Art Spiegelman\'s Maus a Traditionally Comic Book

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"Maus" vs. "Watchmen"

While many are likely to think about children's books when coming across the idea of a 'comic', some comics can actually put across very complex messages and are likely to induce intense feelings in individuals reading them. Art Spiegelman's graphic novel "Maus" is one of the most impressive examples of a graphic novel that is much more than a 'comic'. This book discusses with regard to the Holocaust and about Spiegelman's attempts to introduce various ideas learnt from his parents into a concepts that manages to get readers to acknowledge the horrible effects that the event had on society as a whole and on the writer's father in particular.

"Watchmen" is a more conventional graphic novel written by Alan Moore, designed by Dave Gibbons, and colored by John Higgins. Although it would be wrong to say that this book does not contain complex messages, it mainly addresses the more archetypal idea of a comic book. The book relates to an alternate reality in which superheroes are no longer appreciated for their services and in which society as a whole is obsessed with the idea of power. The environment in the book is relatively similar to the one in the 1980s, taking into account that it mainly focuses on rivalry between the U.S. And the Soviet Union and that it portrays the U.S. As a nation who is unhesitant about adopting unorthodox methods with the purpose of securing its position.

Many might consider that there can be no connection between the two graphic novels, given that "Maus" discusses with regard to things that actually happened and "Watchmen" is set in an alternate reality where superheroes are the main point of interest. Even with this, when going more in-depth in analyzing the two, one is likely to find a series of parallels such as the presence of historical events in both books and the fact that they are both meant to emphasize the confusing nature of humanity in general.

The idea of life dominates both novels, even with the fact that "Maus" provides a more comprehensive depiction of this respective concept. Spiegelman's book is meant to go against established laws by emphasizing how easy is for a community to use harsh force against another on the grounds that it has the right to do so. The author obviously wanted readers to learn more about the lengths to which people are willing to go in order to fight for causes that they actually have a limited understanding of.

Spiegelman's book is much more serious when considering the events it discusses and the fact that it relates to individuals who went through one of the most horrific episodes in the history of mankind -- the Holocaust. As previously said, the concept of life is a dominant element in his book and it is emphasized as one of the most important elements in society. "To die, it's easy. But you have to struggle for life." (Spiegelman) The book goes at having readers comprehend the complicated nature of the Holocaust, of surviving this event, and of being able to continue to live even as a person who is related to an individual who survived the Holocaust.

"Watchmen" provides readers with the feeling that they need to acknowledge the importance of morality in a society that is filled with the struggle to accumulate power. The book's protagonists are unhesitant about acting in disagreement with generally established rules with the purpose of making people better prepared to understand the difference between wrong and right.

To a certain degree, one can find parallels between how Spiegelman depicts his cats and how "Watchmen" portrays Adrian Veidt. The latter appears to be interested in improving conditions in the world as a whole and does not care if he has to kill some people in order to do so. Similarly, Doctor Manhattan can be compared to Spiegelman's idea of a 'pig' when considering that he vaporizes Rorschach when he finds that his former friend wants to expose Veidt's actions. The Nazi system promoted the idea that the world could be better and that impure races needed to be removed in order for this to happen. Veidt similarly believes that it would not be wrong for several people to die in order for the U.S. And the Soviet Union to come together with the purpose of bringing world peace.