I've never been a comic book reader and just because they have changed the name to graphic novel doesn't impress me much either. But a friend brought in Watchmen and asked me to read it and give my opinion. I finished the "book" this morning and from first to last I thought it was dreary. The only characters I really liked were the two Nite Owl men and Rorchach. Not one other character showed the least bit of humanity or even a pleasant personality. The story was just depressing and it took all my will to finish the darned thing. The only part I actually enjoyed were the in-between chapters. That is why this review has two stars and not just one. Those I really enjoyed especially Hollis Mason's Under the Hood excerpts. They were excellent and didn't need illustrations to tell a good story. I'm not quite sure why Time Magazine declared Watchmen one of the "100 Best Novels since 1923" It isn't.