When I ordered Watchmen off Amazon, I have to say, I was prepared to be disappointed. There is a lot of hype surrounding this book, and a quick search will turn up countless positive reviews. Watchmen was originally published as a monthly 12 issue comic book limited series from 1986-1987, and later collected as a trade paperback (meaning all issues in the one book). It was written by Alan Moore, also known for V for Vendetta, and illustrated by Dave Gibbons.

Watchmen carries the distinction of being (as of writing this) the only graphic novel to win a Hugo Award, as well as being the only graphic novel to appear on Time Magazine's 2005 list of the 100 best English language novels from 1923 to present.

Much of the story is set in the USA in 1985. It's an alternate reality where costumed heroes and villains are real. The main story traces the past and present of a group of 'superheroes' (some active, and some semi-retired) as they reconnect with one another to try and piece together the events surrounding the murder of one of their former comrades. The main story is set upon the backdrop of the USA on the verge of nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Are the two connected? You'll have to read it to find out.

The thing that separates Watchmen from a lot of other comics is that the emphasis is more on the people rather than the 'hero' or super power element. To be blunt, a majority of the groups just don't cut the super hero mustard. They are average people, without super powers, but with questionable choices of costumes and code names. The 'Owl' is a prime example! The standard comic panel convention is broken up at the end of each chapter by various elements that add to the story, such as fake military reports, a psychologists assessment of one of the characters, excerpts from a former heroes biography.

I've seen Watchmen described as a "multi-layered narrative", and while that might sound wanky, it's an accurate way to describe it. There's so much going on that you'd probably benefit from reading or more than once, or re-reading passages as I did.

Overall, the story is compelling, and whilst the artwork may look a little dated by todays standards, but it's still pretty solid. Does Watchmen live up to the hype? I'd have to say yes, it does. It's a genuine page turner. Although it's being directed by Zack Snyder, the guy behind the Dawn of the Dead remake, comic book adaptations have generally been a mixed bag, so I'd recommend reading this before the film is released, and your opinion of it potentially tainted.