Comics
An Appraisal of Watchmen

Watchmen has been a frequent topic in my articles, but I thought it was time I actually gave a full on appraisal for why I think it’s so good. There’s a lot to cover and I’m going to do it in brief but in a greater level of detail than when I have previously recommended it.
Watchmen is set in an alternate 1985 in which Nixon had been continuously re-elected after using Doctor Manhattan to win the war in Vietnam and make it the 51st State. Watchmen plays heavily on cold war tensions that were running high at the time, and the threat of Nuclear War between Russia and the United States of America. After a former superhero known as the Comedian is murdered, vigilante Rorschach goes on an investigation to discover what happened and how all of these retired superheroes are still linked.
What I particularly like about Watchmen is that it’s primarily a mystery novel as opposed to a stereotypical superhero comic. The dark subject matter was something that was very new at the time, but it also served to satirise the genre. Doctor Manhattan was a far more realistic take on a superman type character, someone that was so powerful that he was practically a God, and as such lost his touch with humanity. Rorschach was quite a realistic take on a street level superhero, someone who was clearly mentally unwell from the horrors he would have to see. Even characters such as the Comedian, who was killed off within the first chapter of the book, gets a huge amount of development and explores the idea that superheroes would not necessarily be nice people, that some ‘heroes’ were actually terrible, violent people who just used vigilantism as an outlet for their psychotic tendencies.
The story itself is a very strong one with a lot of twists and turns that keep the reader very much engaged throughout, however something Watchmen does that truly makes it shine is that it goes beyond being just a comic book. It used the last pages of each issue (which would have ordinarily been used for add space) to include newspaper clippings and excerpts from Hollis Mason’s biography “Under the Hood” which helps to bring you into the world and give the sense of a much bigger universe. There was also the comic within the comic, Tales of the Black Freighter, a pirate comic (as superheroes are not in comics due to them being a real world thing) that’s plot points and themes closely parallel the stories of the characters in Watchmen.
The line between good and evil in Watchmen is blurred immensely, and no character is wholly good or bad in the story. The ending of the book, while seemingly positive has a dark undertone as its final panel makes it clear that things could go very, very wrong once again. What I love about the book is that you’re left wondering if the antagonist was truly right or wrong in his chosen decision.
It’s a comic that I can’t recommend enough, and while I don’t believe there is such a thing as the greatest comic of all time, I do agree that Watchmen is the Citizen Kane of comics. Some may find it preachy, but I don’t think so at all. It is certainly pessimistic, but it brings everything from a great narrative, great artwork, incredibly well developed characters and a very engrossing world into one fantastic graphic novel that is, without a doubt, Alan Moore’s magnum opus. I still cannot recommend it enough.
Comics
Syphon Filter on PlayStation Plus Premium: Dark Mirror and Ape Academy 2 Have Awards
Even though trophy support for older games on PS Plus Premium isn’t always great, you can always count on Sony’s first-party games to have it.If you like collecting these digital trinkets, you’re in luck, because today’s big PlayStation Plus update includes two classic games that can now be used to earn Trophies.
Each trophy list for Ape Academy 2 and Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror includes the platinum cherry on top. You can look at their respective listings here and here if you’re interested.
The list for Dark Mirror appears to be quite simple—you can basically earn them all by finishing the game. The trophies in Ape Academy 2 appear to be a little more complicated, requiring you to complete particular objectives in card battles and advance to specified rankings. Nonetheless, it doesn’t seem too difficult, so we’re looking at a couple of quite simple platinums.
Ridge Racer: Type 4 is this month’s other premium classic game; sadly, it does not offer trophies. But it makes up for it by being a complete banger.
However, will you be obtaining some of these trophies with a nostalgic flavor?
Comics
Beautiful New Book Teaches About the Art of Horizon Forbidden West

This year, Sony produced some truly outstanding work, releasing four high-profile games on the PS5 and PS4 (not to mention the numerous PC ports). The earliest of these, Horizon Forbidden West, arrived in February of 2022 and got the year off to a strong start. One of Aloy’s sophomore journey’s greatest strengths, among the many other things we like about it, is its excellent art direction. The Art of Horizon Forbidden West allows you to now delve deeply into the game’s visuals.
This coffee table book, which was published by Dark Horse Books, contains 200 pages of concept art and developer commentary. It provides an inside look at the process used to develop engaging characters and settings, and Forbidden West is certainly not lacking in either.
There will be two editions of the book: standard and deluxe. Both are hardback books, with the deluxe edition having pages with metallic edges and a unique slipcase. These are now up for pre-order and will go on sale on April 25, 2023.
Comics
Details and gameplay for The Witcher 3 PS5 Version will be released on December 14th

Bloody hell, it took a while, but The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s long-awaited PS5 release date has been announced. The updated role-playing game will go on sale on December 14th, and CD Projekt Red reiterates that PS4 owners can get a free PS5 upgrade.
The “next-gen” game will have a physical edition at a later, as of yet unspecified time.
The next-gen update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is coming on December 14th, free for everyone who already owns the game.
For more details and gameplay reveal, tune in to REDstreams next week on https://t.co/IpFERTohi9. pic.twitter.com/fg3yfGeNih
— The Witcher (@witchergame) November 14, 2022
Though we still lack specific information about what the current-gen version will offer, don’t worry; it appears that all of our most pressing questions will be resolved soon. Next week, the developer says, will feature a livestream that will feature gameplay and more details. Hence, something to anticipate.
But in all honesty, we’re just relieved that this PS5 edition won’t be delayed any further. Will you play through The Witcher 3 again right before Christmas? Post your thoughts in the section below.
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