Watchmen
by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, John Higgins, DC Comics · first published 1986
47% recommend53% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Superhero graphic novel that treats ethics, power and existential questions with literary depth, in an accessible medium. Praised as genre-setting and rereadable; suits readers who want serious fiction in comics form.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"This book examines each of the series' twelve issues in unprecedented detail, moving page by page and panel by panel to reveal the hidden foundations of this milestone in modern storytelling. Edited with notes by Leslie S. Klinger, this new edition draws upon critical and scholastic commentary, in-depth interviews with Dave Gibbons, and previously unseen original source material. Klinger provides the reader with a unique and comprehensive view of Watchmen as both a singular artistic achievement and a transformative event in the history of comics as a medium. Set in a world in which history ha
Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
Related books
2010–2025V for Vendetta
Alan Moore, David Lloyd
Recommended by 7 · mentioned by 267 recommend · 26 mention7 recommend · 267 recommend
2019–2024From hell
Alan Moore, Eddie Campbell
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 63 recommend · 6 mention3 recommend · 63 recommend
2013–2019All-star Superman
Grant Morrison, Frank Quietly
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 33 recommend · 3 mention3 recommend · 33 recommend
2017–2021The Broken Road
Patrick Leigh Fermor
Recommended by 2 · mentioned by 22 recommend · 2 mention2 recommend · 22 recommend
2018–2026Batman
Alan Moore, Brian Bolland, John Higgins, Richard Starkings
0 recommend · 4 mentioned0 recommend · 4 mention0 recommend · 40 recommend
2008–2020Narziss and Goldmund
Hermann Hesse
Recommended by 3 · mentioned by 33 recommend · 3 mention3 recommend · 33 recommend
2008–2026The Dark Knight returns
Frank Miller, David Mazzucchelli, Lynn Varley
Recommended by 4 · mentioned by 114 recommend · 11 mention4 recommend · 114 recommend
2013–2022Report from Engine Co. 82
Dennis Smith
Recommended by 1 · mentioned by 21 recommend · 2 mention1 recommend · 21 recommend
…found in Rand to shame. It's a tome, and it starts slow - do yourself a favor and make it through the introduction of one of the villains, Kathy (chapter 8 or so). It doesn't slow down after that. "The Watchmen" by Alan Moore. It may be a graphic novel, but the issues it raises on ethics and morality are chilling. I still think about the ending every now and then, and I haven't read it in over a year. "To Kill…
on “Ask HN: Good books?” ↗…Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson. Fiction: * 'Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders' by Neil Gaiman * 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss Graphic novels ("comics"): * 'Watchmen' by Alan Moore * 'Promethea' by Alan Moore (actually I'm halfway through this, and loving every bit of it) Special mentions: * 'How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big' by Scott Adams -…
on “Ask HN: What are the best books you've read in the past year?” ↗…World", Aldous Huxley. "Deepness in the Sky" / "Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge. "Something wicked this way comes" by Ray Bradbury. And a couple of comics/visual novels: "V for Vendetta" and "Watchmen" by Alan Moore (David Lloyd/ Tony Weare and Dave Gibbons / John Higgins). Dave Sims: "Cerebus" (I don't think I've finished this yet, but the first ten volumes or so is.. Something else).
on “Ask HN: What are some must read books?” ↗…racism or bigotry -- not in any way -- but I always try to remember that even the people we choose as heroes are flawed. My feelings on matters like this were heavily influenced by the graphic novel Watchmen. It's characters are a great mix of comic book hero archetype and real world people with real world problems and hang-ups. I try to look at my heroes through the same lens as Alan Moore.
on “Footage released of Guardian editors destroying Snowden hard drives” ↗Watchmen (Alan Moore) Origins of Form (Christopher Williams) Starship & The Canoe (Kenneth Brower) The Size of Lumber (Nicholson Baker) Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (Shunryu Suzuki) Deschooling Society (Ivan…
on “Ask HN: Best books you've read in 2015” ↗…list books I’ve read at least twice: - Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values by Robert M. Pirsig - The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien - The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien - Watchmen by Alan Moore - From Hell by Alan Moore - V for Vendetta by Alan Moore - The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series by Alan Moore - Dune by Frank Herbert - Immortality by Milan Kundera - first…
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗…Pullman; or "Illuminatus!", Shea and Wilson * "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", Adams (all of its sequels are also good) * "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" and "Lila", Pirsig * Either "Watchmen", Moore and Gibbons; or "1984" or "Animal Farm", Orwell * "Neuromancer" or "Pattern Recognition", Gibson Be wary of anybody who recommends self-help, attitude improvement, psychology, business/management,…
on “Ask HN: Which non-programming books are a beneficial read for programmers?” ↗Alan Moore is the guy behind classics like Watchmen and V for Vendetta in case you didn't know. To say he is quite the character is a bit of an understatement: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moore
on “Alan Moore Kickstarter - His Heavy Heart” ↗There's no timelier follow up to Alan Moore's stance on superhero culture than Damon Lindelof's Watchmen which is currently in the middle of its first (and likely only) season run on HBO: https://www.hbo.com/watchmen It's not only a high-flying feat of television writing, acting, and directing. It's something…
on “Alan Moore on superhero culture” ↗The Watchmen, although technically a comic book Alan Moore tackles a lot of complex existential issues. Also, The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus. How does one find meaning in life in a meaningless world? www.goodreads.com…
on “What book has inspired you the most?” ↗…course!); amazing, along the same vain as 'The Incal', but much 'finer' - less mind-bending, more more contemplative. - The Dark Knight trilogy by Frank Miller; an epic right up there with Beowulf IMHO. - Watchmen by Moore and Gibbson; genre setting with an amazing story; and 'Before Watchmen' omnibus adds to it as a modern contrast.
on “Ask HN: Great fiction books that have had a positive impact on your life?” ↗Not one book, but two graphic novels. "Watchmen" and "V for Vendetta", Alan Moore's perspective is such a great perspective. Alan Moore tackles important philosophical questions in a really accessible medium. Alan Moore is a realist with very dramatic…
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why” ↗Moore et al. kept the industry relevant for more than they should have. VfV and Watchmen are a few of those works that keep selling 20 years later, while 99% of the US comic production is crap and gets forgotten after six months. The market is what it is because there are too few Moores and…
on “V for Vendetta and the Rise of Anonymous - by Alan Moore” ↗…they both lost. Plato's Republic is a simple HOWTO turn a democracy ruled by citizens into a system claiming to be ruled in the best interest of the citizen by a minority of "Wise men" with an elite of watchmen that enforce the power. Read Alan Moore's "Watchmen" for a criticize of the republic (Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?) Pericles(or Solon (don't remember) before Athena became a Republic said the same…
on “Inverted totalitarianism” ↗…loved as a kid and where the stories are great, are painful to re-read now because the exposition is clumsy. If you want to try something, I'd recommend Alan Moore. Especially his Swamp Thing run or Watchmen. They are both very literary to the extent that you could if you wanted to largely ignore the art (you'd lose out, but the story still largely makes sense) and just read the text. It lets you let the…
on “William Gibson has written a comic” ↗