The graphic novel "Watchmen," which first appeared in 12 comic book installments in the mid-1980s, takes the traditional superhero genre and turns it on its head. It's seen as an example of what happens when superheroes go wrong. Unlike many superheroes, the superheroes of "Watchmen" do not follow the rule that they cannot kill. In fact, the Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt superhero character kills millions of people in a hoax designed to bring the warring nations of the world together. Veidt justifies his actions because it is his opinion that they are for the greater good, and many of the other superheroes seem to be of the same mind. The comic's nihilistic opening is balanced out by a slightly more hopeful outcome, but the book is noticeably far bleaker than Golden-Age-era comic books like "Superman" or "The Fantastic Four."
Writer Warner Todd Huston views the "Watchmen" graphic novel as political commentary, though he also argues that the book fails to get things quite right. Creator Alan Moore has said that he was writing about 1980s politics in "Watchmen," although all the key figures were disguised in the fictional work. In his commentary Huston notes that the book touched upon important 1980s issues including "homosexuality, rape, war with Russia and 'the bomb,' crooked U.S. politicians, corruption, murder, sexual impotency, welfare mammas, and homicidal maniacs." However, it is his belief that the left-wing views that underlie "Watchmen" detract from the comic and render its political commentary invalid.
The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) classifies the "Watchmen" as fitting into the action, drama, mystery, sci-fi and thriller genres. Critical reviews of the movie often describe it as derivative and compare it to other superhero movies with which it shares parallels. However, the overall reaction from movie critics was mixed -- with some critics highly impressed with the film, others who felt that it strayed too far from the book and yet others who took issue with the cinematography and the 2-hour-and-40-minute length.
Alan Moore has cited comic book artist Steve Ditko as one of his biggest influences, though he also points out that Ditko -- who co-created Spider-Man with Stan Lee and who also holds some far-right political views -- is politically his polar opposite. "Watchmen" was seen as having a tremendous influence on many of the 1980s comic books that followed it, as well as any superhero story that strays from the Golden Age comic book era of clearly defined good and evil, such as the film "The Dark Knight" -- a very non-traditional superhero movie.