Davantage qu’une suite ambitieuse, une pierre angulaire d’un univers en constante mutation qui se cherche un axe et un sens. Le cahier des charges semble d’abord trop lourd pour Johns qui s’embarrasse de livres dans le livre et d’annexes pas toujours pertinentes, histoire de coller au style complexe d’Alan Moore. Mais petit à petit, la structure de l’ensemble se fait jour, parvenant à créer des passerelles évidentes avec Crisis et les plus récents bouleversements du multivers. Un travail qui s’avère aussi fascinant que payant, parvient à échafauder des théories lumineuses tout en constituant un très héritage pour Watchmen. Ça manque de peu le chef-d’œuvre par une gestion de l’émotion un peu artificielle mais c’est un très grand album. ( )

as a comic it's alright. in context it's an abomination ( )

Fear and pessimism are running themes throughout the story that highlights Dr. Manhattan's relationship with the universe. Superman stands in contrast, working as a poster boy for hope, trust, and optimism.

It starts off slow, focusing at first on Ozymandias and his ruined world thanks to Rorschach's secret journal. We're then taken on a journey to the DC Universe, meeting Batman and the Justice League (minor) and then Superman. Strangely enough, Dr. Manhattan's take on this universe is quite interesting, especially in the way he sees the superheroes not as a symbol of hope. They're rather stand-ins for paranoia and fear in an increasingly divided world, mirroring his own.

Superman might have stolen the show if not for Ozymandias. Ever the trickster, he pulls off another trick to fool Dr. Manhattan, but this time saving the world in the process, not just uniting it. "Brilliant" was my initial thought, and after further thought, I still feel it's good, though it doesn't quite stand as strong in the face of other possibilities. ( )