Watchmen by Alan Moore - Thug Notes Summary & Analysis

[@poontang3zizo]

Essentially, these are what each character represents: - Rorschach is a dentologist. He strives for truth and his perception of what is good. Cares about the weak - Ozymandias is a utilitarian. For him the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Cares about the greater good - Dr Manhattan is a materialist nihilist. He believes nothing has meaning and bases everything on pure logic and science. Is mostly detached - The Comedian is an absurdist nihilist. He too believes nothing has meaning, the difference between him and Manhattan is he gives in to his savage nature. Cares about nothing but himself - Nite Owl is a humanist. He sees the good in others and believes humanity may be worth saving. Cares mainly for his friends and the weak - Silk Spectre is sexy? She has that crucial moment where she shows Manhattan the importance of life so there's that. Also she shows forgiveness Watchmen is the most philosophically complex book I have ever read. While each character can be defined as each of those philosophies, all of them are taken to the extremes of each philosophy. And it has pictures. Take that Shakespeare

[@digitalsunday6398]

nice :)

[@VARIOUShorses]

Surely Silk Spectre II is a humanist too; her whole discussion with Dr Manhattan was about the tragic plight of the everyday person (specifically her mother), and how that is worth saving. If anything she exhibits more of a protective and human nature than Nite Owl II does (although he'd certainly be a humanist in my eyes as well).

[@eyeker_8422]

Joseph Wallaby he's saying take that shakespeare because it has pictures....

[@poontang3zizo]

Joseph Wallaby Chill brah. I made that jab against Shakespeare because his works are usually highly regarded by the average joe whereas something like Watchmen (because it is a picture book of sorts) can be ignored. The only connection I drew is the fact that both are great pieces of literature I can't believe I actually had to explain that to you...

[@bobpolo2964]

Joseph stop being so literal, geez

[@chadtindale2095]

Cool fact about the watchmen. Towards the middle of a book is a section called "Perfect Symmetry". If you go to the middle of that section you'll notice two pages which are the same cell shapes across the pages, and if you move outward from there, the cell shapes will be identical. So a page divided into three rows may have a long row on top, two cells in the middle and a long cell on bottom, will be mirrored with the same on another page. It's pretty cool.

[@transmet]

Chad Tindale Actually, the name of the chapter is "Fearful Symmetry" - and if you go to the page where Ozymandias ... 'defends' himself from his attacker you will find this effect.

[@arewbund2886]

transmet There is also an X-Files episode called "Fearful Symmetry". Not as good as watchmen, but I'm just sayin' ...

[@andrescorma]

***** Yes.

[@popc5245]

Chad Tindale is suspect that are more thing like that in the book, for instance when ozymandias says "I DID IT!" his arm and the light from room remains the doomsday clock, as saying he delay the end

[@josephragno4741]

Keyser Soze That's not the coolest part of that panel. The sword and stake go through his wrists, as if being crucified like Jesus. This is symbolizing Ozy as Jesus, sacrificing himself to save the world (at least in his mind).

[@bastienmillecam3183]

Ozymandias is the best antagonist ever. A lot of medium tried to use the "morally grey" trick, but Ozymandias is the only guy that really nailed it.

[@bastienmillecam3183]

True, it's just a lack of vocabulary on my par. I would argue he is kind of the hero in the shadow

[@lorenzocarney3128]

+B. Milkam I think the best way to put it is a utilitarian hero he does what will save the most people and create as much as possible even at the cost of others lives.

[@beanio12]

You hit the nail on the head. Ozymandias is complex as hell. I want to call him the antagonist, but out of all of the characters, he's the one who actually managed to save the world. I don't know what to say about him.

[@bastienmillecam3183]

Tem Sam That's an interesting point of view. Personnally I don't think we're out of the woods yet IRL. I'm not just talking about nuclear retaliation but other problems caused by the anthropocene (economic, social, ecologic). Uncontrolled chemicals in the food and in the air, raise of the population, agricultural challenges, lack of renewable energy, recent cultural conflicts, litters everywhere, plastic and nuclear material, corruption in governement and bonkers megacorporations, exponential exploitation of finite ressources... I'm not a tinfoil kinda person, but just based off of real and accurate data, it's not too far a stretch to wonder if we're gonna pass through the "bottleneck" at the end of this century. And it's not a dumbass like nor the people who keep bumping into you on the street because they can stop looking at their smartphone while walking that will put an end to this. You seem to still have faith, and you interpretation belongs to you, that how art works after all, but I don't think that was the point Moore tried to make. After all, Ozymandias is based of the poem from Shelly, and it ends like this : "Nothing beside remains, round the decay of that colossal wreck, boudless and bare, the level sands stretch far away". Look upon my works, ye mighty, and despair :)

[@Ben-fx9kx]

+Tem Sam the important part of your analysis is that the watchmen universe is "mostly like ours" Ever since the USA got Dr Manhatten and he revolutionised the economy (it's in the novel he transmutes elements and creates lithium) and acted as a nuclear deterrent, the soviets got more on edge which makes sense. You can't really compare our experiences in the cold war in comparison to a universe in which a blue naked God is influencing political decisions.

[@NerdSyncProductions]

I'd really love a Thug Notes on Killing Joke!

[@danielkeeling3895]

+NerdSync YUS!

[@Kaizaratl]

+Tom Baird you don't seem to be really excited about it.

[@bimbowithadegree420]

yes!

[@danielkeeling3895]

Joseph Wallaby If anyone knew the killing joke purely on the film, I would have to kill them.

[@danielkeeling3895]

Joseph Wallaby Hate to say a lot of people gonna die

[@sleshstamp]

I love the book especially because it doesn't tell you what to feel. The reader is allowed to come to their own conclusions about the ending.

[@PublicEnemyMinusOne]

sleshstamp The ending still sometimes keeps me up at night.

[@Cyconzo]

Lol, not any more. The sequel is happening.

[@darkar3na]

@Luigi Nastro So a sequel lmfao. It's set in the same universe, chronologically after the books.

[@newyorkpotioncastle]

I can imagine you being an English professor. I'll pay to attend a class like that.

[@evilcam]

This one was exceptional. I have liked every episode of Thug Notes (and the other shows on this channel) so far, but this one was something special. I always look forward to both your summary and analysis, but the analysis on this one was amazing. I love this channel and hope everything you do is successful, but I have no doubt this one will easily hit a million+ views and draw in enough subscriptions to push you past the million mark there too. It, and you more than deserve it.

[@WisecrackEDU]

evilcam Thank you! :)

[@benaaronmusic]

evilcam Well said!

evilcam I would have to agree with that sentiment.

[@tofu_golem]

evilcam Yeah, the analysis is what I really watch these for.

[@kyoko703]

evilcam Wisecrack this was yet another legit episode!!! ;-)

[@DarkW0lverine]

Missed a lot but can't blame you since Watchmen is dense as hell and there's only so much time. It's commentary on so many things: our place in the universe, the value of life, are humans special, superheroes and vigilantism, right and wrong, meta commentary of real life consequences of superhero lifestyle, determinism and a ton of other things. It's insanely deep.

[@TheMrQuepe]

DarkW0lverine Political critique. I haven't seen anyone asking for the political critique of the book. The Comedian was a complete critique against US politics. "What happened to the American Dream? It came true! You're lookin' at it..." "You know if we'd lost here in Vietnam, I think it might've driven us crazy. Y'know, as a country."

[@garfocusalternate]

Jack Emmerich Yeah, the Comedian himself deserves a ton more analysis, I think. It's a shame he didn't get to him. Then again, time constraints and all.

[@michaeltariga5285]

Jack Emmerich Not to mention it is written by a british author. Everything is connected, what one country do from the other side of the world would effect everyone.

[@mdc8447]

it's so dense every single image has so many things going on

[@rolan5948]

MDC Yh, to date it’s the longest graphic novel I’ve ever read, were it took me roughly 2 and a half days to complete. I could’ve finished it earlier but to digest all the the information that was thrown at my face and extra content that was added in the absolute physical edition and the mountains of research I did because I’m a fuckin nerd brought me to spend extra hours and i found some of the ending chapters quite convoluted that reading over this graphic novel a second time would still feel new in a certain way. This is a type of comic that comes once in a generation and I’m still finding to this day a comic on watchmen’s caliber

[@patrickkinnear8625]

Amazing. In 7 minutes you managed to touch on the most important parts of this complex book, and even fit in a reference to the comedians nihilism.

[@eastsidereviews727]

Between this and Earthling Cinema, I am now hooked on this channel. I want to start up a KZbin page of my own and I aspire to put out quality stuff like you all. Thanks and please keep it up!

[@WisecrackEDU]

Thanks for being a fan, Jamel!

[@mantisking4567]

Jamel Watson good luck

[@existenceisrelative]

Aw, i got all excited thinking maybe you actually did it. But no, just a couple things on your channel.

[@NoNo-wz5yv]

"Dealin' wit all these loud ass piles of molecules ain't worth the shit"- perfectly worded..and everyday for me.

[@steampunkster2023]

The graphic novel that told the world that comics are now at the same level as novels....only that its more expensive to produce.

[@JesusDeSaad]

My man, out of countless other people who attempted to analyze Watchmen, you was the deepest and most thorough one, even though limited by time. Seriously, kudos and congratulations.

[@bort6459]

I think you missed one of the most important questions of Watchmen. Even with all the questions of fate and uncertainty, the biggest question, we as readers should have is: on what athority do we let these questions of war and peace be answered? None of the main characters (save maybe Lori) are good, or at the very least are so flawed they have no business making these complex decisions. Watchmen gives us a veritable god, and said god has to be convinced to even care about us. Rorschak is a hyper conservative nutbunny motivated by a need to bring justice to the world. He's a domestic terrorist! Dan is a middle aged man living off of parents money whoes undermotivated and undersexed. Even when world peace is, arguably, created, does the fact that the character was successful in his plan give him the right to do this? This isn't just the ends justifying the means, this is ceding out morality to who feels he is the best among us. It's fascism. Hell, the ending is almost self satire. Amidst all the superhero deconstruction, the ending might as well have been Lex Luther successfully hatching an evil scheme. If Lex defeating Superman ended the Cold War would we accept that ending? What does this say about other super heroes? What about governments? What power should protectors have over the people they protect? Is it better that humans make their own mistakes or is it better that a man who punched crime in the face in the 1960s lead us to a better tomorrow? What if some don't want a better tomorrow?

[@wrayjw]

Dr Manhattan should've had to be convinced to help us. Look at the human race through the eyes of a God and tell me that said God wouldn't be indifferent to humanity. He sees that humanity is a small and self-destructive piece of the universe, and he doesn't care if we go extinct or not. He also sees the point of the book, which is that trying to change anything is practically useless since it will either go wrong or eventually go right back to where it was through the power of time. Personally I don't think he would've helped even when his wife was crying and begging him to, and I don't believe at all that she ever really persuaded him to actually care about humanity.

[@bort6459]

wrayjw I agree, he had no obligation to help us. My question is, even when he does help should we let him? Are humans better off without him? He seems to think so.

[@quintessenceSL]

William Arnold One bit that is overlooked is that Rorschach didn't need to die. Both Manhattan and Ozymandias were powerful enough to keep him imprisoned and at the very least prove to Rorschach that the plan would work. But after you've already killed millions, what's one more? Also, Rorschach is a bit of a hypocrite, or perhaps had some moral development. Someone else pointed out his letter to Truman, where Rorschach basically agreed with the bombing Hiroshima to save lives, and this parallel isn't explored enough. Anyway, that is something more tangible, and puts Ozymandias's actions in context, but overall it still tastes of bloodlust, and I am deeply suspicious of his motives (much like suspicions over US motives).

[@sharlesdaviskendy2391]

Your argument falls at Dan. He IS a good man even if he's fallen to depression.

[@bort6459]

Sharles Davis Kendy Than you've missed the thesis of my argument, Not saying he's bad, I'm saying he's no authority on anything. He uses his resources to release a violent, and not wholly stable, killer because getting the band back together is therapeutic. He might have a better moral compass than most people, but he's far from somebody that has any business enforcing justice.

[@emenanjonwadiei]

I honor your totally thugged out analysis of my fav graphic novel, sun.

[@doctorclack7496]

The Epic of Gilgamesh

[@WisecrackEDU]

I'll get to it. So good.

[@browningmaxus6168]

+Wisecrack A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court needs your attention

[@watauva13]

yeah, it's good

[@Killerk328]

+Doctor Clack I thought there were only fragments of it

[@TheZestyCar]

+Wisecrack WWW yeah!

[@billykrueger275]

it's funny how the word "Ozymandias" sounds like it was recorded on a different day

[@armitx9]

it probably was

[@InDeepPudding]

This episode was nice and lengthy, just how I like it

[@DrMcPHD]

***** thick too...with allusions. It really throbbed... with meaning. It really makes me want to wrap my mouth around a hot... cup of coffee and re read the watchman.

[@Gingrnut]

***** when you're doing something as dense as watchmen, you need to make it long. That comic is thick, there's a lot of plotlines there.

[@Goodthrust69]

***** At first I found it hard to take, but eventually I eased into it. I found this review easy to swallow compared to others.

[@cyclone927]

Wheres the "Thats what She said" guy!?

[@Goodthrust69]

Versace Pancakes What do you mean?

[@badio0]

This show so underrated...

[@occiferkodi]

I have ridiculous ADHD. As much as I love graphic novels it’s legit hard as fuck for me to focus enough to be able to fully retain reading them. All the images make it hard to focus. Somehow I made it thru Preachers entire series but I’ve tried Watchmen for years. I can barely make it past Comedian being killed. Im so glad I found this video. Thank you dude

[@RemembertThe20thMain]

When I stared reading Watchmen I thought Rorschach was nuts. But the more I read from his view the more I liked him. He doesn't care about the greater good. He cares about the small fires that can lead to bigger ones. He doesn't want to stop all crime; Just as long that crimes are stopped when they happens. Though he dose worry that what he dose, doesn't amount to anything but someone got to do it. Also, I love his "I am Pagliacci" speech, it's amazing! I could quote that all day.

[@FeliceGilmore]

Thank you for this! As one newly introduced to Watchmen via the HBO series, I found your video highly informative and easy to understand. 👍🏽

[@gummyboots]

excellent as always.

[@starman69]

The beauty is even deepened by understanding the characters through the extra materials between issues. You see that Ozy is so vain by having the nova express (a paper he owns) come to Karnak to interview him on himself. So “saving the world,” as he justifies his act, is nothing more than an assertion on power. To show that he is like the man he based so much of himself after and can make change in the world. Rorschach is also grey in this way. He claims to be against the killing people, but you can read a paper he wrote as a child where he talks about the Hiroshima bombing and his father being Truman supporter. He says the Bombings were necessary or more people would have died and that what little of his dad he knew, he believed he was a good man and supported his support of right wing presidents. He’s not okay with adrian killing a ton of people because it’s killing it even killing of the innocent. He’s not okay because it’s based on a lie. The right wing stuff is further backed up when he uses the word liberal as an insult and he only reads the right-wing rag the new frontier, which has an anti-Semitic, racist EAC. The books themes are so deep and interesting. I re-read the whole thing including middle material once or twice a year

[@CQIdragonsoul]

Would love to hear a Sandman one! That series is packed with good stuff.

[@Anthraxinternational]

Syphellium As much as I'd love to see that, I can't really picture this kind of format doing something as vast as The Sandman much justice.

[@CQIdragonsoul]

Anthraxinternational That's true! I see what you mean there for sure.

[@TheLastWolverine]

Anthraxinternational Can this thread give me more detail than the average website, but not too many spoilers on The Sandman series. I have a curiosity about the series because i was researching Lucifer Morningstar comics and from what i read Sandman challenges the Prince of Lies and Lucifer just hands over the keys to Hell without incident. Like at all haha Also the fact that they're still SOMEHOW in the DCU is beyond me

[@Anthraxinternational]

TheLastWolverine Although both of those instances did happen, they were completely separate from each other. The former is one of the most suspenseful moments in comic book history. The latter however, is more of a play on expectations. An extremely well done one a that. Its connection to the DCU is indeed kind of strange at first, but it's done in a very subtle kind of way so it's not as implausible as you might think. It's still its own unique universe, filled with unimaginable wonders and horrors. One that will captivate you in ways that only dreams and nightmares could manage.

[@danguinto1878]

This guy is really insightful, peace and love brother..

[@TheRantMaster53]

If you're doing graphic novels, could you please do Maus? Pretty please?

[@armitx9]

if it's not a superhero comic it's not worth reading

[@BananaBrainsZEF]

@@armitx9 The fuck kind of logic is that? There's countless great non-superhero comics out there. The Walking Dead, V For Vendetta, Saga, Kill or be Killed, I could go on for hours. Plus, Maus is a touching graphic novel about The Holocaust.

[@borggus3009]

A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams Plz

[@liampendergast8670]

CrackaBox That should make a fun episode.

[@flamedarkflare]

+CrackaBox You want this for school don't you.

[@borggus3009]

flamedarkflare Nope. There are already plenty of internet study guides for this one. I just think it'll be an entertaining episode.

[@MrGameandWatch666]

I know it would be a long video, but I think A Game of Thrones from A Song of Ice and Fire would make a great episode.

[@WisecrackEDU]

Dope idea. Let me see if I can squeeze it in. It's a beast!

[@Cerevisi]

flyingwhales413 Book at a time. Even then... I've read them and am not currently watching the ever divergent HBO show GoT, it would most def be a great thing to cover. I consider ASoFaI to be a modern classic. It could be broken up into multiple vids per book, since the plot and characters are ever-changing.

[@CaptIronfoundersson]

I don't think Song of Ice and Fire really has much of a deeper meaning. The good guys get killed, the ruthless cunts win.

[@abbygaby9210]

Owen McCauley Yes technically that's what usually happens, but it all has a meaning. It gives sense of real world complexities, like the violence and economical estability and suffering that war always causes, and almost no character being entirely evil or entirely good. It also shows how magic and leyends and profecies are reborn in a world that lived without them for thousand of years, and how regular humans have to deal with all this shit while trying to survive their own problems. It speaks of extremes and how they are always figthing each other, winter and summer, north and south, the liiving and the dead... ice and fire. HARDLY just boobs and murder, like the tv show seems to wants us to believe.

[@CaptIronfoundersson]

Gregor Clegane, Amory Lorch, Vargo Hoat, all entirely evil. Eddard Stark, Jeor Mormont, Brienne of Tarth, all entirely good. There doesn't have to be a deeper meaning. He wrote fun and entertaining stories, set in an interesting world, with cool characters. He isn't very good at portraying good and evil in ways that make much logical sense. Bad guys are always rapists and good guys are always rigidly lawful, to the point that it impacts them negatively. As for the show, I gave up after season two. It just didn't do it for me, and I saw the train coming off the tracks really soon.

[@donkey0303]

I wouldn't mind seeing Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S. Thompson

[@SpookyDarling]

Simply one of the greatest literary masterpieces of all time - and thank you for recapping it, Sparky!

[@qwertyuiopaaaaaaa7]

V for Vendetta, please.

[@TheSaltyAdmiral]

Rorschach: Virtue Ethics Dr. Manhattan/Ozymandias: Utilitarianism

[@pumpumwithrice2369]

Thank you for covering a majority of books that my high school reads 😭

[@deanosumo]

I can't believe anyone disliked this. Fantastic analysis of the best graphic novel ever created.

[@xang5425]

Can you please do Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs?

[@CtrlSaltDelete]

Imani H God yes, that would be amazing.

[@nissimskaat6441]

Imani H, Naked lunch in five minutes or less. That would be a truly significant accomplishment! Perhaps Sweets can also do "Gravity's rainbow", and "Ulysses"?

[@Doomroar]

Imani H But i want them to do that one for Earthling Cinema!!

[@Oveja_TV]

Imani H You really wanna get naughty. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@BennSimonn]

Imani H Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth would be hilarious.

[@tubik7758]

I cannot express in words how much admiration I have for this channel...

[@Bearorgan]

I know you rarely do "modern" books, but can you PLEASE do House Of Leaves? It's one of my favorite books.

[@ariel_haymarket]

Bearorgans I like this and would love to see it tackled with maybe a guest spot from Danielewski?

[@secretchickenparty]

Bearorgans That one is tough to understand, so it's a good fit for thug notes.

[@jstratton1981]

Bearorgans heck he can do two videos for it, one on Johnny Truant and one specifically on the Navidson Report.

[@GregFThatBespectacledPegasus]

Bearorgans House of Leaves......even thinking about reading that book hurts my brain. That book took several times longer than any other I've read, and I barely understood a thing going on, but I loved every bit. Every page with twisted formatting, every set of nested footnotes spanning dozens of pages, every citation to a non-existant source...... Yeah, Thug Notes should SO do House of Leaves.

[@moocowtracy]

Bearorgans I was going to suggest House of Leaves as well. It's a great book, if a bit twisted.

[@JayRunsLONGBEACH]

Currently writing a paper on Watchmen for a Comics, Graphics, and Novels class at my university. Your analysis helped a ton, loved the video. Keep it up.

[@Mystro256]

Though I like the book better in almost every way, I still liked the ending in the movie more, where it was Dr Manhattan instead of the "alien"

[@friendlyknight6206]

Mystro256 I know what you mean, although i did enjoy the comic more then the movie both of them have better moments then the other.

[@greenredblue]

100% agree. The book was better in almost every way, but movie's ending was better. I didn't realize, though, that apparently the book's ending was supposed to be an homage to the incredible wackiness of the golden age comic books the entire series was reimagining. It's like, "we riffed on all these other aspects of those worlds, we should at least reference the complete picture." Still, the world of watchmen is so well constructed and self-contained that trying to toss in that fantasy crap as an incredibly late plot twist is just... lame. And implausible. And violates the conservation of detail.

[@CosmoShidan]

Guy Boo Also, making Dr. Manhattan the threat makes more sense in that it not only reinforces the fear of masked heroes, but it also ties back into the fear of nuclear arms and the fear of God.

[@Mystro256]

CosmoShidan Indeed, it seems like a much better and deeper ending to flow to, seeing the themes throughout the story.

[@rinddon]

Mystro256 I always had a problem with movie ending. They key thing about using an alien is that its alien, no allegiance to any country. Doc manhattan was seen as an american weapon for over a decade. Even though he publicly ditched earth. Having him return to blow the major cities of the world could have set off a panic induced counter attack. And ironically triggered the war Ozymandias was working so hard to prevent.

[@Spica1990]

Loved it. I was hungry for longer Thug Notes videos for ages and this one hits the nail in the head so hard. Thank you!

[@lynn4840]

Have you ever thought of tackling something by H.P. Lovecraft?

[@williamblazkowicz5587]

Were did my comment go!?

[@patricks1560]

Now that's an interesting idea. What story would you choose though?

[@Manmadespacecraft]

This has to be one of your best analyses. Watchmen is one of my favourite novels (if you could call it that). You nailed it Greg, thank you for making awesome content.

[@AngelicalSebastian]

"YO OZZIE! THE F*CK MAN!?" Why wasn't that a line in the book? xD Michael Moore could've squeezed it somewhere!

[@shamuu13]

you know what man i'm starting to really like your show. i didn't think i'd like it at first but now yeah i think i do, now keep up the great work!!

[@metalandhorror]

Rorschach my main man up there with Batman , delusional unfit sociopaths who fight on the good side !

[@albenmurcia4716]

Batman, a mega rich playboy billionaire who beats up the mentally ill

[@hez859]

@@albenmurcia4716 lmao that's just his "image" to the public, for most if not all of his archs, his personality to the public is an act, he literally views himself as batman...people often argue Bruce Wayne himself belongs in Arkham

[@Pinkrosessss]

Ew if you look up to them then you have issues

[@arcadeassassin7176]

i wouldn't exactly call batman a psychopath. in fact i think he's quite the opposite. a psychopath is a person who has no empathy while in the comics batman mostly acts out of empathy.

[@erikwilliams1562]

I’m learning more from this channel than I did in 4 years of lit courses

[@dwangnoderbora]

I'm sure other people have pointed this out, but Watchmen can be interpreted differently by every reader. There are some people who agree most with Dr. Manhattan, Rorschach, Comedian, Ozymandias, Nite Owl II, Captain Metropolis and Silk Spectre II. In agreeing with or sympathizing with any one of these characters one tends to interpret the story differently and gets something else out of it. Therefore, Watchmen itself is a Rorschach Test.

[@kevinreyes6633]

**MIND BLOWN**

[@almudenamora8794]

This channel deserves AT LEAST 1 million subs!

[@JagAgemo]

All-Star Superrman!!!!

[@crowe117]

This is seriously my first source for a cursory explanation of classic literature. Thank you Thug Notes.

[@kogayoshi1]

There is only one hero in watchmen. Hint: he has a newspaper stand. Honorable mention for the kid, he is a good person. Grand total of 2 good people. Change my mind.

[@toddthacker8258]

I didn't think anyone could make literary criticism entertaining. But you did. Just outstanding.

[@Dunkleosteusenjoyer]

I wonder if this is what prison book clubs are like.

[@johnarbuckle2619]

good one son

[@SavageDawgJoshua]

+Douglas Paulson *See the SNL skit with Eddie Murphy... "Kill My Landlord""Images by Tyrone Green. Dark and lonely on the summer night Kill my landlord Kill my landlord Watchdog barkin'... do he bite? Kill my landlord Kill my landlord Slip in da window... break his neck Den his house I start to wreck Got no reason What the heck? Kill my landlord Kill my landlord C. I. L. L. My landlord"

[@rocknroll9queen]

+Douglas Paulson taystee though!

[@adrienne3180]

Lol😂

[@Hot18Shot]

das rassis brotha

[@LeeNita-dr7]

I still, after all this time, need y’all to know that the captions hold up so well. They’re so good. I need y’all to know how good the captions are. It’s amazing. It don’t matter how much time passes the captions are still amazing.

[@kyostikallio5528]

Yo,you gotta go and do the "nausea" by Jean-Paul Sartre! Great book by a great author,would be awesome to see it get thug notified!

[@Bearorgan]

Amazing book, that not enough people know about. Nice choice!

[@JosephKeenanisme]

You rock man. Can't say this is my favorite so far because every one of your vids is top notch.

[@evilgary747]

Well 'ain't that some philosophical shit.

[@stanley1698]

+Evil Gary Indeed it is. And he didn't even mention the comic-ception!

[@rickeyharris178]

This narration is dope! I love how you summarize through the story

[@EveryGamerLife]

I don't get the hate for zack snider's adaptation. it pretty much follows the story beat for beat except the giant squid.

[@teddybeer6206]

It follows the comic on a superficial level

[@enigma19833]

Yeah it's a pretty slavish recreation of the comic both visually and narratively, but it completely misses the point. For all his oft-repeated declarations of love for Watchmen, Zack Snyder doesn't seem to understand a single word of it. (He doesn't understand Batman or Superman either, of course.) For example, he believes that Rorschach is the true hero of the story, and has spoken in interviews about how he identifies with him the most. Yikes.

[@adamplentl5588]

Also how everyone had super powers.

[@richardsreviews8820]

@@enigma19833 when did he say he identifies with Rorschach the most?

[@teddybeer6206]

3:02 That "OH SH*T!" Matched Nite Owl's expression perfectly 😂😂😂

[@alexthelizardking]

Rorschach don't care about innocent people, just punishing evil.

[@nikolaayala9894]

Before I watch this I just want to say you ARE A GOD of my youtube subscription box, love your content always continue the amazing work please!

[@mid1429]

A Lie that brings peace is better than the truth that brings chaos

[@playlist4637]

Unless the truth can bring peace that lasts longer later on...

[@atenakehnaton3965]

If the truth would kill a man then that man should die.

[@AntonioRAhumada]

Oh, but how I love Wisecrack! Great material, man.

[@Keyser666]

Framing Dr. Manhattan for the catastrophe was a better ending in the movie than the faked Alien enemy in the original. Other than that it's a perfectly told story.

[@demonbuddy1]

Like most of your viewers, I clicked on this because it was "popular on KZbin" and it mentioned the "Watchmen". But your analysis is somewhat simple, pretty funny, and amazingly deep. How can I subscribe just to YOU, thug?

[@walkerplatzek1977]

Did you record this pronouncing Ozymandias wrong, and then went back and redubbed those bits?

[@Llamaface]

Thank you for doing videos on graphic novels like The Watchmen and V for Vendetta!!! Like I've commented before-I love all your vids from breaking down tv/movies, to philosophies, to now discovering you're a book(and comic) lover as well& knowing how to induct humor in to all this---I just want to say how awesome you are! Thank you again! :-D It's really so refreshing to see all this quality art being produced

[@Obi_juan_kenobi1251]

THE DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER....for your father's sake

[@ramyarao4499]

Stephen King's best work

[@spaceclown7650]

This was great. One of the best summaries of Watchmen I've heard so far. It's funny, but it's funny because it's true.

[@AleBanjo]

Why does you microphone bug out every time you say 'Ozymandias'?

[@roraio]

I have JUST found your channel, and I'm gonna watch ALL of your 'Thug Notes' books summaries because I ain't nobody got time to read all the classics! It's currently 1 A.M. on a Saturday! lol

[@nyar5863]

Good as always, but I felt like you missed one major point of Watchmen: It´s a super-hero comic that denies the possibility of a true hero, super or otherwise. NONE of these clowns is an acceptable hero. For all his god-like power, Manhattan doesn´t do any heroic deed for the entirety of that novel. Rorschach might be very popular for his moral integrity, but it´s also his fault: When he says "Never compromise! Not even in face of the Armageddon!" he totally means that. He would rather see the world destroyed than compromise any of his borderline fascist views. Ozymandias might have changed the world for better from a utilitaristic perspective, but his methods are devious and inhumane. The Comedian was just a thug. All power, but no morality. Now Silk Spectre and Night Owl are the most normal of the bunch, but they admit to only being able to change small events in the world and for them being a hero is mostly a way of dealing with their own identity issues (mother issues for Silk Spectre, self-esteem issues to the point of a sexual fetish with Night Owl), which is a tad selfish in a way.

[@GriffinPilgrim]

I don't think Watchmen gives any comfortably simple answers, even that one. Sure the characters are flawed, some to the point of severe mental illness, but at the same time it's not as if they do no good in the world. The world of Watchmen has clean, renewable energy thanks to Dr Manhattan. He may not care all that much but he still made it happen. Nite Owl and Silk Spectre saved the lives of everyone in a burning building. Do you think those people care that their saviours are at least partially driven by their neuroses? I'm not saying it's supporting the idea of heroes either but Alan is too skilled a writer to simply say "No Heroes!" and leave it at that. Besides the guy spent a large part of career before and after Watchmen writing about heroes, positively and negatively, so I don't think he really disliked the concept.

[@GriffinPilgrim]

@Imperial Judesmen138 Huh, month old comment here and brand new one on the Decker vid. Coincidences abound!

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

never saw it that way.

[@TheAmericanDragn]

Thanks for making this one! It was great!

[@TheCullenHarkins]

Stone Cold Gangsta Rorschach

[@atdm74]

You're a seriously bright guy. A great, entertaining review executed on a completely fun and refreshing level. I'm going to enjoy your channel if I can expect more like this. Awesome job, dude. Just subscribed with enthusiasm!

[@grkpektis]

I loved Watchmen but personally I think the comic Sandman deserves to be on the time 100 list more

[@heathcliffhappy2582]

Absolute brilliant observation on how the novel is structured as similar as how Mahattan sees the world. Gereat job.

[@licenseplatejacketradio3425]

Can you please do de tocqueville, The killing joke, and Call of Cthulhu

[@tee4s]

Still here! Your work is iconic man thank you for giving this to us :)

[@bbyswagg973]

Rorschach was my favorite character, Dr. Manhatan kinda pissed me off by thinking hiding the truth was going to make a difference in humanity. I believe people deserve to know the truth rather than having "elitist" manipulate lives for the "good".

[@albertoalberto536]

+Bby S. Funny, because Moore made Rorschach to be hated.

[@cobrakingofeart]

@Bby S. i hope that one day you realize that the truth of human nature is to fight. we shall always fight; us vs them until there isn't a them and then we look for thems in us. to unite humanity we must have an eternal, ethereal them to unify against.

[@kentpatterson7857]

Okay... U want the truth...the truth is that there is only one being in the universe, experiencing all things from different angles. All the killers, rapist, all the ppl who have ever done u wrong, even me, it's all u. And u always feel justified in every role. Now did the truth help any at all?

[@tturing5698]

Wisecrack You do genuinely great work! Keep it up man!

[@DrWolfenstein313]

American Psychoooo! Oh, and "Papa Smurf", hahahahaha!

[@FrankLightheart]

The Watchmen is a story that only gets better the longer you think about it.

[@marq6857]

Do a video on Batman: The killing joke.

[@marq6857]

Or The Dark knight returns.

[@jakebryant3445]

But avoid Holy Terror.

[@Miuranger1]

born again is better

[@lorenzoblanco9069]

A GREAT EPISODE! Please keep up the great work! “There is no future. There is no past. Do you see? Time is simultaneous, an intricately structured jewel that humans insist on viewing one edge at a time, when the whole design is visible in every facet.” -Dr. Manhattan

[@ShankiaMrsRidiculous]

"Too late! it already happened 30 minutes ago. oooooh shyt!" lmfao 😅😅😆😆😅

[@johnstravolta]

After 8 years, to me, this is peak quality comics content.

[@louiscyfear878]

*_Rorschach = John Galt_*

[@patrickbillinghurst3210]

The "Couldn't Quite Land the Pronunciation for 'Ozymandias' So We Had to Have Him Do Every Take With the Word 'Ozymandias" In Post Production And Spliced It In and Now There's an Echo" echo has me rollin'.

[@georgemiser]

Since we're going into graphic novel's for this show, I think it'd be great if you could do two of my personal favourites. Whatever Happened to The Man of Tomorrow and James Robinson's Golden Age.

[@dac314]

Straight Dynamite review and analysis, thanks for good work & much love!

[@n3nt2nd464]

i like this guy :D

[@thekamotodragon]

ohh shit, the mightn't been one the funniest but also enlightening videos I've ever watched, that writing was dope g.

[@MightyMarin]

please do Candide by Voltaire :)

[@Heavenlyhounds96]

4:25 Or as the Doctor saw it. "People assume that time is a strict progression from cause to effect but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of...wibbly-wobbly...timey-wimey....stuff."

[@Simple1DEA]

Do you think Wisecrack would do The Dark Knight Returns?

[@creme8338]

dkr is one of the most overrated, boring and convoluted comics ever. its painful to read and the art is pretty atrocious.

[@Simple1DEA]

Well that's just like... your opinion man

[@creme8338]

Simple1DEA i appreciate the reference, but thats actually my opinion. :D

[@celticwarrior262]

+The Goddamn Batman By convoluted you mean "I didn't get half of the stuff Frank Miller was telling because I just want mindless action without meaning"?

[@creme8338]

João Rosa edgy, but no, i hate dkr. what deeper meaning do you see in this Comic? again, i dont like it because there are way too many Panels, very weird and distracting segways, horrible art and way, way too much dialogue (which often is difficult to match with any character).. but i'd really like to hear your opinion on it, so let's discuss like civilized People

[@gumcannon]

Wow. I watched the To Kill a Mockingbird video and was like "eh, s'alrite kinda too hard on the gimmick". But this. This was a solid (IMO) analysis of The watchmen especially considering the light-hearted jargon-opposed format and the 7minute delivery time. I have read the book as well as seeing the movie and I'm glad you didn't waste time addressing the movie (although it was a fairly good movie as far as super hero movies go to being true to the morals.) Your analysis section in particular was good and obviously there are SO many things to be addressed in this fantastic Graphic Novel but great job for the time span. Even without analyzing it overtly squeezed in the role of the comedian right at the end.

[@fite-4-ever876]

I think ozzy's NWO has to end. it would be the only logical reason he'd be named Ozymandias