These books were mentioned downstairs so I thought I'd make a post about them in the Playroom ...

[bigred]Watching The Watchmen
The Definitive Companion To The Ultimate Graphic Novel[/bigred]
[lilred]by Dave Gibbons with Chip Kidd and Mike Essl[/lilred]



Book Description
Enjoy the ultimate companion to a comics masterpiece, as award-winning artist Dave Gibbons gives his own account of the genesis of WATCHMEN in this dust-jacketed hardback volume, opening his vast personal archives to reveal never-published pages, original character designs, page thumbnails, sketches and much more, including posters, covers and rare portfolio art. Featuring the breathtaking design of Chip Kidd and Mike Essl, WATCHING THE WATCHMEN is both a major art book in its own right, and the definitive companion to the graphic novel that changed an industry.

Voted among Time magazine's 100 Best Novels from 1923 to the present, a perennial bestseller over the past twenty years and widely considered the greatest graphic novel of all time, WATCHMEN is a gripping, labyrinthine piece of comic art, which has earned an acclaimed place in modern literary history.

"I've had a great time, re-visiting the very beginnings of Watchmen and unearthing material I haven't set eyes on for many years. As a fan myself, this is the kind of stuff I eat up and I'm sure the many devotees of the graphic novel will do the same!" says Gibbons.

About the Author
Dave Gibbons is best known for his iconic artwork on the groundbreaking graphic novel Watchmen. He has also written and/or drawn many other comics titles, including Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Doctor Who and his semi-autobiographical graphic novel The Originals.

Chip Kidd has been called "the world's best book-jacket designer" and "the closest thing to a rock star" in graphic design today. His iconic designs include the cover for Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. He is also a writer, musician and avid comics fan.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1848560419/?tag=imwan-20

[bigred]Watchmen And Philosophy: A Rorschach Test
The Blackwell Philosophy And Pop Culture Series[/bigred]
[lilred]edited by Mark D. White[/lilred]



Product Description
Alan Moore's Watchmen is set in 1985 and chronicles the alternative history of the United States where the US edges dangerously closer to nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Within this world exists a group of crime busters, who don elaborate costumes to conceal their identity and fight crime, and an intricate plot to kill and discredit these "superheroes."

Alan Moore's Watchmen popularized the graphic novel format, has been named one of Time magazine's top 100 novels, and is now being made into a highly anticipated movie adaptation. This latest book in the popular Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture series peers into Moore's deeply philosophical work to parse and deconstruct the ethical issues raised by Watchmen's costumed adventurers, their actions, and their world. From nuclear destruction to utopia, from governmental authority to human morality and social responsibility, it answers questions fans have had for years about Watchmen's ethical quandaries, themes, and characters.

From the Back Cover
Can we justify Ozymandias's grand plan?

Does Dr. Manhattan really know what's going to happen in the future?

Is the Comedian actually a comedian (or just a jerk)?

Can either Silk Spectre be considered a feminist?

Does Nite Owl's paunch actually make him virtuous?

Watchmen is the most critically acclaimed graphic novel ever published and turned the world of comic superheroes on its head. This masterpiece of realistic storytelling, dialogue, and artwork, courtesy of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, raises a host of compelling philosophical questions. How do Ozymandias and Rorschach justify their actions? What are the political ramifications of the Comedian's work for the government? How do we explain the nature of Dr. Manhattan? And can a graphic novel be considered literature? Whether you're reading Watchmen for the first time or have been a fan for more than twenty years, Watchmen and Philosophy will help you read deeper into the philosophical questions and the revolutionary story that changed comic fiction forever.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0470396857/?tag=imwan-20

[bigred]Watchmen: The Art Of The Film[/bigred]
[lilred]by Peter Aperlo[/lilred]



Review
"I'm overwhelmed by the commitment, the passion, the palpable desire to do this right." - Watchmen artist Dave Gibbons, on visiting the set of the movie

"Watchmen is peerless" - Rolling Stone

"A masterwork representing the apex of artistry" - Entertainment Weekly

"The greatest piece of popular fiction ever produced" - Lost co-creator Damon Lindelhof

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1848560680/?tag=imwan-20

[bigred]Watchmen: The Film Companion[/bigred]
[lilred]by Peter Aperlo[/lilred]



It is the most eagerly awaited comics-to-film adaptation of them all. The graphic novel that changed an industry is now a film from Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures in association with Legendary Pictures, directed by Zack Snyder (300), and Watchmen: The Official Film Companion is the essential guide to this cinematic event. A complex, multi-layered mystery adventure, Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 in which costumed super heroes are part of the fabric of everyday American society. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present super heroes. Their mission is to watch over humanity… but who is watching the Watchmen?

Featuring exclusive interviews with the cast and crew, and scores of photos, this is the comprehensive guide to the new movie event.

Hardcover:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1848561598/?tag=imwan-20

Paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1848560672/?tag=imwan-20

Anybody read this one?

I just finished reading this the other day. Great to see Dave's insight into the process, his thumbnail sketches, rough drafts, etc. It was a very quick read even stopping to look at the art a lot; I'm glad I checked it out of the library instead of buying it.

This one looks like it's right up Doot's alley. I skimmed the introduction and he even cited that Klock guy he's in love with.



http://www.amazon.com/dp/0813563313/?tag=imwan-20

More profits for DC at the expense of Alan Moore? No thank you.

Not published by DC.

Until I see the benefits flowing to Alan Moore, no thank you.

I would also accept a personal blessing of this project from Alan Moore. Until then, no thank you.

I will wait to see if Moore is offended before I get offended.

I think it's our obligation to be offended on his behalf.

"F" Alan Moore!

I assume "F" stands for "forever".

You can relax. It turns out they had the legal right to publish this book.

Find me one with an introduction by Gaiman or GTFO.