They Could Be Heroes
The books, songs, and TV shows to ponder
while watching Watchmen

SPIN 20

Ranking on Pop Culture Since 1998

THIS MON TH, AFTER 23 years in development, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ legendary graphic novel Watchmen nally makes it to the big screen. Deemed un lmable by even the fearless Terry Gilliam, it’s the Ulysses of comic books, full of obscure literary and cultural allusions. And since director Zack Snyder has promised a faithful adaptation—he even based his storyboards directly on the comic’s panels—expect many of the references to reach the theater. Below, a guide to getting ready for March 6. SEAN HO WE

Alice Cooper group reunite for
autograph session Alice even let
them cut to the front of the line
Staying up until 3 A.M. to hear
the premiere of U2’s new single on
Irish radio Shows you’re dedicated.
Not psychotic.

DRM-free i Tunes Maybe if we sell our iPod, we’ll be able to a ord the fee

Two months in… The sky is still the same color. Where’s that big “change” we were promised?

The O spring singer’s hot sauce a success A portent of positive things for Save Ferris’ spicy Dijon mustard

“Unforgettable,” by Nat King Cole

Natalie Cole’s 1991 exhumation/ duet/remake with her dad may have scarred you, so learn to appreciate the original now. It’s the theme for the ad campaign for Nostalgia—the line of perfume sold by Watchmen superhero turned entrepreneur Ozymandias.

The Action
Heroes, Archives,
Volume 1 & 2

You may have heard Watchmen‘s heroes were based on Charlton Comics’ mid- ’60s stable: Blue Beetle became Nite Owl, the Question became Rorschach, etc. But the idea of forming a team most likely came from a fan letter in 1967’s Captain Atom No. 87 suggesting they be called the Crimebusters. That’s the name Moore gave them—nearly 20 years later.

Intersection
of 31st Street and
7th Avenue,
New York City

The Gunga Diner and the ne wsstand in the comic are at 40th and 7th, but Gibbons now claims this intersection is a closer “real-life equivalent” to Watchmen’s midtown action.

Zamzar.com, the awesome new way to turn You Tube videos into free MP3s Will probably have been shut down by the time you read this

Fall Out Boy’s new line of plush dolls Because their water noodles were just too obvious

Cheap Trick perform Sgt. Pepper’s
at Vegas residency Dream
Police relegated to patrolling hot
ashes
People who complain about
30 Rock not being funny enough
You are why we can’t have nice
things
New Kids on the Block cruise It’s a
noun, not a verb

Joaquin Phoenix, rapper Claims lip scar was caused by gunshot

BEN SHAPIRO 31S T AND 7 TH ; BE T TMANN CORBIS ALEXANDER CU T TING THE GORDIAN KNOT

Bulletin
of the Atomic
Scientists,
1947

Alexander Cutting the Gordian Knot

Pharaoh
Triumphant,
by K.A.
Kitchen

The Osbournes’ new variety show

A.k.a. Mumble-In

The bloodstains on Watchmen’s smiley-face logo are positioned to evoke the location of the hands on the Doomsday Clock, that famous bellwether of nuclear Armageddon, introduced in this wonky journal.

J. André Castaigne’s 1899 drawing of the Greek legend—which touts the bene ts of thinking outside of the box— is re-created on the walls of Karnak, the Antarctic headquarters of Ozymandias and his pet wildcat, Bubastis…

…and if you don’t know your Karnak from your Bubastis, you might want this book on Ramesses II, likely the source of much of Moore’s extensive Egyptian research.

The upcoming remake of Fame Maybe some things shouldn’t live forever

Ryan Adams moves to France Mickey Rourke said it would be good for his image

Johnny Marr, music professor

How soon is recess?

Jimmy Fallon takes over NBC’s
Late Night Taxi DVDs still
worthless

The Accidental Husband Is there any other kind?

Hill
Street Blues
DVD Set

The Outer
Limits
DVD set

The long-awaited conclusion of Battlestar Galactica Does this mean we can nally stop watching it in secret?

Gibbons based the faces of Rorschach and the Comedian, two major Watchmen characters, on series regulars Bruce Weitz and Michael Conrad. Those visages ultimately inspired the big-screen casting of Jackie Earle Haley and Je rey Dean Morgan.

The Bible

We don’t like spoilers, so we’re not going to tell you which episode of this sci- anthology show Moore unconsciously lifted for a major Watchmen plot point—but when he realized it, he referenced it by name in issue 12.

It’s true what they say—there are some pretty great stories in here. Moore thought so, taking from Job 30: 29 and Genesis 18:25. Finally, the Good Book has some street cred.

Spring fever Still not o cially recognized by the Centers for Disease Control

Stealing a ca eine-jonesing
coworker’s soda from the o ce
fridge Inexcusable under any
circumstance

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