February 17th Will Be A Good Day For Watchmen Fans

Summary

Watchmen: Chapter II is the best adaptation, faithful to the source material.
The animation style gives a comic-book vibe, but some view it as dated.
The plot remains true to the novel, with political and philosophical focus.

On February 17, Alan Moore fans will undoubtedly once more visit the age-old discussion of “What is the best Watchmen adaptation?” when the CGI-styled Watchmen: Chapter II releases for streaming on Max. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen remains one of DC and the comic book world’s most celebrated graphic novels. This forty-year-old seminal work of art is set in an alternate 1980s world that outlawed vigilantes and teeters on the brink of Cold War-induced nuclear annihilation. Though beloved, it is notoriously difficult to adapt.

Beginning in 1990 with Watchmen: Motion Comic, the limited series has been adapted thrice — on the big screen with Zack Snyder’s 2009 live-action film, the HBO’s 2019 sequel series, and Brandon Vietti’s 2024 two-part adult animation, Watchmen: Chapter I & II. Each adaptation has a reason to be named the best of the bunch.

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What Is Watchmen: Chapter II About?

It’s Not the Average “Superhero” Story

Watchmen: Chapter II concludes the arc of Watchmen Chapter I, picking up the non-retired vigilante Rorschach’s (voiced by Titus Welliver) relentless investigation of Edward Morgan Blake (The Comedian, voiced by Rick Wasserman). Rorschach, whose signature black and white inkblot mask symbolizes his extremist and skewed views on morality, smells something fishy. However, fellow retired vigilantes such as Dan Dreiberg (Nite Owl II, voiced by Matthew Rhys), Laurie Juspeczyk (Silk Spectre II, voiced by Katee Sackoff), and Dr. Manhattan are either indifferent or outright dismissive. Rorschach is framed and subsequently incarcerated for the murder of a former supervillain by the real killer.

Strictly speaking, Watchmen: Chapter II begins with Rorschach in prison undergoing evaluation and profiling by psychologist Dr. Malcolm Long. After a series of premonitions, Dreiberg and Juspeczyk resume their roles as the second-generation Nite Owl and Silk Spectre. Meanwhile, tensions between a Richard Nixon-led America and the Soviet Union reach a boiling point. Dr. Manhattan’s God complex robs him of his humanity and capacity to feel emotions — despite being the only force capable of preventing global annihilation.

The brilliant Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias, voiced by Troy Baker) devices a morally twisted but no less cruel plan to keep the sanctity of peace at all cost: genetically engineering a giant squid and unleashing it in the heart of New York City as a faux alien invasion. Millions will — and did — perish, but in the grand scheme of the plan, it’s a necessary trade-off to save the lives of billions as the global powers dump all hostilities and unite to face a common threat. Rorschach, unwavering in his black-and-white moral code, refuses to let Veidt’s deception go unpunished. Determined to expose the truth, he threatens to reveal the conspiracy, but Dr. Manhattan, prioritizing the fragile peace, intervenes and ultimately disintegrates him. However, Rorschach’s journal — containing damning evidence against Veidt — finds its way to the desks of a small publishing firm, leaving the fate of his revelations uncertain.

When and How Can Fans Stream Watchmen: Chapter II?

On February 17, Max subscribers and fans of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ will be able to follow up on Watchmen: Chapter I, which already streams on the platform, with Watchmen: Chapter II. It’s another chance to be re-immersed in the geopolitical zeitgeist of the 80s Cold War era, where costumed vigilantes and a God-like, all-knowing being have a stake in determining humanity’s trajectory. There are brutal themes of the essence and complexity of humanity and the price of peace in the Watchmen novel. It’s laced with R-rated fight scenes and murder on a mass scale; thus, the animation may not be a suitable watch for younger audiences.

For newcomers to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ novel, there’s a catch: Aside from Dr. Manhattan, there are no actual superheroes in Watchmen. They’re essentially flawed humans in costumes. Plus, unlike traditional comic book adaptations, Watchmen features fewer large-scale action sequences, focusing instead on philosophical and political storytelling.

How Does Watchmen: Chapter II Differ From Previous Adaptation?

Critics Hold It as the Most Faithful Adaptation of the Novel

As far as Watchmen adaptations go, Watchmen: Chapter II is generally regarded as the best of the three film attempts. Zack Snyder did what many thought was impossible in 2009 by bringing a live-action Watchmen to the screen. While his distinct visual style was lauded, his disregard for the novel’s intended minimalist action and excessive use of slow motion — which he infamously repeats in Zack Snyder’s Justice League — displeased core fans. His biggest departure, perhaps, was swapping the graphic novel’s psychic-energy-blasting alien squid for explosive energy bombs.

Watchmen: Chapter II’s CGI/3D animation style has been described by some as a double-edged sword. The artistic choice gives it a more comic-book-like vibe than its predecessors, but leaves it feeling regrettably like 1970s immature CGI in closeup shots. What sets this adaptation apart is its commitment to the source material, especially in retaining the infamous squid attack — a crucial element Snyder omitted. Regardless, its faithfulness to the source material hasn’t stopped fans from dreaming of a future Watchmen film that does 100% justice to Alan Moore’s vision.

Watchmen: Chapter II

Release Date: November 26, 2024
Runtime: 89 Minutes
Director: Brandon Vietti
Writers: J. Michael Straczynski

Cast

Troy Baker

Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias/Derf/Laurence Schexnayder/Gerald Grice/News Announcer
Adrienne Barbeau

Sally Jupiter/Police Dispatcher
Michael Cerveris

Dr. Manhattan/Prison Guard #2
Zehra Fazal

Hira Manish/Newscaster

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