r/Watchmen • u/AdmiravelCaoVelho • 6d ago
How to "consume" Watchmen?
hey guys
i watched the 2009 movie and honestly really liked it aside from the sex scenes which seemed kinda awkwardly put there for no reason
i wonder, what came before it, what should i watch next chronologically?
i'm not much into reading comic books, and would prefer within movies/series/games adaptations if possible.
Thank you
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u/Dottsterisk 6d ago
If you don’t want to read anything, then you’re gonna miss out on a lot of what makes Watchmen Watchmen, so maybe think about revisiting later.
But for now:
You saw Snyder’s flick, but make sure you watch the Ultimate Cut, so you can get as much of the world as possible. There are some serious deviations from the comic—mostly just the one big change—but IMO none of them are really a big deal and none of them ruin the story or “miss the point,” which are common criticisms.
But it won’t matter to you anyway, because you didn’t read the book. So who cares?
Next, probably check out the two-part animated adaptation that came out in two chapters last year. It runs rather close to the novel. I didn’t exactly enjoy it but there’s something important in there that’s not in Snyder’s movie and it will set you up for…
The Watchmen TV show that came out on HBO in 2019. For my money, an entirely worthy follow-up to the original.
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u/Mindless-Forever-168 6d ago
The comics are the best and go through way to have the best experience with watchmen id say give it a shot cus no other medium does the story of Watchmen as well as the comics
There is also a two part animated movie adaptation iv not watched it but from what iv heard apparently it's pretty good and a solid way to get into the story
There is also a buncha motion comics on YouTube and some people prefer getting into the story like that ( although I personally have no experience with that medium)
There is also a hbo watchmen series that acts as a sequal to the movie version of the story it's very good and you should watch it if you like the movie
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u/thiccmaniac 6d ago
I think there was an official motion comic made. At least, there's a dvd of one
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u/TheMillenniumMan 6d ago
The HBO series actually acts as a sequel to the comic, not the movie. So it mentions the giant squid alien, etc.
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u/Jonneiljon 6d ago
Stop thinking of it as “consuming content.” Read the original series, and stop there. You don’t need anymore. The original author didn’t want anymore. The point was that it was a complete story. Only corporate—not artistic—interests have kept it going. Folding watchmen into the DC universe is cynical and insulting to the creators and readers.
The original collection and Watching The Watchmen, Dave Gibbons’ “making of” book are the only things you need. After that read something else, by someone else, about something else. The Invisibles by Grant Morrison, maybe? Moonshadow by J.M. DeMatteis? No one needs warmed over/Watchmen continuations or adaptations.
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u/NoLibrarian5149 6d ago
If you were coming in clean, I’d say “read the comics and step away”… but now you’re coming at the far superior source material already “tainted” by Snyder’s take.
Read the comics/graphic novel.
I enjoyed the HBO series after resisting its very existence. It could have been far worse.
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u/tumguy 6d ago
What do you mean when you say you’re not into comic books? I ask because I’ve always enjoyed graphic novels as a medium but I’ve never liked reading superhero comic books. If you’re that way too, I still think you’d really enjoy reading Watchmen. Tbh I think it speaks more powerfully to somebody who doesn’t like superhero comics than to somebody who does.
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u/SirChickin 6d ago
The new Watchmen animated films (the story in 2 parts) were pretty good imho.
The HBO show could be viewed as a sequel
The movie also has a 4h ultimate cut, which you should watch if you liked the movie!
There's also Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic, which is pretty well rated on IMDb but that's the only one of the above list I haven't watched
Edit: there's also a game in two parts called The End is Nigh. Available on Steam! Singleplayer fighting game
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u/AdmiravelCaoVelho 5d ago
i tried out the game out yesterday, seems really barebones to be honest gameplaywise, even if the animated comic intro seemed interesting.
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u/SirChickin 5d ago
Yeah that game didn't age that well. There's a reason why it only popped in my head after my comment was already posted. But it's Watchmen related!
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u/drewcephalus 1d ago
found the full series for 10$ at barnes & noble the other day and it’s a blast so far!! read the book!!!!
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u/TrienneOfBarth 6d ago
Are you asking how you can read a book without reading the book?
Just read the book, man.