Companion to the Ultimate Graphic Novel
by Dave Gibbons
Watchmen (Reference and Commentary — Companion)
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This volume is a companion reference to the comic book series Watchmen. The series was originally published by DC Comics during 1986 and 1987, created by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins. The Watchmen comic series depicts an alternate history where superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1960s, helping the United States to win the Vietnam War. The author (and co-creator of the Watchmen comics) gives his own account of the genesis of Watchmen. He reveals never show more before published pages, original character designs, page thumbnails, sketches and more, including posters, covers and rare portfolio art. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Nice behind-the-scenes look at the making of the artwork of Watchmen. When everyone thinks Watchmen, they inevitably think Alan Moore. Which is fair. Moore was the one that created the initial ideas and story. But it was Dave Gibbons and John Higgins that really brought it to visual life.
And make no mistake, visually, design-wise, this book was groundbreaking. Gibbons is never given enough credit for the ultimate success of this series.
So, this is an interesting, albeit one-sided look at the creation of the Watchmen series.
However, I'm taking one star off for whomever decided it would be good to print some of the content as blue type on black backgrounds.
And make no mistake, visually, design-wise, this book was groundbreaking. Gibbons is never given enough credit for the ultimate success of this series.
So, this is an interesting, albeit one-sided look at the creation of the Watchmen series.
However, I'm taking one star off for whomever decided it would be good to print some of the content as blue type on black backgrounds.
If you just like Watchmen a lot, then I'm not sure this big coffee-table slab is necessary; there are a couple of nice stories about the making of the comic, and some cool character sketches and so on—although not a lot in the way of full-page original art, because most of that was long gone into the hands of collectors before this was put together. Fanatical completists of course will want it—although, for reasons that I'm sure you know, none of it is from Moore's point of view. But if you're involved in writing or illustrating comics, it's both a pleasure and a great resource. I could look at Dave Gibbons's thumbnail pages all day (which make up the bulk of the book) and learn more about design and storytelling than I would by show more actually reading the comic, and the stories about how he and Moore bounced ideas back and forth are like a best-case scenario of how collaboration can work. show less
An interesting coffee table book about the creative process behind the Watchmen comics. There are notes about the production process as well as preliminary sketches of the entire graphic novel. Gibbons seems a positive person, and he does not dwell on the negative side of working with D. C. Comics on this title. He has only praise for Alan Moore and the other members of his creative team. The book is large but is mostly filled with wordless sketch artwork. Of interest to Watchmen fans, comics historians and those interested in comics publication process. I guess I'm a little bit of all three.
What was most enjoyable about this book is the background information and anecdotal stories told by the illustrator of "Watchmen". He describes the creative process behind the drawings as well as the evolution of several character designs. Also included are many original drawings, sketches, and page layouts. With the upcoming film incarnation of "Watchmen", fans of the graphic novel will appreciate and enjoy this unique opportunity to "Watch the Watchmen", a clever response to the graphic novel's oft graffitied question: "Who Watches the [b:Watchmen|472331|Watchmen|Alan Moore|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175041710s/472331.jpg|4358649]?"
A behind-the-scenes tour of the making of "Watchmen," provided by Dave Gibbons. There are many pictures, rough sketches, and reproductions of Alan's Moore's typewritten script pages.
This is probably a must for any true Watchmen geek. It made me appreciate the artistry of the original series even more.
This is probably a must for any true Watchmen geek. It made me appreciate the artistry of the original series even more.
Rated “Indifferent" in our old book database.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Beginnings -- Workings -- Chapter I -- Chapter II -- Chapter III -- First Reactions -- Chapter IV -- Chapter V -- Chapter VI -- Local Color -- Chapter VII -- Chapter VIII -- Chapter IX -- Weirdness -- Chapter X -- Chapter XI -- Chapter XII -- Finished -- But Then . . . -- Endings
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Beginnings -- Workings -- Chapter I -- Chapter II -- Chapter III -- First Reactions -- Chapter IV -- Chapter V -- Chapter VI -- Local Color -- Chapter VII -- Chapter VIII -- Chapter IX -- Weirdness -- Chapter X -- Chapter XI -- Chapter XII -- Finished -- But Then . . . -- Endings
Behind the scenes on the greatest graphic novel
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- Canonical title
- Watching the Watchmen: The Definitive Companion to the Ultimate Graphic Novel
- Original title
- Watching the Watchmen
- Alternate titles*
- Watching the Watchmen: The Definitive Companion to the Ultimate Graphic Novel
- Original publication date
- 2008-10-21
- People/Characters
- The Comedian (Edward Morgan Blake); Doctor Manhattan (Jonathan Osterman); Nite Owl (Daniel Dreiberg); Ozymandias: Adrian Veidt; Rorschach (Walter Kovacs); Silk Spectre: Laurie Juspeczyk (show all 9); Alan Moore; Dave Gibbons; John Higgins
- Important places
- London, England, UK
- Related movies
- Watchmen (2009 | IMDb)
- Dedication
- To Alan Moore, without whose original inspiration Watchmen would never have come to be, and to John Higgins, without whose colors it wouldn't have looked half as good.
- First words
- In 1980, Marvel Comics held a comic book convention at the Royal Horticultural Hall in Central London.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Keep smiling.
- Original language
- English
- Disambiguation notice
- Contents: Beginnings -- Workings -- Chapter I -- Chapter II -- Chapter III -- First Reactions -- Chapter IV -- Chapter V -- Chapter VI -- Local Color -- Chapter VII -- Chapter VIII -- Chapter IX -- Weirdness -- Chapter X -- C... (show all)hapter XI -- Chapter XII -- Finished -- But Then . . . -- Endings
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Graphic Novels & Comics, Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 741.5942 — Arts & recreation Drawing & decorative arts Drawing Comic books, graphic novels, fotonovelas, cartoons, caricatures, comic strips History, geographic treatment, biography European England & Wales
- LCC
- PN6738 .W383 — Language and Literature Literature (General) Literature (General) Collections of general literature Comic books, strips, etc.
- BISAC
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- 296
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- Reviews
- 8
- Rating
- (3.78)
- Languages
- 6 — English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 2
