tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post7942991467267165146..comments2024-03-10T10:54:59.776-07:00Comments on Ben Witherington: 'Watchmen'--Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?Ben Witheringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-22421565050952967382008-08-11T22:31:00.000-07:002008-08-11T22:31:00.000-07:00Been a while since I beebopped my way over to your...Been a while since I beebopped my way over to your blog, Dr. Witherington.<BR/><BR/>I LOVE the watchmen. It's by far my favorite novel.<BR/><BR/>I think you're on to something. I couldn't help but think, after reading your post, of the conversation between Dr. Manhattan and Adrian Veidt. Dr. Manhattan is the only hero with <I>actual</I> super powers ("... and he's American!") I think that, plus side his conversation with Adrian and what he does when it's over, speak volumes about some one's vision of God.<BR/><BR/>There's also references to the "doomsday clock," or whatever, and time pieces and watches all over the place in this book. Dr. Manhattan's glass fortress and John's childhood hobby really get me thinking.Rob Pennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02213274926132371888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-16555228081816385482008-08-05T16:38:00.000-07:002008-08-05T16:38:00.000-07:00Just a bit of trivis: did you know that the Watchm...Just a bit of trivis: did you know that the Watchmen are based on the Charlton heroes that were later bought by DC? Compare the Watchmen to Captain Atom, Blue Beetle, Nightshade, Question, Peacemaker and so on. It is amazing how Moore was able to transform these traditional heroes.SJBedardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02858451603363183786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-77022421082568078582008-08-05T12:57:00.000-07:002008-08-05T12:57:00.000-07:00Jesus Easterman.I like that.Obama not a secret Mus...Jesus Easterman.<BR/><BR/>I like that.<BR/><BR/>Obama not a secret Muslim.<BR/>The Watchmen an impetus for soul-searching and reflection.<BR/>Next you might tell me Catholics can be saved. <BR/>What is this world coming to?Skybalonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02358538213950954323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-91649368793157006452008-08-04T11:18:00.000-07:002008-08-04T11:18:00.000-07:00Thanks so much for a great reflection on Watchmen....Thanks so much for a great reflection on Watchmen. I literally finished reading it for the first time this morning and was pleased to see your thoughts on it. I'm curious to see how they will fit the huge graphic novel into one movie. It's interesting to note that the themes in the Watchmen are still very relevant today.<BR/><BR/>Dr. Witherington, I wonder what you thought of the Black Freighter storyline? The writing and imagery connecting that and the main storyline was very neat, and I appreciated the multi-layered approach to the book as a whole.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-66244080143009349352008-08-04T10:36:00.000-07:002008-08-04T10:36:00.000-07:00BW3 strikes again with his comic books! Kudos, sir...BW3 strikes again with his comic books! Kudos, sir.<BR/><BR/>As you know, (I think) our love for theology and comic books runs deep together, and I always enjoy your pop-culture reviews. <BR/><BR/>Watchman was so formative for me in my progression as a writer that I can't speak highly of it enough....and yet, it has always filled me with a profound sadness.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your post...keep the comic reviews coming.The Reverend of Rock and Rollhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17778905803259845343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-11607498680980290592008-08-04T08:06:00.000-07:002008-08-04T08:06:00.000-07:00I tend to agree with you John, but God can even wr...I tend to agree with you John, but God can even write straight on the human heart with a crooked stick <BR/><BR/>BW3Ben Witheringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-5409437383362294182008-08-04T07:29:00.000-07:002008-08-04T07:29:00.000-07:00first--great post; strangely enough, i read the wa...first--great post; strangely enough, i read the watchmen twice a year, and each time it pushes me back into the truth of our Hope being in Christ alone. <BR/><BR/>second, LOST writers Cuse and Lindlof site the watchmen as a huge influence on their writing styles and vision shaping. There's actually a line of theory about LOST that they are doing what Moore did with the watchmen, but in a different genre-- taking archetypes and deconstructing them, showing their flaws and what those flaws lead to if not addressed (or even redeemed). Great connection there...drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08297291242652025347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-15367791381098378722008-08-04T06:21:00.000-07:002008-08-04T06:21:00.000-07:00In response to Blake:I'm not so certain these grap...In response to Blake:<BR/><BR/>I'm not so certain these graphic novels are a rich soil for faith. The great affirmation at the heart of these is that the world is without God and so we are left to do the best we can by our own wits, strength, and determination.<BR/><BR/>In such a world, it is inevitable that the difference between the bad guys and the good guys will be a matter of degrees.<BR/><BR/>Jesus Christ is just as foolish in this world as he was in 1st Century Jerusalem.John Meunierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15640046073453219165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-78038805152456332552008-08-04T02:38:00.000-07:002008-08-04T02:38:00.000-07:00your copy may have come out in 95, but the series ...your copy may have come out in 95, but the series was released in 86Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-57216519282149549702008-08-03T17:42:00.000-07:002008-08-03T17:42:00.000-07:00Good post! I've been thinking lately that stories...Good post! I've been thinking lately that stories like The Dark Knight and Watchmen should be more embraced by Reformed Christians because there are few stories that make such a poignant case for Total Depravity. What could be more useful to them than having blockbusters about Total Depravity to use as a starting point to share the hope of Christ with nonChristian acquaintances?Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557557130782165768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-52701737765648083402008-08-03T16:19:00.000-07:002008-08-03T16:19:00.000-07:00Magnificent post, Dr. Witherington!In a way, Watch...Magnificent post, Dr. Witherington!<BR/><BR/>In a way, <I>Watchmen</I> was instrumental in leading me to faith. I saw what were clearly NOT "heroes" in Dr. Manhattan, The Comedian, Rorshach, etc., and ended up thinking long and hard about why these characters WEREN'T "heroic" and why others like Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America, Supes, etc., WERE.<BR/><BR/>Absolute values followed shortly thereafter, and as anyone knows, the acceptance of absolute values makes it really, really hard to sustain any kind of viable atheism.<BR/><BR/>I laughed out loud when I read about how Chesterton credited the pulp adventure mags more than any other kind of literature as instrumental to his conversion, and every time I read Lewis' statement that "a young atheist can't be too careful what he reads these days," I always end up smiling.<BR/><BR/>Awesome post!LanternBrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14727003028902907286noreply@blogger.com