Sunday, March 1, 2009

Thoughts on Reading Watchmen for the Second Time

  • I remembered almost nothing from the first time I read it, about six or seven years ago. I remembered Rorschach's secret identity and who the main "villain" was, but not what his big plan was or who Laurie's father was or how the book ended, at all. That vague recollection was ideal, I think, as I remembered enough to pay attention to little details that I probably missed the last time through, but I still enjoyed all the twists and turns in the plot as if experiencing them for the first time.
  • I remember the first time feeling like I should like it more than I did. Perhaps it's a sign of my maturity as a reader--or perhaps just changing taste, without the value judgment implied by "maturity"--that this time I really enjoyed and appreciated the book for the masterpiece it is.
  • I remember being annoyed by the Black Freighter story-within-the-story last time. This time I still found myself anxious to get back to the main story, but I at least followed what was happening with the marooned sailor and could see how it all fit in thematically.
  • I only learned a few weeks ago that Alan Moore had originally intended to use DC's then-recently-acquired Charlton Comics characters, but ended up creating his own analogues instead. It was really interesting to read the story imagining what it would have been like with Blue Beetle and the Question investigating Peacemaker's death, Captain Atom exiling himself from Earth, and Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt, as the man with the plan to save all humanity from the brink of nuclear destruction.
  • I feel adequately prepared now to have a profound, life-changing experience this Friday night when I see the movie. I'm sure I won't be disappointed.

14 comments:

Th. said...

.

Not possible.

I think my experience paralleled yours pretty closely.

B.G. Christensen said...

That's because you're the Charlton Comics analogue of me.

Th. said...

.

lol

That's a shame (for me) because I will be forgotten and you will be written about with respect in major publications.

B.G. Christensen said...

Look on the bright side: There's always the chance you'll be killed and replaced by a kid who stars in a critically-acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful book set in El Paso.

Th. said...

.

Yes. I also hear I'm a popular wacko on a hit cartoon show.

B.G. Christensen said...

That you are.

Th. said...

.

So I guess it depends on what you want out of life. It all, or the dregs.

B.G. Christensen said...

Of course I want it all, but I just assumed you'd be happy with the dregs.

Th. said...

.

Could be worse. I could be Ace Comics.

B.G. Christensen said...

Yeah, that would suck.

Th. said...

.

Oh, hey---there were two Ace Comics. I guess being Felix wouldn't be so terrible.

Spencer Ellsworth said...

You guys make about as much sense as a camel in a sweater.

B.G. Christensen said...

Which makes perfect sense. What's your point?

Th. said...

.

Name one camel who doesn't own at least three sweaters.