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Revelations in the Wink of an Eye: My Insane Musings on Watchmen from Conspiracies to Stupidities
The long-awaited complete and completely mind-blowing Jeffrey Lewis analysis of Watchmen is finally here, in a fully revised 2024 edition!
Watchmen is one of the most critically-acclaimed graphic novels of all time (possibly surpassed only by Maus), in addition to being one of the best-selling. The twelve-issue series by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons, originally published in 1986-1987, famously went on to become the only comic book included on Time magazine’s list of the 100 greatest novels since 1923. Despite such levels of popular and critical success, and a number of published biographies and assessments of its author, up till now nobody has published a fully comprehensive analysis of Watchmen itself. Performer/writer/artist Jeffrey Lewis has been writing and lecturing on Watchmen since 1997, giving popular talks on the subject in America, Europe, England and Australia; now he collects this work into one digestible, enlightening and entertaining volume, including all the necessary illustrative quotes of images from the source material.
Analysis of pop culture has often delved into music and film but there has never been an analysis of a comic book like this… because there has never been a comic book like Watchmen. Both in its deconstruction of the superhero genre and its reconstruction of the comic book medium Watchmen remains a uniquely compelling twentieth century cultural landmark, and, selling strongly for decades, it is long overdue for a critical treatment that goes deeper than normal appreciation or annotation. Revelations in the Wink of an Eye is a fan letter that carefully justifies itself, a mega fanzine of rare depth and insight. Get ready for a dazzling close look at the hidden themes and symbolic interplay that combine to make Watchmen tick. No matter how many times you’ve read Watchmen you may never see it—or any comic book—the same way again!
Jeffrey Lewis has written for History, the New York Times, the Guardian (UK) and other notable institutions (and was awarded a Webby for Best Writing on the Internet in 2010), in addition to doing writing/illustration/comic book work for projects published by Verso, Hill and Wang, For Beginners and others. Featured a number of times on NPR, Jeffrey has released many albums of his own songs on record labels like Rough Trade Records, Moshi Moshi and Don Giovanni Records. He tours the world with his band Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage, as well as writing, drawing and publishing his own comic books, including the recent series Statics.
Watchmen is one of the most critically-acclaimed graphic novels of all time (possibly surpassed only by Maus), in addition to being one of the best-selling. The twelve-issue series by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons, originally published in 1986-1987, famously went on to become the only comic book included on Time magazine’s list of the 100 greatest novels since 1923. Despite such levels of popular and critical success, and a number of published biographies and assessments of its author, up till now nobody has published a fully comprehensive analysis of Watchmen itself. Performer/writer/artist Jeffrey Lewis has been writing and lecturing on Watchmen since 1997, giving popular talks on the subject in America, Europe, England and Australia; now he collects this work into one digestible, enlightening and entertaining volume, including all the necessary illustrative quotes of images from the source material.
Analysis of pop culture has often delved into music and film but there has never been an analysis of a comic book like this… because there has never been a comic book like Watchmen. Both in its deconstruction of the superhero genre and its reconstruction of the comic book medium Watchmen remains a uniquely compelling twentieth century cultural landmark, and, selling strongly for decades, it is long overdue for a critical treatment that goes deeper than normal appreciation or annotation. Revelations in the Wink of an Eye is a fan letter that carefully justifies itself, a mega fanzine of rare depth and insight. Get ready for a dazzling close look at the hidden themes and symbolic interplay that combine to make Watchmen tick. No matter how many times you’ve read Watchmen you may never see it—or any comic book—the same way again!
Jeffrey Lewis has written for History, the New York Times, the Guardian (UK) and other notable institutions (and was awarded a Webby for Best Writing on the Internet in 2010), in addition to doing writing/illustration/comic book work for projects published by Verso, Hill and Wang, For Beginners and others. Featured a number of times on NPR, Jeffrey has released many albums of his own songs on record labels like Rough Trade Records, Moshi Moshi and Don Giovanni Records. He tours the world with his band Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage, as well as writing, drawing and publishing his own comic books, including the recent series Statics.
118 pages, Paperback
Published March 13, 2017
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Jeffrey Lewis
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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June 3, 2025I have been a fan of Watchmen since I read (at far too young of an age) the tattered original comics that my parents had aquired as it came, and I have been a fan of Jeffery Lewis since I was about 16 and my best friend's cool dad told us about him. When I found out Jeffery Lewis had published his dissertation (and 'insane musings') on Watchmen I was excited and I have been trying to get hold of it since. I finally did during his gig at the Brudenell in Leeds recently, and it was well worth it.
I especially enjoyed Jeff's criticism of the criticism, specifically the discussion of the history of comics, graphic novels and what a 'graphic novel' actually is (and isn't). I also really enjoyed his discussion of the symbolism and the overarching themes of the book. So much so that I re-read Watchmen straight after, and armed with Jeff's interpretation of Watchmen - as a work highlighting human agency and encouraging trust in normal people rather than waiting for superheros to save us - I found it strangely comforting and helpful in era as uncertain and as darkly overshadowed by existential threats as both the ficitonal mid-80s Watchmen was set in and the real mid-80s it was written in.
I especially enjoyed Jeff's criticism of the criticism, specifically the discussion of the history of comics, graphic novels and what a 'graphic novel' actually is (and isn't). I also really enjoyed his discussion of the symbolism and the overarching themes of the book. So much so that I re-read Watchmen straight after, and armed with Jeff's interpretation of Watchmen - as a work highlighting human agency and encouraging trust in normal people rather than waiting for superheros to save us - I found it strangely comforting and helpful in era as uncertain and as darkly overshadowed by existential threats as both the ficitonal mid-80s Watchmen was set in and the real mid-80s it was written in.
February 5, 2025
Really well written and thorough analysis of the Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons graphic novel Watchmen by anti-folk musician Jeffrey Lewis.
Lewis has delved deeply into the subject matter and knows the source inside out. He has been writing and lecturing about Watchmen since 1997. He gave a number of critically acclaimed talks on the subject in America, Europe & Australia and this book effectively pulls that work into one complete volume.
Turns out I missed a LOT of what was going on when I first read Alan Moore’s groundbreaking graphic novel back in the 80s. Lewis has really considered all aspects of the story, that includes being able to point out some of its inadequacies as well as the things it does well.
Lewis has delved deeply into the subject matter and knows the source inside out. He has been writing and lecturing about Watchmen since 1997. He gave a number of critically acclaimed talks on the subject in America, Europe & Australia and this book effectively pulls that work into one complete volume.
Turns out I missed a LOT of what was going on when I first read Alan Moore’s groundbreaking graphic novel back in the 80s. Lewis has really considered all aspects of the story, that includes being able to point out some of its inadequacies as well as the things it does well.
July 30, 2025
Really enjoyed it despite it having some literary critic abstractions I speed-read. Very interesting details I hadn't noticed.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews