"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.

1602: Marvel goes retro

Last night, I was going through my collection and came across one of my favorites: the Marvel 1602 series. Written by Neil Gaiman, the story features characters from the X-Men, as well as Captain America, Nick Fury and The Fantastic Four in the Elizabethan Era. Villains like Dr. Doom and Magneto appear as well. 

The plot revolves around the central characters in the year 1602. None of them know how they've come to be there and slowly start realizing that they don't belong in that age. Several stories spin out simultaneously sometimes coming together and then again splitting ways. Nick Fury's avatar, Sir Nicholas, heads the Queen's intelligence bureau and is charged with appropriating the secret treasure/weapon of the Templars. Javier (Charles Xavier) runs a safe home for "the witchbreed", which the Spanish High Inquisitor wants to blame for the sudden strange weather across Europe. A tall man and his young charge come from the Americas to seek the Queen's protection, but have strange abilities that they themselves do not understand. A Count Von Doom, the ruler of Latveria, has been building strange machines. And the Fantastic Four are hapless prisoners in his castle. 

Enough to whet your interest in it? Saying more would reveal the interesting twists in a carefully crafted plot. While the story is a great 1st time read, and may not tempt you to go back for a 2nd read anytime soon, its the artwork that will make you want to frame each page. The night-time lighting in the frames is exceptional. Since the artists didn't have the freedom to presume a well-lit room (with bulbs et al.), they are restricted to working with "torches" that burn on walls near the characters. I was so intrigued by it that I did some research and it turns out that they used a technique called "enhanced pencils" wherein the pencil drawings bypass the inker and go straight to the colorist. Do try and get your hands on this one.

A Preacher you should listen to

Presume God exists. Suppose he decided he didn't want to be responsible for the world anymore and simply got up and left… leaving Heaven to be run by his scientists and army. 

Believe there is a Devil. Suppose that he died at the hands of one of his own creations - the Saint of Killers.

Know there is a Man. A Preacher. Suppose he has imbibed a power called Genesis that renders him unquestioned obedience to the words he says… and he wants to ask God why He has abandoned his creation.

Add to that a conspiracy by a group of Christian extremists who want to bring about Armageddon before they produce a Saviour.    

That is the foundation of Preacher - a comic series by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. 

But its more than that. As the Preacher and his assassin-lover search for God, their paths cross with a vampire who becomes his best friend, a sexually deviant ruthless military commander, a kid with a mutilated face - all of whom play key roles in the story. An interesting angle is John Wayne (yes, the man himself!) as the Preacher's imaginary friend who makes appearances throughout the series. 

With a storyline that sometimes moves into flashbacks giving the reader insights into the characters' past, we see examples of society's dark side and stark examples of deviant desires. On one level, the dialogue on religion is controversial, yet its also about a 'never say die' spirit across all its characters. While the protagonists have a marked 'take no shit' attitude, the reader also understands why some of the others do 'take shit'. 

Another way of looking at it is through individual philosophy. Each character has his/her own philosophy of life and they never waver from it. Each one has clarity about what he/she has to do next… and does it without any compunctions of any kind. As individuals, they are flawed, and don't even pretend to apologize for it. 

Read it once for the story. Take it in like you would a Oliver Stone film. Then go back and spend time on the monologues/thoughts of the characters. Now look at the modern America and the image it tries to project and what it tries to hide. The poverty of the poor. The underlying racial tension. The lobbies within the government.  The clash of cultures. The search of identity in youth and modes of expression. 

Ennis' dark writing is brought to life by  Dillon's stark no-holds-barred artwork. The ugly are ugly. Scars add character, and not a 'cool' factor. The fights are dirty with no-quarter given. Moods and thoughts are shown with entire pages of repeated frames where only the character's facial expressions change. If the narration is dark, so is the frame. The series is dotted with pitch black frames with just a few words in a box. 

But it's not all dark... there're frames that'll have you laughing. Herr Starr's unfortunate wounds, mishaps and frustrations are a source of constant comedy. Indeed, if it weren't for that, the story would have been much harder to read, since these allow the reader some breathing space.

The series consists of 75 issues in total — 66 regular issues and five one-shot specials and a four-issue Saint of Killers limited series. Read it.