Comments on: Watchmen: The Demo Is Nigh

By: Psychopomp

Psychopomp — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:06:13 +0000

I chose Nevermind, instead of Lateralus or Birth of the Cool, because, like Watchmen, there is much more technically amazing works out there; and they both have come represent a major moment of change in their respective industries. To call them “Just an X,” is like calling World War 1 “Just a fight.”

That being said, as far as grunge goes, “In Utero” and Soundgarden’s “Superunknown” were a far better albums.

SPOOOOOOOONMAAAA-YAAAN

By: Oak

Oak — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:10:00 +0000

Too small and boring. Honestly.

By: Funky Badger

Funky Badger — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 15:04:13 +0000

(I thought the porait of wotsit’s mother-in-law just outside the Mona Lisa gallery was far superior)

By: PHeMoX

PHeMoX — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:16:35 +0000

The Mona Lisa was a bit of a disappointment for me as well. Way small. Way ‘unfinished’ if you ask the experts. Way meh.

It’s still a work of genius, don’t get me wrong, but I feel it has become somewhat overrated over the years.

By: Funky Badger

Funky Badger — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 13:04:51 +0000

Hmm, seems I’ve arrived late for the aggravated contrariness Olympics, still here goes: The Mona Lisa was rubbish, too small and too boring – if yer wants proper art you can’t beat Turner’s Death on a Pale Horse.

Take that, Sum of Human Knowledge.

By: Mil

Mil — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:55:27 +0000

I just can’t see the point of comparing the “worth” of different works of art/entertainment. If you enjoy Watchmen more than the Mona Lisa, what do you gain by someone telling you that your taste is all wrong?

By: AndrewC

AndrewC — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:27:20 +0000

Now might be a good time for cunningbeef to lay his cards on the table concerning what he does think is worthwhile culture.

By: Cunningbeef

Cunningbeef — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:17:02 +0000

No edit: Although I can see where you’re coming from (and am definitely a big fan of music), you chose the worst possible example. In fact, comparing Nirvana to a comic book seems perfectly fitting. Both are something that anybody over 15 should be able to see as what it is: target-marketed childish tripe.

By: Cunningbeef

Cunningbeef — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 12:12:28 +0000

Nirvana were utter shite.

By: Psychopomp

Psychopomp — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 10:33:10 +0000

@Cunningbeef

Maybe music is more your Forte.

How would you react if, while gushing about it, someone told you that Tommy/Led Zeppelin IV/Lateralus/Moving Pictures/Quadrophenia/The White Album/Nevermind/Birth of the Cool was “Just an album.”

What if, while gushing about him/her/it someone told you that Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Tool, The Who, Rush, The Beatles, Nirvana, or Miles Davis were “Just musicians.”

From a purely objective point of view, yes they would be correct; however, there is more to art than the sum of it’s parts.

Nirvana’s “Nevermind” was not just a collection of power chords, drums, bass, a naked baby and mumbled vocals. Smells Like Teen Spirit was the death of Glam Rock; it was the moment that, after a decade of image obssessed, senseless bubblegum, music with a soul entered the spotlight. Sure, there was stuff out there that had better guitar work, and coherent vocals, but that doesn’t stop Nevermind from being a milestone is music history.

In a similar vein, yes, there were comics that had better artwork. There were comics that had better writing. Watchmen decided not to give a fuck, and be god damn amazing anyway.

It is not just a comic. It is the ONLY comic ever to win a Hugo Award, they even made a ONE-TIME category just so they could five it an awards.
If Watchmen had not come around, we may not have “The Walking Dead”, or anything by Warren Ellis gracing the shelves of local comic emporiums.
Watchmen is more than some words, on top of some drawings on a bunch of pieces of paper. Watchmen is the moment that comics as a whole grew up.

By: Dick Dastardley

Dick Dastardley — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:38:22 +0000

@Okami

Heh ,ok, maybe Uwe Boll didn’t have the BEST material to work from, but I reserve the right to call out his habit of making shitty movies.

Maus. God, I wish I’d remembered that one in my little rant above. A friend bought it for me for xmas and I remember thinking “What is this crap he’s got me with mice in it?”…until I read it and kept being moved to tears, so much that it took me twice as long to read as any other graphic novel might have. Great suggestion, my friend. Wonderful book. Art, in the truest sense.

lol@Azazel – :D

By: Azazel

Azazel — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 15:46:04 +0000

I’d give them Watchmen as well.

Providing that I get it back within a reasonable timeframe.