Old Ghosts (1987)

Old Ghosts Review

Old Ghosts is the eighth issue in the twelve-issue series Watchmen, written by Alan Moore and drawn by Dave Gibbons.

This issue finally moves the plot forward by focusing on Rorschach’s escape as Dan and Laurie help him break out of prison. This is clearly a transitional moment in the story, so there isn’t really any emotional investment to be found here to its detriment. Nite Owl and Silk Spectre are still not all that interesting characters, but at least they were crucial to the story here as they actually helped one of the main characters escape.

The final literary supplement is pretty good here, though it’s not among the best in the series. The illustrations are fantastic as always and the action is very well told through those busy, meticulously detailed panels that contained very memorable imagery. The dialogue is also excellent.

There are two moments in this particular issue that elevate it to a great status. One is Rorschach beating up the other inmates in one gruesome, unforgettable sequence. Him also wanting to piss in the middle of a prison break was also hilarious and very believable for his character. The final plot point with Dr. Manhattan taking Laurie to Mars was also a great cliffhanger that will undoubtedly prove to be important to the rest of the story.

Old Ghosts lacked depth in comparison to some of the best Watchmen issues, but it features strong action and a couple of important, memorable plot developments.

My Rating – 4.3