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Watchmen (by Alan Moore)

common sense media says

Retired heroes fight to save themselves in gritty classic.


parents & educators say
  • 32% say violence is an issue
  • 26% say sexual content is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this landmark graphic novel is meant for mature readers and contains lots of violent imagery, profane language, and events of vigilante justice. That aside, Moore and Gibbons work together to create a genre-shaping graphic novel that's as engrossing visually as it is in plot.

Positive messages: Damaged characters host a slew of moral vices.
Violence: Exaggerated comic book violence depicts guns, explosions, mutation, hand-to-hand combat, animal abuse, and the horrors of war. One startling scene features a brief but brutal attempted rape (not explicit). In another, a pregnant woman is shot in cold blood.
Sex: Some mild sex scenes, references to prostitution, and a cartoonish porno comic called a "Tiajuana Bible."
Language: No "f--k"s, but some derogatory name-calling and swearing such as "s--t" and "goddamn."
Consumerism: Fictional brand Veidt dominates the market, but some familiar brands remain to retain realism. Big names like Kleenex and ABC make occasional appearances.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Drinking, drug addiction, and aesthetic cigar(ette) smoking reminiscent of old Hollywood. A political cartoon caricatures a woman offering reefers and heroin to a chained "Captain America" figure.

More on Watchmen

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the many ethical issues raised by the actions and circumstances of the characters. What is a nihilist, and how might being one affect The Comedian's actions? How does the story's alternate history differ from what happened in reality? Is it ever OK to take the law into your own hands?

What's the story?

What's the story?
When even superheroes need saving, you know you've got a major problem. In WATCHMEN's alternate history, America is on the brink of social combustion. By passing the Keene Act, the government banned vigilante justice, forcing America's greatest superheroes into retirement. Years later, the murder of The Comedian draws old colleagues back into action, but the circumstances behind his death may run far deeper than mere personal vendetta.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Renowned comic writer Alan Moore helped shape the concept of "adult comics" into a reality. With its sophisticated plot, complex characterizations, and spot-on rendering of the human condition, Watchmen is the quintessential graphic novel. Dave Gibbons' expressive, brooding illustrations complement, not carry, the literary merit of its writing. Poetic in verse and saturated with psychological realism, Watchmen is the only graphic novel thus far to make Time's "100 Best Novels" list, an accomplishment that's well earned.

On the flip side, parents may have a hard time stomaching the story's graphic violence and crass dialogue. Watchmen has come a long way from the cartoonish "POW" and "KABLAMO" of its comic book predecessors. Keep in mind that this graphic novel is meant for mature audiences and is chock full of adult themes and complex issues. That said, Watchmen is a gripping read for any fan of the science fiction or mystery genre.

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Alan Moore
Illustrator: Dave Gibbons
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication date: April 1, 1995
Number of pages: 416
Paperback price: $19.99

This review was written by Grace Le
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13
Based on 19 parent & educator reviews:
  • 32% say violence is an issue
  • 26% say sexual content is an issue
  • 26% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Most useful reviews by all members

 
Awesome book for adults, keep it away from the kids
LOVED it when I read it for a college class. That's what it's appropriate for. College students. Heck, I'm iffy about my 17 year old brother reading it. Definitively not for young teens, and iffy for older teens. The rape scene is more intense than the review seemed to indicate, and the violence is massive. Also, the "heroes" are deliberately morally ambiguous. No character in the story is a great role model, and the message is a morally ambiguous one. Lots of depth, and a great read for all the adults out there, but not for the kids.

kjshi
teen, 17 years old
 
Perfect First Graphic Novel for Mature Readers
Though it may show some images parents may not be alright with, reading it was a positive experience for me. It brought certain philosophical notions into play, contains a great deal of symbolism, and delves into the harsh reality of our world, figuratively shown in a world parallel to ours. Though the characters are morally ambiguous, it was a refreshing change to see that even heroes are human. It is much more realistic, believe it or not, than other widely accepted hero stories, which rely entirely upon our willing suspension of disbelief to thrive. Watchmen is a great Graphic Novel to start with, if you are reading your first one, but whether or not it is appropriate depends on the maturity of the reader, though i would generally say that 15 and up is a good age, and 14 would be iffy. Though there was a significant amount of drinking, smoking and sexual references and acts, based on the general plotline and the ideologies shown in the novel, it wasn't completely out of line. Whether or not the messages in the book are positive is open to interpretation, but the book as a whole questions morality and human nature in general, which I found intriguing when I read it at 15.

benbrm
kid, 12 years old
 
Good
shows a guys genital area read some of it.


kid, 12 years old
 
so awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
best comic book ever


teen, 14 years old
 
so awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
best comic book ever


kid, 11 years old
 
so awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
best comic book ever

thedigitalmast ...
teen, 14 years old
 
Great book for mature tweens and up
This a great book for any tween or teen interested in comics or superheroes, it has an alternate reality of history in the world, and has some interesting heroes with much more realistic flaws than the average comic book hero. Examples: Nite Owl's a middle-aged man with an erectile disfunction, and Rorschach (my fave character) is a sociopath.

fangningsheng
teen, 14 years old
 
Amazing!
Watchmen is a great book. It is my favorite book. The story is engrossing and keeps you hooked. I would recommend this book to any reader that is mature enough to understand the book.

cross_breed
teen, 17 years old
 
A Great Book for Older Teens and Adults
I read this when I was fourteen and was kind of shocked by the content. The violence is gratuitous. The blood is sometimes over the top, as in one scene where a minor villain's throat is slit and blood commences to pour all over Rorschach in a manner reminiscent of a fire hose. Some scenes can be sort of traumatizing, like when The Comedian murders a pregnant woman by shooting her at close range. The book also has some sex scenes in it. Several buttocks are seen as well as a few breasts. In an early scene, Rorschach walks by a stand selling porn magazines and women have their breasts exposed. Dr. Manhattan's blue genitals are also seen several times. The book's plot is very mature and will probably be over the head of some viewers. All sex and gore aside, it's a very good book that depicts the bleaker side of life very well. I enjoyed it very much and you probably will too.

rnsrt2
teen, 16 years old
 
Great for the mature reader!
Alan Moore is a great writer. His books have many moral messages and they are very entertaining for the critical thinker and the problem solvers. This book is like an agatha christie novel. It is a who-done-it with a great twist of an ending. If there was no sexual content than I would recommend it for everyone. If your child laughs at male parts than he/she is not mature enough for this book and there is nudity, but no language that I can recall. Also not for children who get depressed easily.

antoineisthebest
teen, 15 years old
 
I read that book twice
good book but not for kid there is some blood nudity

otto555
teen, 14 years old
 
omg, this book rules, but for kids under 14? NO WAY!!!!! of course, i was 12 when i read it, but thats just me.

 
Fantastic Read with some Difficult Parts
Being a "comic" with such role models as superman and spiderman, this is entirly different. Told in a similar world but parallel reality, this book is neat to think that being a "super Hero" could be a carrer choice. The book itself is very enthrallig and i could barely put it down. Some of the scenes (75%) are taken straight from the book and into the movie shot for shot which is really neat to follow along with. While i understand the reason that the Doctor is naked, it is a little shocking at times and might be a little uncomfortable when watching with younger teens. The themes might be a little hard to grasp with the Doctors confusion of the universe, the cheating between two main characters, and the understanding/openess that the ending comes to.

Napkap
teen, 15 years old
 
A Great Book
The characters are incredibly interesting. Nite-Owl II is a nerd, Rorschach is a psycho, Silk Spectre II is a depressive, The Comedian is a nihilist, Ozymandias is an insane genius, an Dr. Manhattan has lost touch with humans. Alan Moore does very well with all of these characters, and it's a great story.

 
Watchmen: everything is great
This is a great book, but... in my opinion the movie was better, and the game was awesome.

good man
teen, 13 years old
 
great novel
great novel a little bit bad but at least kids are reading.

Bryan 484
teen, 15 years old
 
Great dark and violent superhero book
First off let me make this clear. THIS IS NOT YOUR AVERAGE SUPERHERO BOOK. THIS IS COMPLEX!!!!!!!!!! First of Dr. Manhatton is naked (back and front(yes you do see his penis, but not in extreem detail, but if you don't pay much attention to it, it's not that bad)). They curse, not to much, and it blends in, it dosen't stick out much. There are sex scenes, but for women you only see breasts and up. This is extremely violent with LOTS of blood and gore. The point of the book is "Violence comes with a consiquence." Be careful before you let your teen read this.

 
great book
this was a great book. the action was sooooo intense i loved it

Goseewacthmen
teen, 16 years old
 
Great, but violent, and some sexy scenes may keep younger kids away.
Alan More can make a awesome book. Just imagine super heroes in the 1980s. I'm not gonna spoil anything but you just have to read it. But be warned, there is graphic scenes of violence and sex. NOT FOR THE YOUNG!!! Yellow for 13, green for 15+.

redskinsrule221
teen, 17 years old
 
Great, but only for mature teens
This is a masterpiece for graphic novels and fiction in general. There are some very mature themes but I'm 14 and handled them all maturely. If you're a mature teen, read this.

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