On this date in 1986 DC released the first issue of the acclaimed Alan Moore creation 'Watchmen', written by Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons, this first issue of a 12-issue limited series arguably changed modern comic books. Moore used the story as a means of reflecting contemporary anxieties, deconstructing and satirizing the superhero concept, and making political commentary. The first issue, titled "At Midnight, All the Agents...", introduces us to an alternate Earth where different historical outcomes have changed the face of American society, Superheroes do exist, but the world is a much darker and jaded place. Interesting to note that Alan Moore originally planned to use pre-existing comic characters, instead of creating new ones. His plan was to use the recently acquired slate of Charlton Comics characters to fill his world, but DC intended to use their upcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths event to fold them into their mainstream superhero universe. So, DC managing editor Dick Giordano encouraged Moore to create new characters instead, had Moore been allowed to use Charlton Comics characters, we'd have had Captain Atom instead of Doctor Manhattan, Blue Beetle would have filled the Nite Owl role, The Question would have been used instead of Rorschach, Peacemaker instead of The Comedian, Nightshade replacing Silk Spectre and Thunderbolt would have the Ozymandias role in the story. Looking at the characters created in their stead, its clear to see Moore's original vision. In 2014 DC published The Multiversity: Pax Americana #1 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely and stars the original Charlton Comics characters as an homage to Watchmen. Morrison described the idea essentially as imagining what Watchmen might look like if Moore and Gibbons had pitched it in a contemporary setting.

It’s supposedly a parody it’s watchmen called “The Whatmen” but I can’t find it any where

For me this is the best image from Watchmen and encapsulates the story. The newspaper on Veidt’s desk with the headline saying the Doomsday clock is five minutes to midnight. The solitary Veidt looking outside the window like a Lex Luthor figure, pondering the civilisation before him and how much longer it has left to survive. The action figures on the desk being a comic and marketing contrast to himself. Rain lashing down representing the melancholic depth of his thoughts. He alone will decide what happens next.

Much like her daughter Laurie, Sally is beautiful and attractive when she was in the minuteman team in the flashbacks and her costume is beautiful

The reveal that the cuts to the side characters we followed, Adrian’s monologue and Dan obviously concerned about his friends well being and asks him when he was gonna do it……. Only for Adrian to reveal he had already finished his plot as Dan and Rorschach are left speechless as it was revealed that they have failed from the start……. Gave me fucking chills when I first got to it in my first reading to the point I almost got frost bite

Hey, I have been watching Spider-Man animated series (1994) and encountered a possible source of inspiration for the revelation of Hooded Justice's identity in the Watchmen HBO show and would like to read what you think.

>!In Episode 6 of Watchmen (imo the best episode of the whole show), we learn that Will Reeves was the Hooded Justice and that he was posing as a white man to protect himself. In the Spider-Man animated series, Season 5 Episode 5, Spider-Man teams up with heroes from an earlier generation to prevent the Red Skull's return. During the mission, one of them - the Black Marvel - reveals his true identity to his former allies. He is a black man and explains that he volunteered to replace a senator's son in a dangereous experiment inteded to create superpowers like Captain America's. Because the senator opposed his son taking such a risk, the Black Marvel underwent the experiment instead. They all agreed that the senator's son would pretend to be the Black Marvel in the secret service because "times were different then"!<

I saw this post very recently where someone was asking about Dr. Manhattan being "omniscent, omnipresent and omnipotent", and there was something that I felt was missing from the discussion (at least from the replies I read). There may be something I'm not considering, so please feel free to correct me.

Dr. Manhattan perceives time differently from simply human characters, and while that can feel alien to the reader, the comic presents quite clearly what is basicly stated on page 5 of chapter 9:

Laurie: "Why ask? You already know my answer: it's stupid. When I left you, when Nova Express attacked you, you were surprised. Why, if you knew it would happen?"

Jon: "Everything is preordained. Even my responses. We're all puppets, Laurie. I'm just a puppet who can see the strings."

In the following page, Manhattan then goes on to say that "time is simultaneous, [but] humans [view] one edge at a time".

The iconic Saturday Morning Watchmen intro song that so many millenials know and love includes the lyrics "Jon can give you cancer/and then turn into a car". However, given what we know from the comic, Jon should theoretically be able to do both of those things, except he sees the future, so he only can if he will. If he won't, then he in fact cannot.

In fact, and I struggle to see what the counterargument here would be, this ability to accurately perceive a singular future (as well as past and present, of course) can only imply that all characters in this setting have a fate predetermined before they were even born, instead of being able to make their own choices.

This may be also be the case in real life, with the argument being that one's identity and choices are nothing more than the product of genetics and environmental factors, both of which escape our control, although this is still (from my limited understanding of the topic) debated. Whatever the case may be in reality, Moore seems to have clearly ruled in favor of determinism for the characters within Watchmen.

(It is true that Adrian's static interference does affect Dr. Manhattan's ability to perceive the future. However, this only affects Jon's perception of time and future events, not the future events themselves, which remain fully predetermined despite Dr. Manhattan's momentary blindness to them.)

TL;DR: Jon may give you cancer, and then turn into a car, but it is not his choice. In fact, nothing is anybody's choice in Watchmen.

Still kind of wild that Yahya went from Cal/Doctor Manhattan to playing an FBI agent investigating the KKK in By Any Means. Watchmen already showed how good he is with stories about race and American history without making the performance feel like a history lesson. Now he gets a completely different angle on some similar themes while being paired with a Mafia informant of all people.

Honestly feels like the kind of role he could crush.

Him and Jackie Earl Haley were the standouts.

Even people who hate the movie love their performances.

Jeffery Dean Morgan is (imo) Christopher Reeve level casting.

He owns the role that hard.

The idea of him swearing more was the actor's idea and it fits the Comedian.

To this day, when I read the graphic novel, I hear JIM'S voice.

Terry Gilliam wanted Ron Pearlman for the role. Good casting and I could definitely see it, but I don't know if even he would be able to match JDM in terms of looking the part AND acting the part

For such a small role, The Comedian is a consequential character that is a catalyst for the whole story and is also the most viscious of the Minutemen and Crimebusters era.

JDM does a good job of portraying that. Especially the 70s riot scene. I know the scene has gratuitous slow mo, but it is something seeing a man from Depression Era New York being able to not only hold his own, but actually be more dangerous than a riot of people in a turbulent decade.

I still think Jensen Ackles borrowed some of his mannerisms from JDM when playing Soldier Boy. And Soldier Boy and The Comedian are both a satire and criticism of the "patriotic superhero" archetype.

I finally finished reading the comic and watching the live-action movie, and my girlfriend and I got into a debate. She argues that Dr. Manhattan is clearly omniscient and omnipotent because he can be anywhere and manipulate all matter, meaning he can practically do anything as long as it doesn't break the laws of physics.

My take is that he can't truly be omniscient just because he exists everywhere at once an saw everything at the same time—plus, to be truly omnipotent, you must be both omniscient and omnipresent.

What are your theories and arguments regarding the true nature and limits of his powers?

A piece about one of my favorite moments of the comic & movie, just because I like Nite Owl in his arctic gear and Rorschach being cold

Like the title says I just finished reading Watchmen. I need a cigarette after that…. And a good cry. Seriously that was heartbreaking and agonizing. I’ve seen discussion about Doomsday Clock, and the Prequels that were made. Any recommendations for more in the world of watchmen? Also what about the movies/limited series are they good?

I've read the enterity of the comic some years ago, with the texts at the end and everything, but, i really don't remember anything regarding any reason for why he used this. My guess is that it's the only thing Edward could find for covering his secret identity?

I most appreciated seeing that all the panels atop the last page in chapter 11 were visible and showing precisely 11:25. Another highlight was the real smiley face on Mars.

I also loved the line in the preface in which the editor stated that his wife’s first introduction to Watchmen was the Snyder movie, which she found “baffling.”

(I cannot recommend this books enough.)

The characters of watchmen basically represent the different worldviews people have or people can develop after seeing the universe and life as it is.

The Comedian - The Cynic. He jokes about it all, nothing is serious, it’s all a big joke.

Rorschach - Absolute moralist. He draws his own lines for black and white and doesn’t compromise

Ozymandias - The Pragmatist. He see the problems of the world and wants to ultimately solve them.

Dr Manhattan - Indifferent. He sees it all at once and he can’t care about it. He has let go.

This is just my two cents and I’m sure other people have written much more about this subject. It just seems like really smart writing to have such characters.

I had superficial knowledge of watchmen before reading the comics that being it was a alt history, the blue guy was a god who fucked off to mars drew a smily face, blew up a ginger in a mask, and that he was bad at sex, also some werid fake ailen pops up that unite humanity at the end. so here’s my thoughts

Im really into Rorschach as a character, I have him sound like the master from fallout with the master main voice being his inner monologue and voice during the golden era. I have comedian sound like Jonah Jameson as a side not.

im deeply interested in the history of the comedian and jon, with Jon basically being god. I want to know more if I had to be honest. what happened on that island and junk.

cant rate it to be honest as I’m not done, but I am interested so better then other comics

I just finished it all in one sitting today it's been long since I read watchmen but I'm still confused at the ending I liked it I want to understand it as this deep thing it's trying to be. It does a lot good I love new Rosarch I don't think Mime is a metahuman more an illusion master like Mysterio or Miracle Man but he still feels out of place in a grounded verse. Those 2 remind me of Punch and Judy and I think they had a great backstory but outside of a plot device for Manhattan and pointless side quest with Joker they just feel like there there.

I do love how the Superheroes and the conflict is treated but there is too many characters. Ozymandias's plan made more sense to me in Watchmen

I liked it I'm just confused as hell for the most part