Watchmen Complete Motion Comic, Review
Warner Brothers Cashes in on Hype with Promotional Video
Mar 4, 2009
Watchmen: Complete Motion Comics isn’t an animation, per se. There is nothing new brought to this adaptation, it is, literally, the graphic novel brought to life in a very rudimentary way. Each scene shows a panel from the original comic book, and then it is put into “motion,” allowing the characters to smile, walk, or shift positions.
Not surprising. Alan Moore, the writer of the acclaimed "Watchmen" graphic novel, asked that his name not be involved with it, while illustrator Dave Gibbons chose to be a consultant for the video. Moore has asked to have his name removed from most of the films that have been based on his graphic novels.
New Format for Books, the Audio-Video
Tom Stechschulte, an actor known more for the more than 60 audio books he’s narrated, voices every role in the digital comic. For the most part, this works pretty well. Tom has had plenty of experience, and he’s a brilliant voice actor, bringing different emotions to each role. Even so, when he starts speaking the roles of the women, it starts to feel too much like an audio book and not enough like a video.
Missing from the Motion Comic are the “stories within a story” inherent to the "Watchmen", found between each chapter. These include passages from “Under the Hood,” the autobiography of Nite Owl, otherwise known as Hollis Mason, “Tales of the Black Freighter,“ as well as various news articles related to the story and its characters.
Short Stories from Graphic Novel Left Out
The Motion Comic is being released as a promotional item for the upcoming Watchmen, so from that perspective, the exclusion of the stories ”Under the Hood” and “Tales of the Black Freighter” makes financial sense. On March 24th, both of these will be released together in animated form, with Gerard Butler voicing the lead in Tales of the Black Freighter, and many of the actors from Watchmen reprising their characters in Under the Hood.
The Motion Comic includes music by composer Lennie Moore. He’s better known for making the music to video games, but fortunately his background made him the perfect candidate for the audio-video. He used the music from a 50-piece orchestra, and the result is lovely, and quite appropriate to the video.
New Concept for a Visual World
Many people may take issue with the Watchmen Motion Comic, and wonder what the point is, when the graphic novel itself is so extraordinary. The point is, that the world has become extremely visual, and not everyone wants to read the book or novel version. The Watchmen Motion Comic makes it possible for people that prefer films or audiobooks to enjoy this award-winning graphic novel.
The Watchmen Motion Comic can currently be downloaded on iTunes or Amazon for $9.99 per chapter, or purchased in either DVD or Blu-ray form at Warner Brother’s website.
- The Watchmen Motion Comic
- Directed by: Jake Strider Hughes
- Written by: Alan Moore (Graphic Novel)
- Starring: Tom Stechschulte
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