Want to see more poster analysis or reviews? Then check out my blog The Archive!
While you're at it, why not like me on Facebook if you click HERE! Stay up to date on my articles with some previews of what is to come next!
Watchmen
Poster Analysis
Introduction
I know that around ten articles aren’t really much but it is at least the first milestone for what once was nothing more than a little idea in my head. Now I always intended for my tenth to focus on the Watchmen movie, as its posters were also some of my personal favorites. Before I get into that a short thank you to MexicanSuperman for requesting this poster analysis and beating me to the punch before I got around to working on it. Almost seems like he knew in what direction I was heading with my articles. Now, I must also note this is probably the longest article I have published until now due to the amount of posters. Watchmen have been once known as the definite unfilmable graphic novel simply due to the size of the story and the mythology that was built around it. I am not talking about DC Comics Before Watchmen franchise that was started a while back to fill in a few gaps in the storyline but the sheer additional material offered for the actual graphic novel. Zack Snyder, who many might recognize for reimagining the Man of Steel recently took this venture into his hands and created a film that seemed directly taken from the original comic. How was the marketing for this franchise? What posters were used to make us believe these characters truly come to life?
Analysis
1. RORSCHACH
One of my personal favorite Comic Book characters is the most bizarre anti-hero ever created. Strongly inspired by the DC character Question the amply named Rorschach wears a mask with black ink on white fabric that keeps changing shape. Here we have our first version of these character posters. We have the classic logo on the left side is taken directly from the covers for each chapter with the doomsday clock hanging above. This does say a bit more than one would think as those who do not know about it’s setting during the Cold War. Additionally I love the fact that it is a picture that reminds one of the comic book but also a nice quote to give us some food for thought on exactly these characters are. In this case showing the character from behind those visualize the mystery behind the mask while also with the dead body on the floor that he is not scared to take a life. The tag line for the franchise is on the side of the wall additionally to push the story forward. Who watches the Watchmen? Do we have a system that watches over those that stand above us? The quote is interesting on its own merit as his violent tendencies are pushed into foreground to also show that he does serve a purpose, his own believe of justice.
The classic Rorschach line: “This city is afraid of me. I’ve seen its true face.” once again shows us of his self-justice, but gives a stronger feeling of the world they live in. Not only is this a different version of New York City that actually lived alongside heroes, but also it is filled with corruption. While one could debate that every city has its dark side there is another part that makes it scary. Something changed this man to kill and it is what he calls “the true face”. Whatever he is planning it will come with a price and he is planning to reveal the lies to the public, which actually already tells us more about the third act of the film than we believe at the time of release. This time we also get a full look at the face of Rorschach and yes, I do mind the mask he is wearing to be his face.
2. THE COMEDIAN
Finally, the one who kick starts the entire story and the man who knows more than what he shows. The comedian is never funny rather he is brutal and believes he is the American Dream come true, which he does state in the quote this time around. This also shows that the tagline of the franchise is a constant reminder of the story with also showing a little about the characters past. Here we see him assassinate what in the background seems to be a big political figure. He enjoys it, it something that makes him feel alive, but also there is something darker behind it all. Simply the flask shows that while he is enjoying the murder he also is affected by it. It is the lifestyle he chose and he knows that there is no going back.
It is one thing to show a badass shoot rifle but it is another to see him light his cigar with a flamethrower. This is an incredible picture to push forward how insane this man truly is as well as how much joy he feels with his job. He sees that even though he is quite violent he still believes he is a protector. Doing the tasks that no one wants to do only because he believes there is a higher purpose to it.
3. NITE OWL
The film was truly made for those who loved the original back in the day but to make it more accessible for the big screen some changes had to be made in the end. The most notable ones are the costumes used for Nite Owl and Silk Spectre. Trying to update them from the original is no easy task as those were iconic on their own rights, but they managed to make them resemble more recent comic book movie adaptations. Especially Nite Owl was planned to look closer to the design of Batman’s costumes from more recent film adaptations but also making the costume seem closer to wearable armor. The man behind the mask Dan Dreiberg is perfectly visualized with a simple quote above the picture portraying the new costume while also giving us our first look at the Owl’s flying mobile. A man with quite a fortune gave it all out simply to catch, as he puts it, hookers and purse-snatchers making him question his right and meaning as a hero in a world that rejected him.
The second character poster takes a different approach by placing him into the setting of this alternative New York City. Showing a part of the past as he had to rally up protesters together with the Comedian he utters the line: “We were supposed to make the world a better place.” This gives us a look into his second internal conflict of not only his relevance but also rather of what exactly they have become. Were they the protectors of the city he believed they were or rather the reason for its demise? It does show the overall storyline of the graphic novel focusing on the overall conflict that brought the characters were they are today.
4. SILK SPECTRE
The second biggest redesign was Silk Spectre by shoving her away from a rather cloth design, which is shown in the background of the mirror she is looking in, but rather giving her a very elastic almost diver suit. The interesting part of this is the fact that she is staring into a mirror showing how much self-reflection she has to do throughout the film as there is a grave change coming her way. Furthermore, we actually have a quote from someone besides the character portrayed in the picture as we take a snippet from her mother’s interview with PROBE magazine saying that without her being the first Slik Spectre her daughter would only have ended up as a housewife. Additionally, we have a picture from her mother lying on the ground showing that there are some issues in this family simply due to the nature of their profession.
The next poster is trying to push forward that she may have been forced into this ife but she actually does enjoy it herself a bit. Seems I have a strong theme with these posters, but it could say more about their connection than one would think at first. Still, when you grow up becoming a hero one wouldn’t be surprised that she goes out late at night doing something stupid, but not in the natural sense but actually beating up the evildoers she came across. This is an interesting aspect of a young woman growing up having to go out while normal parents would prefer it for them to stay home savely. Such an environment is certainly not healthy for anyone but does show where her entire family conflict originated.
Interestingly there is an additional poster featuring a character that does take center role throughout the film in the original Silk Spectre, Sally Jupiter. Giving us a little sneak peak of the first true heroes in the Minutemen we see how different times were back then. Heroes were seen as such and put into the spotlight. In her case she even became famous for being exactly who she was and even is considered a sex icon until she grew older. If it was a successful life one could debate but nonetheless she had her time in the lime light.
5. DOCTOR MANHATTAN
From all the characters mentioned up to this point they are still nothing more than regular human beings, but one person stands out among them. The only true superhero was a lab accident that turned him into an omnipotent creature that lives beyond time and space. A character that almost has no true feelings anymore for the human race as he has ascended above us all. The quote is actually from a book this time around stating that all of us live in the shadow of Manhattan. It makes perfect sense as this man, or almost godlike creature, can destroy anything or anyone with the touch of a finger. No matter how much free will we believe we possess this man could make our world come to a halt at any time. Showing his loneliness and desire of isolation from the world it was a perfect idea to show him surrounded by things he loves, technical machinery that shows no emotion but pure logic.
Something rather interesting is seeing the naked man from before in a suit. While we aren’t aware why he is standing in the rain while contemplating how insignificant life truly is to him one must wonder if we are truly disposable. Pushing forward the feeling of fear that once we outgrow everything around us they simply lose their purpose or meaning simply due to how much we adjusted to the new life we hold. This poster actually states one of the biggest parts of the film but as a picture it is almost tranquill and beautiful, but scary at the very same time.
6. OZYMANDIAS
<
Finally, the smartest man in the world gets his own poster showing that he does not dislike his fate but rather he is similar to Manhattan. He believes he is something above us and furthermore that our world is already rotten to the core. Him watching over of events and his colleagues gives us a feeling of all that power he possesses might be controlling him as well. The animal beside him is rather difficult to explain but it is a nice nod to the graphic novel was he was his trusted friend and pet. While I do believe the costume at this time was much closer to the original one it is still nice to see how it has changed as well due to the silly nature of his original, which was also brought out to maybe showing that he had some different tendencies.
Now showing us his entire costume one can see that it also took strong inspiration from the 1989s Batman with the plated feel and pushing his abs out. This time around the quote is actually the most interesting aspect of the poster as it actually spoils a big part of the movie. Now I am not going to state what exactly it means but it does speak quite for his character. A man of his brilliance considers the famous line from Spock: “The need of the many outweigh the needs of the few!”, but taking it into a much darker direction, and pushes forward that with a brilliant mind comes a corrupt soul.
Conclusion
I have to state one thing at this point. That was only the character poster aspect for the movie and I already managed to triple the amount I regularly write, but it also gives me the possibility to return to the franchise in the near future. These are some incredible posters that push the characters into the foreground and give us more information if you simply look at the symbolism used throughout. Furthermore, it allows people that are big fans of the graphic novel to recognize elements they can remember when they read the original. I will state one thing and that is Watchmen was the first graphic novel I ever bought. This film alongside Iron Man brought me into collecting them and I must say these are great representations of the film and comics alike. It is amazing to think how much work was put into these and wish we get to see something like this return in the future! And on a side note, sorry for the lenght their was simply so much to cover and I didn#t even manage to go through all of them!
NEXT TIME:
Just your friendly neighborhood Arachnid
So, what do you think? Have I missed anything? Discuss below! If I had missed any posters than don't hesistate and send them to my e-mail at [email protected] and maybe I'll get back to them in the near furture!