“All we ever see of stars are their old photographs”: An Archetypal Comparative Analysis of Alan Moore’s Watchmen with Robert Kirkman’s Invincible and Garth Ennis’ The Boys

Abstract

This thesis conducts a comparative analysis between Alan Moore’s 1986 graphic narrative Watchmen with that of Robert Kirkman’s Invincible graphic limited series as well as Garth Ennis’ The Boys graphic limited series. In conducting this analysis, I examine archetypes coined by Van Ness during her examination of Watchmen. Additionally, I coin my own archetype of “The Anchor,” characters typically without powers or super abilities that serve as a grounding force and source of empathy for the cast. My aim is to highlight each of these respective narratives’ prioritization of empathy and emotional intellect over the typical conflict resolution involving panels of fantastical fight scenes between superheroes and their respective villains ad nauseum. I also interact with literature’s inherent ability to infuse readers with empathy that encourages prosocial actions through Moore, Kirkman, and Ennis’ flawed and realistic characters meant to parody the superheroes familiar with general audiences