"Who watches the Watchmen"

Note to readers:  Alan Moore's 'Watchmen' has been in the news for quite some time now. Thousands across the world are awaiting the release of the movie in March '09 - which the director has promised, is as close to the novel as possible. Judging from the trailer, it might well be. I'm optimistic that it won't turn out to be the disappointment that Wanted was. But still, why take the chance of judging the book from the movie when there's plenty of time to read it first.

 

In 1939, masked heroes arose. Some called them the Minutemen. Others, the Watchmen. Guarding society against crime. Battling criminals on their own terms. Going beyond the law whenever necessary. For 38 years, they reigned. Two generations of disguised crime-fighters.

 

In 1977, the Law was passed. Vigilantism became illegal. The heroes were forced to give up their masks. Only the ones who already worked for the government were allowed. And there were few enough of them. Once more, urban crime-fighting became the realm of the Police.

 

Now, it is 1985.  The US had won the Vietnam war. Nixon is still President, now in his fifth term. And the Cold War is at its height with the US and Soviet Union edging towards a war.

This is the alternate history which forms the background of the Hugo Award winning Watchmen. 

 

The novel opens to a murder. A man has been beaten and thrown out of his high-rise apartment window. Two investigations ensue. One, by the Police. The other, by the only remaining independent (hence illegal) vigilante - Rorschach. The man who has been killed used to be the vigilante formerly known as The Comedian. A man who worked for the government and one of two legal vigilantes in the US. So that makes Watchmen a murder mystery.

 

The story revolves around 6 vigilantes: The Comedian, Rorschach, Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandias. The volumes skip between the Now and the Past, giving the reader biographies of each of the characters, how they came to be vigilantes, insights into the frictions within the community, and their love lives. So that makes Watchmen a drama.

 

Of them all, only Dr Manhattan has super powers - that's strength and intelligence. His conversations on humanity, actions, consequences and on life itself are at times unethical, but always logical. He is the one character that seeks to understand, rather than know. His view of himself? "There is a God and He is American." That, perhaps, makes Watchmen philosophical.

 

Watchmen also has one more thing. It's debatable since its got a long ending, but I thought it had a surprise ending.

 

In terms of illustration, the style is simple, but there's loads for the reader to look out for. The pattern of Rorschach's mask keeps changing, for instance.  The graffiti on the walls often says "Who watches the watchmen".  Each volume ends with a quote by a famous person, which encapsulates the thoughts of the character that is the subject of that volume. Notice what the people in the background are doing. The back covers of each of the 12 volumes features a clock which progressively inches towards midnight. It's the doomsday clock. All of it builds up to the fatalistic society that is portrayed within.

 

Watchmen also has a 'comic within a comic' where there's one character who's reading a comic next to a news stand throughout the book. The reader can hear snatches of conversation going on around him, but can also read the comic - which in itself is a noir 'Count of Monte Cristo meets Robinson Crusoe'.

 

All of this makes Watchmen a classic. Ever since DC Comics brought it out in 1986, it has enjoyed a cult following, and, in many ways, set a benchmark for graphic novels that few others have equaled. If you're going to be reading it for the first time, then here's a word of caution. Don't compare the novel's characters with other vigilantes. When it comes to superheroes, familiarity breeds superiority and you may lose interest in the initial volumes. In Watchmen, vigilantes aren't about skills, gadgets or intelligence. They're simply people out to do the right thing.

 

Before I sign off, here's a bit of trivia. In the novel, there is a dialogue that explains the etymology of the title as something that John F. Kennedy wanted to say in a speech. However, the quote 'who watches the watchmen' is from the writings of the Roman political  satirist Juvenal (circa 100 AD). He wrote:

"I hear always the admonishment of my friends:

'Bolt her in, and constrain her!'

But who watches the watchmen?

The wife arranges accordingly, and begins with them."

 

Well, that's enough said. I'll leave the rest to you. For those of you who've already read it, let's talk about it. 

Ghost in the Shell

Note to readers: The iconic Masamune Shirow's works are pretty hard to come across in English (and in India), and I found one tucked away in an airport bookshop. I simply had to leave my other projects mid-way to read the original manga - albeit in English. Apologies for the delay to those of you who've written to me asking when the next review would be out, and to those of you I had promised to do Sandman and Watchmen. These, I promise, will be next. 

Most comic (and movie) buffs have heard of 'The Ghost in the Shell'. Thus far, I had contented myself on just the animated movies (which are iconic in their own right). If you haven't read the book but watched the movies, then you're pretty well clued into the story. It doesn't deviate from the book and I can only imagine the pains with which the screenplay for the animation was written since it does indeed put forth the philosophical aspects rather well. 

The year is 2029. Cybernetic technology has successfully (to a large degree) molded Man and Machine. Hands and legs can be easily replaced by more technically advanced limbs. Eyes can be replaced by electronic lenses that allow you to zoom or change visual medium (think Robocop). Even the brain can be downloaded and transferred to a human exoskeleton, called a Shell. With all human organs easily replicable, what's left is the 'Ghost' of the person that existed earlier; call it a 'consciousness' if you will. This forms the basis for the title's etymology. 

The world is basically one large electronic network.  And since one can actually plug in one's brain to this 'internet', interpersonal communication can happen via thought without actually speaking. Of course, there's the chance that if you let someone into your head, they may find stuff you don't want them to - but this can be guarded against (like using firewalls on your computer). This is the background on which the story rests. 

What hasn't changed in the world is this: countries are still haggling with each other for economic profit and power. 

The plot revolves around a special division of the paramilitary forces called Public Security Section 9 which deals with external threats to the country (in this case, Japan). They report only to the highest authorities and enjoy almost limitless freedom to take action as they see fit. The protagonists are all part of Section 9. The soldiers (in order of hierarchy) are  Kusanagi a.k.a. the Major, Batou, Ishikawa, and Togusa. The unit is headed by Aramaki (who's also referred to as 'ape-face' - with good reason). The unit also uses an 'intelligent' single-seater armored tanks called Fuchikoma and other state-of-the-art weaponry (including personal armour that can render you invisible). 

The story starts with Section 9 being formed after a government-authorized assassination. After that, the team carries out a series of seemingly routine operations that include an orphanage where an inmate tries to run away, chasing down a bomber, a brutal mafia boss who's trying to escape the country and dirty politicians. As the story progresses, they realize that the crimes are all somehow connected at the highest levels with a secret government project called the Puppet Master - a cyborg that claims to have a consciousness. That apart, there's the interdepartmental rivalry, the team members' personal lives and relationships, and the rapport they develop with one another in the course of their work. Enough, I suppose, to say that there's something for everyone. But what sets the novel apart are Artwork, Technological detailing and Philosophy. 

The Dark Horse Manga edition I bought is interspersed with full color spreads, as in the original collected format. There was an earlier edition which was less graphic and explicit. Needless to say, Masamune brings stories to life as few others can. 

Reading the novel reminded me of Michael Crichton's writing, which is full of scientific/technical explanations. 'Ghost in the Shell' features writing between the frames which are small notes. They give bits of information that either clarify technology or describe what's been drawn. For instance, when a nurse asks "Feel any pain around the brain, hon?", there's a small note below the panel which says "The brain itself cannot feel pain". There are quite a few pages that illustrate technology and how it works. In fact, most of the technology he speaks of actually exists. 

But what makes it 'cult' is the philosophical discussion that emerges within. A sort of case against Cartesian Dualism. For instance, if the mind can be replicated, then what's the definition of being human? How far can/should Man and Machine integrate? What part of us makes up our 'identity'? 

Reading the book won't make you hate the movie in any way at all. It'll give you scenes and insights into characters which weren't included in the movie and add depth to what you would already know. And it's definitely worth the read. Do try to get your hands on this one.