But this adaptation succeeds by hitting many of the themes of the graphic novel while reproducing almost nothing of its plot – unlike Zack Snyder’s straightforward 2009 film, which slavishly reproduced the plot and misunderstood all the themes. The first series, which ended last week, still hasn’t been renewed for a second, probably because of Lindelof’s own reluctance to be part of it. The company’s repeated failure to wring anything entertaining or clever from Watchmen might forgivably strike the book’s author and artist, and their partisans, as somewhat gratifying.īut as Damon Lindelof’s HBO spinoff shows, a solid Watchmen adaptation is possible. The comic book’s suspicion of power and its veneration of persistent kindness now seem an odd fit for DC, which appears to be hellbent on breaking down Watchmen into a sort of paste that it can smear on everything from prequels and sequels the creators never wanted, to a themed toaster (sold out years ago, sorry).

ISBN 0-7528-5915-3.I t’s been profoundly depressing to watch Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’s Watchmen mutate into a cottage industry for DC Entertainment. 2003, UK, Orion ( ISBN 978-0-7528-6033-6), hardcover, (Revised edition, with an introduction by the author).Journalist Jim Stevens who appears in this book, first appeared in Knots and Crosses, the first Inspector Rebus book, which ended with him leaving Edinburgh for London he returned to Scotland in this book and future Rebus books.Then, on the run, and playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with his own side, Flint and Collins begin to piece together a lethal conspiracy which they ultimately discover goes right to the very core of the British Government.Ĭonnections to other Rankin books However, after accompanying the security forces on their mission, he discovers that what has actually been planned is the assassination of the Irishmen – and with Flint having come along for the ride, he suddenly realises that his own life is at risk.Īs the killings are about to be carried out, Flint stages a daring escape with the aid of one of the Irishmen, Will Collins. The book tells the story of Miles Flint, a surveillance officer who works for MI5.Īfter two high-profile operations involving Flint are compromised with deadly consequences, he is sent to Belfast to witness what he believes is going to be the arrest of some Provisional Irish Republican Army men. Originally published in 1988, it was reissued with a new introduction by Rankin in 2004.

Watchman is a 1988 novel written by Ian Rankin, and is one of the author's earliest works.

Watchmen novel