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Watchmen has become quite the odd entity to me. Before it, I knew so many people who would never even consider touching a graphic novel/comic book. Whether that be from misconceptions about comic books being for children or from a simple lack of interest, it was very bizarre to me to see these people reading Watchmen, and enjoying it too!
Before I read it, I did think “overrated”. I took a long time to get through it too – months from start to finish (with many breaks to read other things). What I notice about the types I mentioned above is that they REFUSE to refer to Watchmen as a comic book, preferring the more “mature” term of graphic novel. I don’t really care what one calls it, but I’m calling it a comic book. I enjoy reading comic books…and Watchmen was certainly enjoyed by me.
I didn’t watch the movie before reading the book. The movie is what grabbed my attention (as it was with most people, since Watchmen only got fame due to the movie in the mainstream) and I loved a serious, adult comic book being taken so seriously by serious adults (eloquent, aren’t I?).
Anyway, by the time I got to the end of the book, I no longer thought it was overrated. The ending was powerful and there was some tough stuff in there…stuff that really made you think. I’m not a huge superhero fan, but this really pulled me in. It was dark and endearing and had incredible character development and an oddly convincing sense of realism. It’s no wonder those who would never touch a comic book with a barge poll are reading it and enjoying it, although, of course, there’s at least equally good stuff out there. Still, anything that opens people’s minds up is a good thing to me.