The first time I’d ever heard of Watchmen was when I went to see The Dark Knight. There was a trailer with an amazing Smashing Pumpkins song, and it looked pretty cool. The trailer mentioned something about being based off of a graphic novel, so when I got home I called the bf since he worked at a comic book store in high school. (Nerdcore, I love it.) He told me that it was really good, and since I’d never read a graphic novel before, it’d be a good one to start off with. So I went and bought a copy.

I FRIGGIN LOVED IT. Here’s why I’m stoked about anything Watchmen; book or movie:

1) Incredibly well written: The entire time, I couldn’t put it down. Without giving anything away, it’s about a group of masked vigilantes who are considered superheroes, but only one of them has an actual power. The world is going down the crapper and they have to save it. But there’s just so much more to it than that. It’s written amazingly and you get everyone’s background history. You really get involved. Plus it’s won a Hugo award and is the only graphic novel on Time magazine’s “Best 100 English Language Novels,” which means it’s not just me who’s thinks it’s amazing.

2) Silk Spectre is badass: For once there’s a woman in a graphic novel who isn’t a total cheeseball. No offense to Wonder Woman or Catwoman, but the Silk Spectre would kick their butts, and look amazing doing it. You go girl.

3) In the film, Jeffery Dean Morgan plays the Comedian: Ever since Denny Duquette, this man has had my heart. I will gladly pay money to see him in anything. I can’t wait.

4) The underlying theme that anyone can be a hero: Like I said, only one of the “super heroes” has any real power. The rest are just normal everyday humans. They take it upon themselves to rescue humanity, whether the general population likes it or not. Yeah, vigilantism can be pretty stupid, but there’s just something about people stepping up for what is right that will always be inspiring, fiction or non-fiction.

5) It’s a graphic novel that men AND WOMEN can enjoy: Trust me, this one isn’t just for the boys. This is the first and only graphic novel that I’ve read, so it’s not like this is coming from one of those kids. Seriously, it reads like a novel, and it has a story that anyone can enjoy. Women can even appreciate the fact that there’s a well written love triangle in the story; it’s almost like watching a soap. It’s not like the horrid love story of Anakin and Padme from Star Wars. “Anni, you’re breaking my heart!” Really George Lucas? REALLY?

So I encourage you: go out and pick up a copy. Hell, put it on your wish list. You won’t regret it.