Maybe somebody already pointed it out. But the thing with the "crack pipes" is that Moore specifies in his script that is some kind of recreational drug everybody uses instead of cigarrettes. The worlbuilding is so complex that even the infamous "four-legged chicken" is not an error of Gibbons, it is written into the script. You can read about this in some anotated Watchmen edition. I don't remember exactly where, but its the one with the companion scripts.
Jim: Great observation about the differences in word balloon shapes between the 1985 scenes and the flashbacks. There is a third word balloon approach in the first flashback to the Minutemen meeting in 1940, in which the balloons are more cloud-shaped (presumably to lend a more idealized / naive, 'golden-age' feel to the scene) before giving way in the next flashback to the still idealized, but less whimsical clean shapes of dialogue balloons in the abortive meeting of The Crimebusters in 1966.
(Just came across this from Gibbons himself, in The Annotated Watchmen: "The word balloon shapes vary for everyone, according to time period. The 1940s scenes have a more cloud-like shape, typical of the period's comics. The Crimebusters scenes have smooth balloons, even for Rorschach. We're suggesting a superficially elegant time. Present-time balloons are always slightly chiseled and angular, to imply a harsher world. Rorschach's change the most, following the incident with the child-eating dogs."
One thing I love about Watchmen is how clean the artwork is. I'm not a comic fan, Watchmen is the only comic stuff I like, but I've noticed with a lot of comics, especially in the present time, is how many lines and details there are until the point where it just starts to blur together in your brain and it looks ugly. This is far from simple work, but everything is so clean and easy to read while still being detailed. And I'm glad you guys are pointing out the great coloring, that's so easy to overlook. Also, didn't notice that about the speech bubbles changing, so glad you mentioned it!
I read these as they were coming out and thought about each issue pretty intensely (we had a lot of time between some issues and there were a lot of discussions among friends) . When the Comedian spoke about a hidden place with writers and artists I had an irrational notion that he'd discovered the ultimate devastating secret, that he was living in a world created by comics artists and was a fictional character in a DC comic.
That's a great perspective on the experience of reading this as it was published. Cool idea. I'm curious to learn what was so horrible on that island. Comedian seems like he spent a lifetime seeing atrocities. What could he have seen on a flyover that was so much worse? - Jim
Whoa, thanks for the look back at this issue! I experienced WATCHMEN in real time, waiting for it issue by issue...man, it was a trip with suitcases. You made me notice how Sally and the pregnant woman slash up the right side of the Comedian's face--the same side the blood splash is on the smiley face. Hmmm, that.
I remember reading this for the first time and totally being blown away. One of the few times that the hype undersold the weight and power of a comic. Life changing.
Thanks so much for this, guys! I love reading "Moore" comics. I am currently reading Promethea in the new 20th Anniversary Edition and the artwork from JH Williams III is like nothing else out there. From the layouts to the stylistic changes to the colors, letter, & inks: truly every panel is a work of art. You guys really need to get that series under the microscope!
always enjoyable listening to you dive in. think gibbons mastered a camera mm lens length approach. some artists are wide angle, others are short and tight. different lenses creat the angles he was trying to achieve.
I seem to recall Alan Moore saying that the scar the Vietnamese woman leaves on The Comedian's face is symbolic of the scar Vietnam left on America.
Hahahahahahahaha! Serves them right.
@@robertodell9193 yeah cause bombing their country to shit was a much better solution
Maybe somebody already pointed it out. But the thing with the "crack pipes" is that Moore specifies in his script that is some kind of recreational drug everybody uses instead of cigarrettes. The worlbuilding is so complex that even the infamous "four-legged chicken" is not an error of Gibbons, it is written into the script.
You can read about this in some anotated Watchmen edition. I don't remember exactly where, but its the one with the companion scripts.
Great episode! Moloch was played in the film by noted Canadian actor and Zack Snyder semi-regular, Stephan McHattie.
Jim: Great observation about the differences in word balloon shapes between the 1985 scenes and the flashbacks. There is a third word balloon approach in the first flashback to the Minutemen meeting in 1940, in which the balloons are more cloud-shaped (presumably to lend a more idealized / naive, 'golden-age' feel to the scene) before giving way in the next flashback to the still idealized, but less whimsical clean shapes of dialogue balloons in the abortive meeting of The Crimebusters in 1966.
(Just came across this from Gibbons himself, in The Annotated Watchmen: "The word balloon shapes vary for everyone, according to time period. The 1940s scenes have a more cloud-like shape, typical of the period's comics. The Crimebusters scenes have smooth balloons, even for Rorschach. We're suggesting a superficially elegant time. Present-time balloons are always slightly chiseled and angular, to imply a harsher world. Rorschach's change the most, following the incident with the child-eating dogs."
One thing I love about Watchmen is how clean the artwork is. I'm not a comic fan, Watchmen is the only comic stuff I like, but I've noticed with a lot of comics, especially in the present time, is how many lines and details there are until the point where it just starts to blur together in your brain and it looks ugly. This is far from simple work, but everything is so clean and easy to read while still being detailed. And I'm glad you guys are pointing out the great coloring, that's so easy to overlook. Also, didn't notice that about the speech bubbles changing, so glad you mentioned it!
I read these as they were coming out and thought about each issue pretty intensely (we had a lot of time between some issues and there were a lot of discussions among friends) . When the Comedian spoke about a hidden place with writers and artists I had an irrational notion that he'd discovered the ultimate devastating secret, that he was living in a world created by comics artists and was a fictional character in a DC comic.
That's a great perspective on the experience of reading this as it was published. Cool idea. I'm curious to learn what was so horrible on that island. Comedian seems like he spent a lifetime seeing atrocities. What could he have seen on a flyover that was so much worse? - Jim
@@CartoonistKayfabe the squid?
Whoa, thanks for the look back at this issue! I experienced WATCHMEN in real time, waiting for it issue by issue...man, it was a trip with suitcases. You made me notice how Sally and the pregnant woman slash up the right side of the Comedian's face--the same side the blood splash is on the smiley face. Hmmm, that.
I remember reading this for the first time and totally being blown away. One of the few times that the hype undersold the weight and power of a comic. Life changing.
Many great observations in this one guys, thanks. I am begging you, please do an Alan Moore Supreme read through.
always appreciate Ed's voice for his childhood self
Thanks so much for this, guys! I love reading "Moore" comics. I am currently reading Promethea in the new 20th Anniversary Edition and the artwork from JH Williams III is like nothing else out there. From the layouts to the stylistic changes to the colors, letter, & inks: truly every panel is a work of art. You guys really need to get that series under the microscope!
my first Tijuana bible was shown to me by one Chris Pitzer while tabling at Comic Arts Brooklyn in 2020!
18:40 man, where can I watch those videos about Gibbons and Mignola
Getting some dead milkmen in there! 14:47
I got a copy of watchmen at a second hand bookshop for 3 bucks yesterday. Not bad.
Matt Frewer played Moloch and Max Headroom
always enjoyable listening to you dive in.
think gibbons mastered a camera mm lens length approach. some artists are wide angle, others are short and tight. different lenses creat the angles he was trying to achieve.
Talk of Kurtzman's flickering light makes me think of his detective parody "Thelonious Violence" in the Jungle Book ...
Great talk.
i watched this today on Dave Gibbons 72th birthday
9:08 panel 6 on page 7 mirrors the panel from issue one, page 3 panel 3, right before Ozymandias throws him out the window
edit: LOL You caught it Jim
big ups Dead Milkmen
Yo Philly punk represent Dead Milkmen
OMG PLEASE do Supreme. That would be so great
Those sleeves look Watchmen yellow...
I wonder if The Comedian dons the fetish mask to hide his scars from Vietnam.
Any way you guys can do Doomsday Clock too???