Watchmen sequels and adaptations have a tendency to really divide audiences (and for good reason, per the strained relationship between the creators and the publishers, though that's a story for another day). The Before Watchmen prequel comics were most certainly of mixed quality, the movie and "true comics sequel" Doomsday Clock are quite divisive on a person-by-person basis, and even the well-received TV series won't be to every Watchmen fan's liking. This one, though, should be right up anyone's alley.
Without going into spoilers, Rorschach is as much exploring the public's reception to Watchmen and the titular character in a meta sense as it is telling a political thriller, not dissimilar to Watchmen originally commenting on the superhero genre of its day. It reflects on the ways hero worship often gives the wrong or incomplete takeaways for the characters in question, it explores unforeseen effects of Watchmen's ending, and it even reflects the blockbuster explosion of superheroes in a way they weren't yet there in Watchmen's first publishing.
The story does several interesting things, including VERY unexpected real-world people, and briefly implies it is in continuity with the TV series with one line. Tom King does a great job emulating the writing of the original, and even refrains from some of his usual writing quirks that wouldn't work as well in this story; I'm quite a fan of his other works, but even for people who aren't, this will still hold up very well.
All in all, this is the Watchmen follow-up that really, TRULY feels like it was not only worthy, but perhaps even necessary as a sequel to that classic work.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
$13.74
Get it Jan 30 - Feb 2
Only 7 left in stock - order soon.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
From the Publisher
Tom King and Jorge Fornés collaborated on Batman, and now they’re taking on a very different vigilante in Rorschach—where the controversial Watchmen character resurfaces, apparently, 35 years after his death. But how and why is a mystery that will unfold in this graphic novel collection.
Interview with Rorschach writer Tom King
What’s the process like of taking Rorschach—a character distinctly tied to the mid-‘80s era of Watchmen—and telling a story that had relevance to you in 2020?
Things are crazy right now. I mean it’s insane; it’s driving people insane. And we have to talk about it; we have to try make things that are as good as all that bad that’s out there, or else we’ll just surrender to it and who wants to do that? The language of Rorschach is a language you can tell a story about a world like this in. It doesn’t work with Superman and Batman. Those are the wrong words. But Rorschach, he can talk to it, he can describe it, he can write it on a sign and march it down the street past all the heroes ignoring the truth that’s in front of them. The only way to write Rorschach is to be relevant.
Interview with Rorschach artist Jorge Fornés
How do you describe your visual approach to the series? How do you balance honoring the character’s very famous artistic legacy while also making it distinctly yours?
It’s hard work. One of the most recognizable things about Watchmen is the phenomenal work that Dave [Gibbons] did, it’s really iconic! We’ve tried to create a book in the same universe but independent in itself, so I tried to continue working with my usual style equally inspired by the noir genre but with a quite different look from the original Watchmen. We didn’t want to make an imitation of the original series, and I opted for a look close to aesthetic classicism and inspired by the noir films of the ‘60/’70s that fits perfectly for the book…I hope!
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reviews with images
All Photos
Whoa…
Watchmen is probably my favorite graphic novel of all time. But as much as I love that intricate alternate reality Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created all those years ago, I’ve been disappointed with literally every comic that tries expanding that universe… until now.Similar to HBO’s Watchmen miniseries, Tom King uses the iconic Rorschach mask to as a tool to weave a timeless cautionary tale of radicalization through not only paranoia, but finding a sense of worth and self purpose in a seemingly hopeless world. Set in the Watchmen universe 34 years after the original story ended with society being left to process a giant alien squid appearing seemingly out of nowhere and killing millions of New Yorkers, this contemporary detective story draws many comparisons to our own universe in that many people use misunderstanding, confusion and paranoia of the world around them as justification to commit acts of violence. This engrossing mystery unfolds at a perfect pace despite the story taking place after what would normally be the big set piece of a thriller. Artwork by Jorge Fornés might seem lowkey at first glance but really left me speechless in its attention to detail of putting us into the headspace of someone trying to piece together a mystery but doesn’t know who to trust.Dear HBO, I know that showrunner Damon Lindelof said he has no current ideas to continue the story wrapped up in the Watchmen miniseries, but I seriously believe Tom King’s Rorschach would make an excellent companion piece if adapted into Watchmen Season 2. Seriously, just use the current panels as the storyboards because this already fits right into the pool of insightful, gritty, True Detective-style dramas HBO is revered for.Dear whoever is reading this review that isn’t HBO, quit reading Amazon reviews for this book and just buy it if you love the 1985 original. You won’t be disappointed.
Top reviews from other countries
Gerson José de Oliveira Filho
Final adiantado
Reviewed in Brazil on October 16, 2022
an African reader
Many great twists and turns!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2023