Why I Married My Wife
Tonight is the night: when all of my wife's friends come over to our house to have their bookclub and discuss Watchmen. I can't tell you how excited I am. For the past two weeks, I've been watching my wife sit in bed, with Watchmen in her lap. I freeze this image in my mind as it brings me the perfect nerd-gasm. My wife. Reading my favorite book. Is that hot or what?
But what's truly hot is this (spolilers ahead): after I mentioned that a few friends who had seen the movie reported back that we'd love what they get right and kill them for what they get wrong, we started compiling a list of all the things that they CAN'T get wrong. The Watchmen untouchables. And in the midst of this frenzy with my pal Jason, my wife said simply to me:
The only thing that has to happen is Rorschach dies.
blink, blink.
"Marry me!" I screamed again.
In conclusion, I've prepared for tonight's book club. I've prepared better for this than most (okay, all) of my law school classes. I've got a list of great themes, from the ultra-obvious (deconstruction of the superhero), to the dangers of nostalgia and longing for the past, to the value of identity, to the discussion of the triangle with Laurie ultimately choosing Dan (Man beats Superman).
But I want more.
So send them in now. Best concepts and ideas and themes and cool things in Watchmen (and don't tell me that issue five runs backwards in perfect symmetry (scoop of chocolate, scoop of vanilla -- don't waste my time)).
The End is Nigh.
Labels: Comics
posted by Brad at 9:43 AM
3 Comments:
So... who would win in a fight? Walter Kovacs or Vic Sage?
And I have to say that Denny O'Neil wrote THE best Watchmen crossover, ever. Of course, it was also the ONLY Watchmen crossover ever, but that's beside the point.
I think the general sense of paranoia and distrust for those who protect us is paramount in Watchmen. After the last eight years, it may be a great time for this movie to hit and popularize the book with the public.
Also, the threat that advancements in technology and science bring us closer to an easily achievable doomsday. Even while technology advances, if humanity stays the same, doom will come in a cloud of radioactive dust.
Lastly, the sense of self-loyalty coming at a high cost. You can skirt the edges of your dreams and be miserable, or you can follow your passion and put your very life at risk.
Also, Rorschach's journal has to show up in the end.
Nothing ever ends? Deconstruction of the superhero certainly hasn't. Which is why superhero comics *worth reading* have ended. Ended with a brutal, painful finality.
Maybe they'll be back, someday.
Probably not in our lifetimes, though.
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