Calling Wanted the Watchmen for supervillains is a bit too much. I just can't think of another comparison. Millar created a world in which supervillains are real. Several years after removing the world of the superheroes, supervillains own the world - only no one knows about it. That includes Wesley Gibson, the poor sucker who is slowly rotting away at his day job. Whose girlfriend is fucking his best friend. Whose boss treats him like shit. Who cannot speak up for himself, let alone stand up against those who ridicule and abuse him. Enter the Fox (who, notably, should've been portrayed by Halle Berry) who let's Wesley Gibson in on the little secret, starting with his father - the greatest supervillain to ever live, The Killer. Now that the Killer has been assassinated, it's up to Wesley to take his place (as part of an inheritance agreement left behind by his father). Not only does Wesley decide to take the challenge, he also loves his new life of murder and raping without consequences. Nothing can stand in his way, right? Well, except for the inner feuds long boiling between members of the Fraternity.

I'm glad the movie deviated greatly from the graphic novel. It wasn't the best movie, but it sure as hell had a better story, a better twist and a more realistic feel to it - despite its very unrealistic set up. I suppose, what I'm saying about the graphic novel's ending is that it's a big fuck you to the reader. ( )

I gave it the five stars for that twist at the end. As the introduction suggested, I found myself smiling a bit at the end of the story. If you have not read it, I won't say more. If you have read it, then you may know what I mean. The story uses a very nice premise: what if the supervillains won and ran the world? Well, in a way, that they would turn on each other and try to screw things up (again) should not be surprising. But the story is done very well overall. I found myself riveted to the book once I started it, and I could not put it down. I am afraid to watch the movie now because I just know the movie makers are going to mess this up. Don't they always mess up just about any comic or graphic novel they get their hands on? If you are planning to see the movie, read the comic. Yes, there is graphic language and violence in this comic, but hey, it is not for the faint of heart. If you are faint of heart, you may want to go read some Peanuts instead. ( )

Brutal, yet entertaining. Nothing whatsoever like the movie. ( )

Catching up with ghosts of Millar's past. This was a romp and I can kinda see why it seemed shocking at the time, although I think Brian K. Vaughan's intro to this volume oversells the impact of the final two pages.

Set in a completely different world to the film, this is set up as an antidote to mainstream superhero crossover stories rather than a standalone antihero story. I liked the film, but this is a superior work more akin to Shyamalan's stealth superhero universe than the knockabout fight-fest movie it became.

Still, there are enough disgusting, comic book moments in it to satisfy fans of the film also. ( )

My opinion of Millar's writing has not improved. ( )