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With the much-anticipated release of Warner Bros. film version of Watchmen possibly delayed by a lawsuit over who owns the rights, the graphic novel may be the only way to enjoy the story for a while longer.
To give an idea of how engaging this story is, I made the mistake of starting to read it later in the evening on a work night. I made it to bed around 2:30 a.m. after finishing it. Keep in mind the alarm goes off at 6 a.m. so I can make it to work on time.
The first thing to remember when reading Watchmen is that the story takes place in an alternate Earth history. If you try to rectify the situations in the graphic novel with the real world, you're going to get frustrated. History in Watchmen plays out differently from what happened here, though there are similarities between what we know and what the writers incorporated into the story. Just accept the changes, such as Richard Nixon serving more than two terms as President, and let the story carry you along.
The second thing to remember about Watchmen is that this isn't the typical super-hero story. Most of the heroes in Watchmen are not truly super-heroes. They do not possess special powers, other than those they have trained themselves in. They're not invulnerable, they cannot defy the laws of physics, and possess the same basic strengths and weaknesses that the rest of the human race does. The only exception to this is the character of Dr. Manhattan, who is so nearly god-like that he is all but dismissive of normal humans. The Watchmen are heroes because they have chosen to fight crime, and one aspect of the story is that society and the government soon tire of the vigilante techniques employed by them.
Herein lies the crux of the Watchmen tag-line - "Who watches the Watchmen?" The story isn't so much about the wonders of incredible heroes, but rather about the dangers when people embrace moral relativism; i.e. "The end justifies the means." Throughout the story, the character of Rorschach is an ongoing demonstration of this. When the other heroes retire after the government illegalizes their actions, Rorschach continues to operate outside of the law. His methods are often brutal, which he feels is necessary in a world of brutal criminals. Yet, without tendering any spoilers, Rorschach is merely the most visible example of extreme methods.
There is a parallel story within Watchmen, told through an ancillary character reading a comic book, and while at first this story within the story may seem odd, pay attention. It will make sense by the end.
The artwork and pacing are consistent throughout, conveying critical aspects of the story and the settings well. Short text-only sections interspersed through the novel offer insights from the biography of one of the characters. These are not essential to read for following the story, and are found at the spots where I suspect the original comic series divided between issues. If you're in too much hurry to get to the next comic page, you won't find yourself lost if you skip them the first time through.
In summary, Watchmen is fascinating to read, and a great example of the kind of serious fiction that can be executed in graphic novel format. This is not "mind fluff" vacuous tripe, but rather well thought out fiction with plenty of plot and themes to dwell upon.
Just don't start reading it late in the evening when you have to get up to go to work early the next morning. You may find that you don't want to stop.
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