There has been a lot of quacking about changes to the end of the story being made in the movie adaptation. But we were obviously very attached to it, because it went through many, many iterations, and it's in a lot of the even quite finished work that I did, so it's very interesting to look back with hindsight and see what could have been.' That was an idea that we had early on that I must say when I look at it now seems a bit silly, this idea that he would whip his coat open and kind of flash his Rorschach blots. Manhattan ink-blot material, instead of just his mask. I didn't realise that at one point early on Rorschach was going to wear a full suit of the Dr. I do like some of the preliminary sketches that you've got in here, they're quite insightful. I've got a copy of this wonderful big Chip Kidd book that's just come out, Watching the Watchmen. 'It is, and it has been a bit busy for a while, and I expect it's only going to get more so!' It must be getting a bit busy for you now, I imagine? He was kind enough to invite us into his world recently. In his new book Watching the Watchmen, illustrator Dave Gibbons opens his archives to reveal early versions of the script, original character designs and sketches and very rare Watchmen artwork and posters. There has never been more interest in the comic than right now. is swamped in a much-publicised legal entanglement over who owns the rights to the movie). Current speculation is rife as to whether or not the over-20-years-in-the-making film adaptation will ever actually reach our cinema screens (Warner Bros. Watchmen is one of the most exalted comic books of all time. In anticipation of the (eventual) release of the Watchmen film, click here to see our gallery of Film Allegories of The Cold War.

Alan moore dave gibbons