An exemplar graphic novel that consistently builds until its shocking climax, 'Watchmen' eviscerates the idea of the superhero in fiction with a complex narrative and deeply conflicted characters - just because they're superheroes or vigilantes doesn't mean they're the same in private.
A group of superheroes disbanded twenty years hence find themselves being targeted by an assailant, and begin to piece together what is going on - though their findings are more shocking than they could imagine.
Like 'V for Vendetta', 'Watchmen' (by the same author, Alan Moore) is much more than a glorified comic book - in fact, if totally contained within a novel format, it would maintain much of its power. As it is, the images both support the narrative and give it power, and the forthcoming feature film adaptation should prove interesting in comparison.