by Stephane Mot , published on 16.08.2009

Newspaper cuttings, notes, book extracts, interviews, soundtracks of intoxicating songs, radio, television, comic books… all this mixed in with the intrigue of an unclassifiable graphic novel: in the mid 80’s, Allan Moore created the first 2D transmedia work with the help of Dave Gibbons.

By his own admission, the work was not adaptable to the cinema… and indeed, the brilliant craftsman refused to recognize the caricature of a film that came out last spring on the big screen. Even though Zach Snyder managed to capture some of the visual codes of “Watchmen”, his live action and special effects production doesn’t reflect the richness of the paper masterpiece, much more elaborate in meaning and dimensions.

But it’s impossible to accept this foreshadowed failure. New attempts will inevitably be made in the more or less distant future.  Probably with a more collaborative approach involving more varied creative fields, and on the condition that the author’s spirit be respected, and therefore the experience of the audience/reader/listener completely mastered.

I would be very curious to see how Watchmen could be translated in an authentically transmedia system.

For those who know the original work: I would be interested in your point of view. To others, I can only warmly recommend this stimulating experience of discovering an author at the peak of his art.

PS: you can also see “Watchmen and the nature of Alan Moore’s power”