I think I mentioned this before, but Carol hasn’t read Watchmen. Ever. I’ve read it a few times and consider it essential. We both went in with completely different sets of expectations, different ideas of what we hoped to be watching and what we would consider to be a success. And when we got out, we just had to get to it, gabbing about what we liked and what we didn’t like, what worked and what didn’t, what made for great moviemaking. I know Carol left eager to read the book, and we both agreed that new readers would be drawn to the book. And that, to me, is the best thing about the movie.

I know adaptations of books, any books, never do justice to their source material. I also know that it’s tedious when people make a big deal about something not being as good as the book. People who love a book almost never see the value in converting it to a different medium, especially when that new medium requires cutting and changes. It’s just the way it is. I was really determined not to do that, but I couldn’t help it at times. Watchmen just does that to you. I think if you don’t feel strongly about it one way or another, if you’re not passionate, then you haven’t gotten the point of the book --- which is fine, too, I guess, but I just don’t understand it. So I plead guilty to judging the movie a little more harshly than I would have if it were not based on this book, this book with such a huge impact on my life.

But I also think that discussion Carol and I had signifies exactly what we’re trying to do at GraphicNovelReporter.com. Over our steaming cups inside a warm Barnes & Noble store, she and I continued not only to talk about Watchmen but also about the site and what we want to do with it, where we want to take everything, and how we want to make it accessible to all levels of comics readers. If you’re a hardcore fan, we hope you’ll be excited by everything we do. If you’re a teacher or a librarian, we want you to find plenty of content that will both help you do your job better and further your enjoyment of the format. And if you’re brand new to graphic novels, welcome aboard, and let us tell you why we’re so excited about things like Watchmen…and Blankets…and Maus…and Sandman…and just a whole bunch of other stuff.

I found further evidence of that kind of passion last week, when John Shableski of Diamond Book Distributors (and one of the best all-around guys in this entire industry) introduced me to John Weaver, a Pennsylvania high school teacher who uses Watchmen in one of his English classes. On Friday, I jumped on the chance to ask Weaver to provide something for GNR --- something that other teachers could reference by contributing an Op-Ed piece for us. And lo and behold, by Sunday, I had an incredible piece that shows not only his passion for teaching but his devotion to helping students connect to literature through this book. Thanks, John, not only for your speedy response but also for your commitment to your work and for sharing it with all of us.

Read on to see what we came up with this week for you to enjoy on the site. Drop me an email and let me know what you think, or share your comments on the site. And while you’re there, don’t forget to register for our special Watchmen contest, in which you can win two books about the making of the movie. The books are gorgeous, and they’re a nice way to extend the fun of the film!

Happy reading, and look for the next GNR newsletter on March 25th.

John Hogan (John@bookreporter.com)

Chris Meloni is best known as Stabler from the hit TV show "Law & Order: SVU," but this year, he’s off to protect the universe as the greatest Green Lantern of all time, Hal Jordan. The actor discusses the upcoming animated movie in this exclusive interview.

Robert Venditti discusses the inspiration behind his bleak sci-fi book The Surrogates in this insightful interview. Plus, we give our readers a look inside the upcoming sequel to The Surrogates, coming this summer!

Chris Duffy is the senior editor of Nick Magazine and the man behind their upcoming comics awards. So what do these awards mean for kids and what does it mean for the industry? Find out Chris’s take here.

PLUS, DON’T MISS THESE OTHER RECENT INTERVIEWS

Gerard Way is taking the comics world by storm in a major way. The lead singer of the band My Chemical Romance has won both an Eisner and a Harvey award for his work on The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, and he’s started releasing the second volume in the series. Not only that, but his band has recorded a song for the upcoming Watchmen movie. It’s definitely going to be a big year for him, and he talks all about it in this exclusive interview.

Alan Davis has long been a beloved artist, writer, and creator in comics. From his defining work on Captain Britain in the 1980s to his bestselling run on Batman and the Outsiders and beyond, he’s worked on just about every pivotal hero in the DC and Marvel universes. Find out here what it was like working on them all and how he feels about his career now in this in-depth interview.

Dean Motter has been working in comics for the past 30 years. He’s worked for several major publishers and on many important projects. Now, with the release of Mister X Archives, which marks the 25th anniversary of the series debut, it seemed like the perfect time to take a look back at Motter’s career, and we asked him to share his memories and perspectives on it all in this interview.

We share news, updates, tips, personal observations, and more. Keep up-to-date by checking our blog entries.

The Times, They Are A-Changin'...for the Better

Swallow Me Whole Nominated for LA Times Prize

A Special Watchmen Screening in New York

Click here to read our Op-Ed feature.

From great science fiction to compelling drama to aching romance, dozens of reviews of top fiction titles are now online.

Fire Investigator Nanase
A shadowy arsonist is both mentor and menace to a young fire investigator in this well-paced manga, which reads like a firefighter's version of "CSI" --- but with exploding cars. Good reading for those who enjoy locked-room mysteries and science trivia.

Tamara Drewe
Graphic novel fans endlessly debate the book that's the perfect introduction to illustrated sequential storytelling for the uninitiated. Some say that Watchmen will persuade nonbelievers of the awesomeness of the genre, but for many grownups, the appeal of superheroes remains elusive. For them, Tamara Drewe may more than suffice.

We call the format graphic novels, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for nonfiction. In fact, some of the best books in the field are memoirs from top artists and writers.

I Live Here
To say that I Live Here is a unique endeavor would be a gross understatement. It is an epic undertaking that spans a wide array of artistic techniques, ranging from fiction and nonfiction texts to graphic novellas to scrapbook art to combinations hard to classify, all with the honorable purpose of bringing four far-reaching places on the planet into the homes of readers and offering a glimpse at the personal tales of people living under dire circumstances.

Safe Area Garozde
Safe Area Garozde is an important tale in modern history told by a one-of-a-kind journalist. It is nothing short of a masterpiece in both the profession of journalism and the medium of comics.

Teens love graphic novels, and we’ve got them covered in our in-depth reviews.

Fuzz & Pluck: Splitsville
Fuzz & Pluck: Splitsville calls to mind the best qualities of the Sunday funnies in a collection of tales about an insecure teddy bear and an overly aggressive chicken without feathers, who find themselves on separate paths after suffering misfortune in the workforce.

Luuna, Vol. 1
A Native American girl goes on her vision quest and ends up in the thrall of an evil spirit, becoming angry and destructive whenever the moon is full. Accompanied by friendly wood sprites, she sets off to lift the spell in this entertaining fantasy tale.

Hey, kids! We’ve got the books YOU want to read. There's something for everyone.

Ben 10 Alien Force: Ben 10 Returns
Ben Tennyson is back! After walking away from his alien powers to live a normal life five years ago, Ben is faced with a new threat. In order to save the world, he must don the Omnitrix once again and team up with his superpowered cousin Gwen and his rival Kevin to stop aliens from using powerful stolen technology to destroy Earth.

Bakugan Battle Brawlers
Pokémon meets Yugi-Oh in this vivid interpretation of the Bakugan Battle Brawlers anime series. Dan is a talented brawler, but when the fate of the Bakugan monsters' universe falls into it hands, he will soon discover that Bakugan is much more than a game.

Dear Dracula
Normal kids write letters to Santa Claus, but Sam is no ordinary kid: He writes a letter to Dracula, and when the head vampire himself pays Sam a personal visit, the two compare notes on their different lifestyles.

It’s easy to learn more about the graphic novel format, but best of all, it can be entertaining and fun. We’ve got books to suggest that will share the things you need to know without being dry or dull; in fact, they’re riveting! Here are some books to help further your understanding.

Watchmen: The Art of the Film
It took two decades to film Watchmen. So what did it take to do it? And did they do it right? Watchmen: The Art of the Film is a guide through the creation of the magic of the movie.

Watchmen: The Film Companion
Watchmen: The Film Companion take you behind the silver screen to see all the details --- and whether they're large or small, the details are pretty amazing.

Find out what books are coming out through May. This month's releases include George R.R. Martin's Wildcards, Vol. 1; The Best of Wallace & Gromit; Ultimate Spider-Man: Power & Responsibility, and much more. See what else is coming soon here.

Watchmen: Official Film Companion takes viewers inside this colossal movie with exclusive cast and crew interviews and more than 200 color photographs.

Watchmen: Art of the Film explores the evolution of the movie's look, revealing scores of production designs and stunning set photos, costume sketches, original storyboards and other pieces of conceptual art. Filled with unique characters and layer upon layer of arresting detail, Watchmen is a triumph of design; and this hardback volume, a lavish celebration of a comic book made real, offers a unique look into the genesis of that design work.

To enter to win, just share your thoughts on the Watchmen movie. Enter by 11:59 pm on March 31st, 2009 and tell us what you think of the Watchmen movie. (Please note: Your email address will be kept private. GraphicNovelReporter.com reserves the right to publish your comments including your first name and city/state.)

On April 1st, 2009 (no fooling!), we'll pick three random winners from everyone who's entered.

On our Podcasts/Videos page:

-Malcolm Wong takes us behind the scenes of the creation of his Dog Eaters graphic novel.

-Check out a scarily good panel from New York Comic-Con.

-Wolverine takes over in two videos: One the latest trailer from the upcoming movie, and the other a quick look at the excellent new animated series "Wolverine and the X-Men."

If you see a great video, or listen to a podcast that you think will be of interest to our readers, please send the link to me at John@bookreporter.com