Alan Moore (1) (1953–)

Hypothetical: This first story I had all ready read as a stand alone a few years ago. Interesting re-read, but still not my favourite story of Alan's. Child sold into prostitution, silenced voice, witnessing behaviour of the other prostitutes in the house, especially a successful actress who leaves the place, only to return in the hope she can take her lover away with her, but he instead swaps places with her and leaves her behind, feeling devalued and blackmailed.
Not Even Legend: A rather strange story of a group meeting of amateur investigators of mysterious phenomena, told from the points of views of each member, describing their own perspectives and attitudes to the situation. Contains a rather funny insulting description of a distasteful painting that one member has bought (is it a sofa or a horse?). Alan introduces his "Unknown Unknowns" in this story as if drawn from past mythologies and names them Snapjackets, Mormoleens, Jilkies, and Whispering Petes; the last of whom turns out to be an attendee of the group.
Location: A lawyer experiences Armageddon, in Bedford, after a war with the gods and angels, with references to the Panacea Society and the Garden of Eden, and Joanna Southcott's sealed wooden box. Loved everything about this story, humour, history and fantasy.
Cold Reading: fun, predictable story about a medium who is contacted by a twin who's brother had passed. Although predictable story, I particularly appreciated Moore's ability to include aspects of twinness that was very realistic.
The Improbably Complex: science fiction story about anthropomorphic atoms at the beginning of time, becoming self-aware, and forming ideas, building structures, experiencing sexual encounters, political hierarchies and so on. "Clattersmashtinkle".
Illuminations: an old man returns to the seaside town of his past and compares how it was in his childhood to how he now experiences it. Small twist in the tale at the end, reads like a DuMaurier or Dahl story.
What we Can Know Thunderman: a bit of a rant from an insider about the comic book industry, from childhood obsession to adult disappointment.
American Light: story of the (fictional) Beat writer, Harmon Belner, who used Egyptian mythological analogies to describe San Francisco. I personally dispute a couple of "facts" contained within this short story, but nonetheless appreciate Alan's appreciation of the genre.
And at the last: retelling of a long lost story based on the 12th Century story "Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln" (by Charles L. Marson): "... He had been bailiff to the Earl of Leicester,...had been excommunicated by Hugh, with all his mates...and been made to dig up the putrid body and carry it a mile,"… (more)

Read this a few years ago, in advance of the movie and was blown away. Recently I was recommending it to a friend as an iconic work in the graphic novel genre and decided to read it again.
Watchmen is amazing. A tremendous work of art. Mysterious, thrilling, gut wrenching, captivating. It's one hell of a ride and deserves its distinction as one of TIME magazines 100 best novels. It was such a pleasure to enjoy Watchmen again and I already can't wait for the next time I get to enjoy Alan Moore's masterpiece.… (more)