And here it is, the final week of the first ever Robot Panic Book club. For those of you just now joining us, we’ve spend the past six weeks reading (and in some cases, re-reading) Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel Watchmen, coinciding with the release of Zack Snyder’s film adaptation, in theaters this Friday. In the comments section below, be sure to discuss your thoughts on all twelve chapters of the novel. But those who haven’t finished yet should be careful, since there will be spoilers a-plenty. And be sure to tune in this Sunday for a LIVE discussion of the book on our uStream page!

And also, be sure to tell us what you thought of the book club. What did you like? What would you improve? Do you have any suggestions for a novel, comic book or game for next time? Let us know! Things like the book club and our yearly summer film festival thrive on community involvement, and the more input we get from our readers, the better these events will be.

Click on for chapter synopses for chapters 11 and 12.

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As part of our ongoing countdown to the Watchmen movie (coming out on March 6th), I thought I’d snap a couple shots of the Absolute Watchmen for those interested. I just picked it up a couple weeks ago, and man is it ever a hefty book. Clocking in at 454 pages and just under five pounds, Absolute Watchmen isn’t exactly the sort of book you read while lying in bed or riding the bus. It’s an “open flat on a table” sort of experience and makes me sort of glad I’ve got the paperback lying around for when I just want to give it a quick read.

So to the left here is the hard case where the book is housed. On both sides is the so-called “Doomsday Clock”. It’s simple, iconic, and looks nice on the book shelf or on display.

To the right is the book when pulled out of its case. The slipcover displays the well-known closeup of the Comedian’s badge with the drip of blood. While it reads “Watchmen” on the front, the back of the slip cover reads “Absolute” and the print is in red. If you take the book out of the slip cover, it looks exactly like the outer case with the Doomsday Clock.

Again, the book is heavy as hell, even weightier than the various Marvel Omnibus collections.

I took a few shots of the inside contents. If you’re interested, come on inside…

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It’s week 5 of our first ever Robot Panic Book Club, and with only one week to go before our big wrap-up podcast, we’re discussing chapters 9 and 10 of Alan Moore’s Watchmen. Keep in mind that the comments below will contain spoilers for the first ten issues, but please use spoiler tags when discussing anything beyond chapter ten.

Below are chapter synopses for chapters 9 and 10.

Chapter 9: The Darkness of Mere Being

Dr. Manhattan and Laurie have just teleported to Mars. He uses his powers to keep her breathing and then escorts her into his crystal palace.

Dr. Manhattan’s “clairvoyant” abilities begin to frustrate Laurie as he seems to already know what the entire conversation will be about. He tries to explain to her the nuance of time by asking her about her earliest memory.

She recounts a time when she was five and overheard her parents arguing over one of her mother’s affairs. When her step-father catches her close by, he yells at her and sends her to bed.

She pleads with Jon to end their pointless conversation and come back to earth to help save humanity from Armageddon. Jon states that the end of the world will mean the end of human suffering, so why would he want to stop it?

The second flashback involves Laurie at a “mask” get together at her mother’s house, where as a teenager she witnesses Byron Lewis aka Mothman have a mental breakdown. She asks her mother if that’s what she has to look forward to when she becomes a costumed hero.

As the two argue more about the value of human life, we see a third flashback to the first Crimebusters meeting where The Comedian points out the futility of such an organization. Her brief flirtatious encounter with Blake is brought to an abrupt halt when Sally pulls her away from him and forbids Laurie to ever speak with him again.

Jon tells her that the marvelous landscape of Mars is, by far, more incredible than the human condition, when there is another flashback to a party, in Edward Blake’s honor, where a drunken Laurie throws a drink in Blake’s face for the attempted rape of her mother years ago.

Jon explains that he understands his scientific approach doesn’t help him to understand human existence, however, it is Laurie’s emotions that are blinding her to see his viewpoint.

Laurie becomes more emotional and Jon accuses her of avoiding something. As she comes to the realization that The Comedian is her real father, Laurie bursts into a fit of rage and throws a perfume bottle which shatters the crystal palace.

As the palace collapses around them, Jon uses his powers to erect a shield to protect them from the debris. When Laurie states that her life is a joke and meaningless, Jon surprisingly disagrees. He rationalizes that if Laurie can be the product of such an outrageous set of chaotic and improbable circumstances, then her existence is, as he describes, a “thermodynamic miracle.” And if her birth was a “miracle” then so could be any other birth in the world. He points out that since the world is so full of people, that miracles would become commonplace, and its vast improbability would become easy to forget.

Jon then tells Laurie they will go back to earth.

Closing Quotation: “As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light of meaning in the darkness of mere being.” – C.G. Jung, from Memories, Dreams, Reflections

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It’s week 4 of our six-week series, the first ever Robot Panic Book Club. This week, as we cross over the halfway mark, we’ll be discussing chapters 7 and 8 of Alan Moore’s Watchmen, all leading up to the March 6th release of the Zack Snyder film. Keep in mind that the comments below will contain spoilers for the first eight issues, but please use spoiler tags when discussing anything beyond chapter eight.

Below are chapter synopses for chapters 7 and 8.

Chapter 7: A Brother to Dragons

Dan finds Laurie touring his basement hideout. He explains his collection of crime fighting gadgets and mementos, often downplaying them. Laurie, who is captivated by these forgotten objects, tries to cheer Dan up by praising him for his ingenuity.

Later in Dan’s apartment, Dan and Laurie are watching television when passion sparks between them. Laurie initiates making love, but Dan just can’t seem to get going.

They fall asleep and Dan, awakened by a nightmare, heads naked into his basement hideout to sulk. Laurie discovers him and while she is trying to console him, they decide to suit up in their old costumes and take Dan’s airship “Archie” out for spin to help clear Dan’s head.

While they’re cruising over New York City, they notice that a nearby tenement is on fire. After leading the trapped residents to safety, Dan’s passion and confidence is reborn and the pair consummate their relationship inside the airship. Afterwards, Dan, feeling a new sense of obligation to his old costumed partners, decides that they have to break Rorschach out of prison.

Closing Quotation: “I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls. My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.” JOB, Chapter 30, verses 29-30

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It’s time for week three of our six-week book club event. This week, we’re discussing chapters 5 and 6 of Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel Watchmen, all leading up to the March 6th release of the Zack Snyder-directed film adaptation. Keep in mind that the comments below will contain spoilers for the first six issues, but please use spoiler tags when discussing anything beyond chapter six.

Below are chapter synopses for chapters 5 and 6.

Chapter 5: Fearful Symmetry

Rorschach returns to the home of Moloch to question him some more about The Comedian’s visit. Rorschach suggests that the aforementioned “list” was related to the press allegations that Dr. Manhattan has given cancer to many of his close friends since Janey Slater’s name was on it too. Realizing that Moloch is not involved in this plan, Rorschach leaves, but tells Moloch of a “drop point” where he can leave a message if he remembers anything.

Meanwhile a man fearing nuclear holocaust has murdered his two children before taking his own life, and talk of Armageddon is everywhere.

At a diner, Dan invites Laurie to live with him after Jon’s disappearance prompts her eviction from military housing. Rorschach, who ventures outside without his mask to watch the “drop point” in case there’s a message, sees Dan and Laurie leaving the diner.

Adrian Veidt walks to a meeting, discussing ideas of morbidity, death and an afterlife with his secretary. After his secretary is shot, Veidt assaults the attacker who eventually bites into a suicide capsule and quickly dies.

Responding to a note found at his “drop point,” Rorschach returns to Moloch’s apartment to find him murdered. A bullhorn from outside commands Rorschach to come out and surrender. The police are outside. Rorschach attempts to escape by jumping out of a window but is injured and taken into custody.

Closing Quotation: “Tyger, Tyger/burning bright, In the forests/of the night, What immortal hand or eye/Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” – The Tyger by William Blake
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It’s time for week 2 of our six-week series, the first-ever Robot Panic Book Club. The week we’ll be discussing chapters 3 and 4 of Alan Moore’s novel Watchmen. Please keep in mind that the comments below will contain spoilers for the first four issues, but please use spoiler tags when discussing anything beyond chapter four.

The following are the plot synopses for chapters 3 and 4.

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It’s been one week, and a good point for the first ever Robot Panic Book Club to hold it’s first meeting. So in the comment section, tell us your thoughts and discuss the first two chapters. What were some interesting themes you reacted to? What are your first impressions of the characters? What about the art direction? Are you enjoying it so far? Has it yet to grab your interest? Tell us! And don’t be afraid of dissent, everyone’s opinion is more than welcome, whether you love it or hate it.

However, please keep the discussion limited to the first two chapters only at this point. If you’ve read ahead or read it before, please keep in mind that some people haven’t read as far as you, so keep the spoilers to a minimum.

Following is a plot summary for the first two chapters:
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Our good friend, Tyler Durden84 send us this review/article on the classic DC comic, The Killing Joke. This is a book any Batman and/or comic fan should own! Hell, anyone who enjoys a damn good story should own this! It’s Alan Moore at his finest and it’s a legendary book.

For those of you who have never read this classic, be warned. Tyler gives away a shit-ton of the plot and highlights of this story. So, consider this your spoiler warning.

Enjoy!

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