Beware the Watchmen

[ancylostomiasis]

Watchmen couldn't exist without the Cold War.

Except for the bit where Watchmen is a deconstruction of the entire superhero genre.

And that makes it good because..?

Technically, Kick Ass is a deconstruction of the superhero genre, too.

Why did I keep hearing this Kickass Watchmen comparision?

Even to think about kickass *as* a suprehero deconstruction, it deconstructs as much as it rebuilds, an that only limits to comic itself.

THE Watchmen, on the other hand, deals with the entire hero-loving, success-feathering premise of the American dream; with it's literature, deprived all our hope, leaving only ashes.

When I finished the Kickass, I feel amused; when I finished THE Watchmen, I feel exhausted, and lonely, and sad.

So these two are basically uncomparable.

P. S. is it legal to revive this thread? sorry I'm new here.

 

[SnakeoilSage]

Watchmen couldn't exist without the Cold War.

Except for the bit where Watchmen is a deconstruction of the entire superhero genre.

And that makes it good because..?

Technically, Kick Ass is a deconstruction of the superhero genre, too.

Why did I keep hearing this Kickass Watchmen comparision?

Even to think about kickass *as* a suprehero deconstruction, it deconstructs as much as it rebuilds, an that only limits to comic itself.

THE Watchmen, on the other hand, deals with the entire hero-loving, success-feathering premise of the American dream; with it's literature, deprived all our hope, leaving only ashes.

When I finished the Kickass, I feel amused; when I finished THE Watchmen, I feel exhausted, and lonely, and sad.

So these two are basically uncomparable.

P. S. is it legal to revive this thread? sorry I'm new here.

It's the difference of authors. The Kick-Ass comics are basically a hateful rant against the superhero genre, bitterly pointing out how stupid trying to be a super hero would be in the real world. Watchmen doesn't hate superheroes, it just puts them in a situation where bravery and superpowers can't save the day, and they have to deal with the consequences of making harsh decisions they never imagined themselves making. It's like Superman being forced to use a gun to defend himself. Because it's done in a way that makes you sympathize with their decisions, even relate to them, you come out of it sad, because they feel sad.

Kick-Ass on the other hand is just bile. I think Movie-Bob talks about it in his Kick-Ass 2 review, and how he's glad the movies have not stayed true to the source material, instead aiming the movies at a more optimistic portrayal of people trying to be superheroes in the real world. It makes them more sympathetic, even as it points out that you can't be Batman, effortlessly saving the day.