Watching the Watchmen

by Dave Gibbons, Chip Kidd

book data

115 ratings, 3.97 average rating, 28 reviews (more data...)

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5		30%
4		43%
3		20%
2		5%
1		0%

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published

October 21st 2008 by Titan Books

binding

Hardcover, 208 pages

isbn

1848560419 (isbn13: 9781848560413)

description

Voted among Time magazine's 100 Best Novels from 1923 to the present, a perennial bestseller over the past twenty years and widely considered the grea...more

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03/10/09

Parka rated it:

bookshelves: art-books, comics

Read in December, 2008

Watching the Watchmen: The Definitive Companion to the Ultimate Graphic Novel

(Picture source: parkablogs.com)

The construct of the book is great. It's hardcover with a dust jacket. The paper stock is good, thick and low gloss.

Inside the book are tons of initial sketches, designs, storyboards, comic panels, scripts and scribbles. Dave Gibbons really packed in a lot of stuff from their sketchbooks. The scans are so high in resolution you can see the texture of the sketchbooks' paper grain.

The book starts off with the background stor...more

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01/08/09

Jordan rated it:

bookshelves: non_fiction

Read in January, 2009

I don't believe I've ever given Dave Gibbons the amount of credit he deserves for the creation of Watchmen. It wasn't until my most recent re-reading that I really paid attention to what he managed to accomplish with a 9 panel grid. The subtlety and level of detail he conveys - with absolute clarity - is every bit as genius as Alan Moore's words. There isn't anything flashy about his style, but I can't imagine any of today's big name artists capable of the feat, especially since so many of th...more

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2 comments

02/15/09

James rated it:

This isn't exactly a book that one "reads." It's more like a keepsake for people who hold the original graphic novel in high esteem, as I do. I "read" it inasmuch as I looked at every page, recently.

It's chock-a-block with interesting tidbits and insights, all without Alan's direct participation. But I certainly don't begrudge Mr. Gibbons making a few extra pfennig from this endeavor.

I continue to eagerly await the forthcoming major motion picture a...more

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3 comments

12/21/08

Joie rated it:

Read in December, 2008

I was a little scared when I started to read "Watching the Watchmen", not really knowing what I was going to get myself into, just knowing it was about the watchmen and I had to feed my inner nerd. I was scared that the book would withhold to much information about the secrets and wonders of the watchmen, things that shouldn't be told, much like Shakespeares' Macbeth and it's hidden secrets that no one can figure out even to this day, yet I was pleased to see that this book gave you en...more

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11/30/08

Chad rated it:

bookshelves: graphic-novels, memoirs-essays

Read in December, 2008

I've been a big fan of "The Watchmen" since I read it many years ago. It was my first exposure to Alan Moore's writing, and Dave Gibbons' art as well for that matter. In addition to being blown away by the mere complexity and depth of the story, I also found it quite fun to look for all the symbolism, which in my pre-sophisticate days, consisted mostly of finding all the smiley faces.

In the subsequent years, I've flipped through my "Watchmen" volume a few times a...more I've been a big fan of "The Watchmen" since I read it many years ago. It was my first exposure to Alan Moore's writing, and Dave Gibbons' art as well for that matter. In addition to being blown away by the mere complexity and depth of the story, I also found it quite fun to look for all the symbolism, which in my pre-sophisticate days, consisted mostly of finding all the smiley faces.

In the subsequent years, I've flipped through my "Watchmen" volume a few times and found other interesting little tidbits, aided at times by various websites replete with detailed annotations. I've read just about everything Alan Moore has written. And I've promptly ignored everything Dave Gibbons drew for the remainder of his career.

So I wasn't super excited when I heard this coffee-table type book compiled primarily by Dave Gibbons, and with zero involvement from Alan Moore was coming out. Alan Moore's reputation and aura, and their absence in this project, kind of overshadows what, when you stop to think about it, is kind of an interesting perspective on "The Watchmen".

Sure, an in-depth behind the scenes volume written by Moore would be infinitely interesting. But though it doesn't quite reach that theoretical level of fascination, Gibbons drops in enough in-the-loop material that this proved to be a very satisfying, if quick, read.

The text in this volume is a bit sparse, but what's there is interesting. Gibbons gives an account of his involvement in the genesis of the comics; the grueling pace of drawing each issue; his growing fame as he traveled around England and America to various comic conventions. We also get the tiniest of glimpses into the British comics scene (that's a book I'd like to read).

Art wise, there is a LOT of cool artwork. There were thumbnail sketches of nearly every page from all 12 issues, plus preliminary artwork for "The Watchmen" role-playing game and posters and issue covers.

There are even a couple of really cool diagrams Gibbons drew which offered a neat insight into the throught-process behind laying out a few scenes. One featured an overview of the city block where the giant-other-dimensional-squid-monster manifests. He drew the whole scene in a long shot (which never appears in the actual comic) in order to better help him plot out the placement of buildings and tentacles and victims in the several zoomed-in individual panels. That was pretty cool to see for a design junkie like myself.

Anyhow, this is a solid volume that may not include the thoughts of certain involved parties that we'd all like to hear from, but Mr. Gibbons offers enough unique insights, and a plentiful bounty of artwork that will be something I can go back and browse through frequently and with great satisfaction.(less)

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11/19/08

Erik rated it:

Considered by some as the watershed graphic novel of the late twentieth-century, my best comparison of Moore and Gibbons’ epic comic-book series – for you neophytes out there -- is to Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane. How, you ask? Well, think of the recursive nature of the narrative, as well as the adage that absolute power corrupts absolutely. That and the fact that the ubiquitous smiley face is akin to Kane’s Rosebud in its symbolic power. (Perhaps not in its meaning per se, but in its figu...more Considered by some as the watershed graphic novel of the late twentieth-century, my best comparison of Moore and Gibbons’ epic comic-book series – for you neophytes out there -- is to Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane. How, you ask? Well, think of the recursive nature of the narrative, as well as the adage that absolute power corrupts absolutely. That and the fact that the ubiquitous smiley face is akin to Kane’s Rosebud in its symbolic power. (Perhaps not in its meaning per se, but in its figurative use throughout its narrative.)

Reading Watchmen in its first collected printing back in the late 80s was a literary awakening of sorts – at least when it came to the comics medium. Even though Frank Miller had just published The Dark Knight Returns, which also reinvented the scope and power of the medium, Moore and Gibbons were actually working in isolation – which was also physical, as these two British blokes were hacking away at their soon-to-be-proclaimed-masterpiece across the Atlantic. The comics medium was forever changed, as was my expectations. (Which likely explains my aversion to mainstream comics shortly thereafter, as well as my critical eye when I tepidly returned to the medium in the 90s.)

Dave Gibbons’ coffee-table book is an amazing inside look into the conceptual development and design of this remarkable series. Although Moore’s absence is conspicuous – being the odd hermit that he is, as he likes to hide-out in his UK home away from the outside world (according to most reports). Despite that, Gibbons succeeds in holding his own throughout his narrative as he lovingly details the development of the Watchmen from his thumbnail breakdowns of each issue – including issue number five's (“Fearful Symmetry”) visual symmetry (imagine an onomatopoeia in comic panel form) – all the way through selected penciled, inked, and colored pages. Think of it as a veritable “how-to” manual of comic-book making. Not to mention an awe-inducing behind-the-scene peek at a watershed even in the graphic novel form.

Many years ago when I introduced Watchmen to a friend, she criticized Gibbons’ art. But I will, and even must, defend it. Although his style is iconic – and perhaps uninspired for some – his visual plotting and pacing have few competitors. Again, just take a look at the thumbnails for issue five “Fearful Symmetry”, the many abandoned conceptual designs, the planned trajectory of the spinning Nostalgia perfume bottle on Mars (yes, the physics of this was actually and accurately planned), and even the multiple angle/perspective layouts for the dramatic and destructive finish in the final issue. You don’t have to be a huge fan of Gibbons’ style to appreciate the level of attention to the minutiae of this fully-realized fictional world on two-dimensional paper.

No doubt like many while devouring this beautifully hard-bound coffee table book, I quickly became eager to re-read Watchmen. But I’m just as hesitant as I don’t want it to spoil my growing enthusiasm for Zack Snyder’s cinematic translation due in March. (What a great present during my birthday month!) As with The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, I waited to re-read Tolkien’s classic until after The Two Towers was released, as I didn’t want become overly critical with Jackson’s interpretation. I’m planning to do likewise with Watchmen and its film version.

For any fan of Moore and Gibbons’ masterpiece – or even those whose curiosity is piqued by the upcoming theatrical adaptation (don’t you just love the new trailer before Quantum of Solace, with its Phillip Glass score?) – Watching the Watchmen is an absolute must-read.
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2 comments

04/01/09

Jonathan rated it:

bookshelves: comics-and-graphic-novels, reading-in-2009

If, like me, the persistent hype over the movie and the endless debate over the book's merits watered down some of your enthusiasm for the source material, OR if it's just been a while and your memories of the original comic have dimmed, this is a fantastic means of reinvigorating your interest in the durned thing. Typically strong Chip Kidd layout, utterly inspiring Dave Gibbons source material. That the guy has kept all of these notes and sketches is a miracle.

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02/16/09

Michael rated it:

bookshelves: read-in-2009

Read in February, 2009

While it may not be a definitive look at the creation of "Watchmen," it's pretty darn close. Artist Dave Gibbons tells his side of how this pivotal graphic novel was created and shares his memories of the working experience. Included are sketches from the characters and pencil drawings of various pages as they slowly become the pages we know and love today.

If you love "Watchmen" you're going to love this.

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12/29/08

Matt rated it:

Read in December, 2008

I'm a sucker for process, so the thumbnail layouts for each issue, color guides, and breakdown of how the project came to be, how it was made, and how it was handled when it exploded made me devour this thing in two days. Gibbons' writing is simple, honest, and quite loving of the work itself. Very highly recommended for fans of the original book.

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12/27/08

Scotty rated it:

Read in December, 2008

As I fan of this graphic novel since it came out in the late eighties, and as someone who finds the business of comic books and their "production" interesting, I enjoyed this book, though it is little more than a grandiose coffee table book. I suspect that those who have never read of or heard of Watchmen before will find it of little interest, especially as the original graphic novel is NOT part of this book, though there are quite a few pre-production pages and other interesting oddi...more

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10/24/08

Michael rated it:

Read in October, 2008

excellent overview of the production of the series by artist dave gibbons. not even chip kidd could mess this up. yes, it's true, i hate kidd's designs. i know they're supposed to be "innovative" and "cutting edge" but it always looks like some dude from design school went nuts.

anyway, presentation is very clear and concise, and the layout is very pleasing. if you're into it - it's my favorite super hero story ever - then this book is well worth having.

...more

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07/03/09

Threerings rated it:

bookshelves: 2009booksread, comics-manga-graphic-novels

Read in April, 2009

Really only for hardcore Watchmen fans. I'm glad Gibbons is making a buck off the hype. It was mildly interesting, I read it in about an hour. I'm glad I didn't pay full price for it, but it looks nice on the shelf.

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12/25/08

Dave rated it:

Read in February, 2009

This is an excellent deconstruction and history of the writing, drawing, coloring, and lettering of the Watchmen comic series. Gibbons doesn't get into any of the ridiculousness and bad blood that may exist between parties and instead focuses on the creative process. That's not to say that there aren't a lot of different anecdotes from the time, but they are always focused on the creation and reception of the book. I've always liked Watchmen, but the level of detail within this book really incre...more

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03/31/09

Glenn rated it:

Read in January, 2009

A few regrettable design decisions kept me from giving this 5 stars. Still highly recommended for any comics fan and anyone else who wants to go <badpun>under the hood</badpun>of a seminal work.

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02/08/09

Steve rated it:

bookshelves: comics

Read in February, 2009

insightful look into the creative process, but I would have liked a BIT more commentary from Gibbons. And I know Moore would never contribute himself, but we could have more of his script at least.

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04/30/09

Mark Ashmore rated it:

Read in December, 2008

Interesting insight into how "Watchmen" came into life. More of a coffee table book. Nota lot of text. Not a complaint really Dave gibbons artwork (even the rough stuff) is still brilliant.

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05/31/09

Leighwoosey rated it:

A peek into the many layers of creation and craft that go into a brilliant graphic novel. It is so complete as to serve as a guide to the production process of a comic book in general.

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06/17/09

stormhawk rated it:

Read in June, 2009

I don't care what the Wizard said ... I love paying attention to the man behind the curtain. Understanding the creative process behind sequential art only makes it more fascinating.

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12/24/08

Megan rated it:

bookshelves: own

Read in December, 2008

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 ...more

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