Watchmen: Historic Heroes

Watchmen DC: The Beloved Series

Watchmen is one of DC's most interesting, renowned and maybe even impactful comic book series. It is recognized as a pioneering graphic novel (their words specificely) which seemed to have changed the superhero scene. This series was written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Dave Gibbons, and coloured by John Higgins. The series, Watchmen, was released by DC between 1986 and 1987 as a limited 12-issue series. It is usually seen as one of the greatest graphic novels ever (not just our words, but we do agree), admired for its characters, complex storyline, and mature themes.

The Story lines of the Watchmen

Watchmen is set in an alternate universe where superheroes emerged in the 1940s and 1960s. This means they significantly influenced historical events; such as that the Watchmen appear in 1985, amidst the peak tensions of the Cold War, with the world on the brink of a nuclear conflict. Or they were part of the Vietnam War, where a superhuman entity named Dr. Manhattan played a big role; even having to do with President Richard Nixon and his presidency into the 1980s. The main story line looks at the lives of former superheroes - in this time period noted as "costumed adventures" - who have either retired or are employed by the government following the Keene Act of 1977, which prohibited vigilantism. It is the assasination of one of these costumed adventurers which triggers a sequince of events talked about in the graphic novels.

Watchmen DC: The Interesting Parts

We already touched upon the storyline of the beloved Watchmen comics/graphic novels. How about we cover it's characters and the themes next?

The Watchmen Characters

DCs Watchmen has several characters, called... (you guessed it) Watchmen. The main squad is quite interesting and all have specific powers!

Watchmen's Dr. Manhattan, aka Jon Osterman

Dr. Manhattan is unique among the characters for being the one who possess superhuman abilities. A nuclear accident gave him these superhuman abilities. These include manipulation of matter at a subatomic level, near-omniscience, teleportation, and immortality.

Rorschach, aka Walter Kovacs - a Watchman without special abilities

Rorschach is a Watchman who lacks superhuman abilities but knows his way around combat and invetsigating. He perceives the world in absolute terms, meaning he sticks to a strict moral code that fuels his vigilantism. His mask, a central symbol in the series, displays crazy moving inkblots, fitting well with his character.

The Technology Guy - Nite Owl II, aka Dan Dreiberg

Nite Owl is a technology-driven vigilante and kind of a reminiscent of Batman, utilizing gadgets and intellect. As the second individual to adopt the Nite Owl identity (hence why he is Nite Owl II), his character embodies a yearning for the more straightforward, idealistic era of heroism.

A Strong Fighting Watchman - Silk Spectre II, aka Laurie Juspeczyk

Laurie is a competent fighter who also doesn't have superhuman abilities. She did, however, inherit the Silk Spectre mantle from her mother - which gives her an advantage. Her journey is one of self-exploration, grappling with her legacy and complex relationships.

The Former Superhero - Ozymandias, aka Adrian Veidt

Regarded as the most intelligent person in the group, Ozymandias has a peak human physical and mental capabilities. He was a former superhero and retired to establish a global business empire instead. (Yes, he has set some big goals.) His ambition to save humanity drives him to engineer a catastrophic event aimed at uniting the world against a fabricated common threat - further explored in the novels.

Last But not least - The Comedian, aka Edward Morgan Blake

The Comedian is the last member of the Watchmen and also does not possess superhuman abilities, but is still a highly trained soldier and mercenary. He has an interesting woldrview, but adds a lot to the group, nonetheless.

Themes and Impact's of DCs Watchmen

Watchmen does not use the traditional superhero narritive. It clearly shows the characters as flawed and even morally complex. However, it could be said that - overall - DC is one to explore this further in its comics, shows, and movies. Watchmen explores profound themes such as power, corruption, the essence of heroism, and the potential impact of a single person on historical trajectories. The historical especially being a big part of its storyline. The story works with flshbacks and giving the characters their own place in the DC universe.

Legacy

Watchmen has been a big influence on the comic book industry as a whole. It was a big part of the start of mature storytelling within the comic book genre. After this, Watchmen has been adapted into a film in 2009, which was directed by Zack Snyder; as well as a HBO television series in 2019, which acted as a sequal to the comics. Next to that, Watchmen has even inspired several spin-offs in all kinds of media. It was a good one for DC, that much was certain!

Want to receive a small gift then tell us more about your opinion on this comic book series in the comments! The DC Watchmen is quite interesting, but have you ever read it? Or what would you expect from it?