Who are the Watchmen?
Rorschach
Rorschach is a very cynical vigilante. He was abused as a child and as Alan Moore states in the video, has been in psychological pain his whole life. He sees the world in black and white, there are no innocent crimes, you break a law, you should be punished. He fights for anyone who did not get the justice they deserved. Rorschach is not afraid of violence and is willing to hurt people to get information out of them. He is so consumed by his mission to fight crime, he does not even take care of himself; not bathing and eating whatever is available no matter the condition. Because of his views on the world, he sees what Ozymandias does as wrong and leaves to tell someone, but Dr. Manhattan kills him first.
Rorschach is a very cynical vigilante. He was abused as a child and as Alan Moore states in the video, has been in psychological pain his whole life. He sees the world in black and white, there are no innocent crimes, you break a law, you should be punished. He fights for anyone who did not get the justice they deserved. Rorschach is not afraid of violence and is willing to hurt people to get information out of them. He is so consumed by his mission to fight crime, he does not even take care of himself; not bathing and eating whatever is available no matter the condition. Because of his views on the world, he sees what Ozymandias does as wrong and leaves to tell someone, but Dr. Manhattan kills him first.
Dr. Manhattan
Dr. Manhattan is one of the most complex characters of the book. He is the only non-human superhero in the book. He exists at every moment in time, seeing everything that has, is, and will ever happen to him. He was not always like this; Jon Osterman was the man Dr. Manhattan once was. When he first turns into Dr. Manhattan he attempts to stay the man he once was. Now that he sees the outcome of every moment in time, he no longer gets attached to the world. Dr. Manhattan is godlike, able to create things out of nothing or disintegrating objects in a blink of an eye. He does not feel anything for the world he lives in, not stopping the Comedian from killing a pregnant woman even though he could have. After Ozymandias kills millions in New York, he leaves to create life somewhere else, leaving Earth without a second thought.
Dr. Manhattan is one of the most complex characters of the book. He is the only non-human superhero in the book. He exists at every moment in time, seeing everything that has, is, and will ever happen to him. He was not always like this; Jon Osterman was the man Dr. Manhattan once was. When he first turns into Dr. Manhattan he attempts to stay the man he once was. Now that he sees the outcome of every moment in time, he no longer gets attached to the world. Dr. Manhattan is godlike, able to create things out of nothing or disintegrating objects in a blink of an eye. He does not feel anything for the world he lives in, not stopping the Comedian from killing a pregnant woman even though he could have. After Ozymandias kills millions in New York, he leaves to create life somewhere else, leaving Earth without a second thought.
Ozymandias
Ozymandias, or Adrian Veidt, is the world’s smartest man, born with incredible intelligence and a drive to make something out of himself. Before the government bans masked heroes, he had already came out to the world and started selling action figures of himself. He enjoys the fame and fortune he has, but is proud that he made it for himself. He was born rich, but gave it all away to prove his worth. He is an egomaniac, obsessed with becoming a great ruler, and is willing to destroy the world to do so. Veidt is obsessed with Ramesses II, basing his goals off Ramesses’ successes. He wants a world of peace and kills million to obtain that peace. He is called the smartest man alive, and takes pride in how he was able to destroy the lives of all the other superheroes he once fought with. He does care about the world and wants peace, but he does see people as expendable and kills millions to bring together Russia and the United States.
Ozymandias, or Adrian Veidt, is the world’s smartest man, born with incredible intelligence and a drive to make something out of himself. Before the government bans masked heroes, he had already came out to the world and started selling action figures of himself. He enjoys the fame and fortune he has, but is proud that he made it for himself. He was born rich, but gave it all away to prove his worth. He is an egomaniac, obsessed with becoming a great ruler, and is willing to destroy the world to do so. Veidt is obsessed with Ramesses II, basing his goals off Ramesses’ successes. He wants a world of peace and kills million to obtain that peace. He is called the smartest man alive, and takes pride in how he was able to destroy the lives of all the other superheroes he once fought with. He does care about the world and wants peace, but he does see people as expendable and kills millions to bring together Russia and the United States.
The Comedian
The Comedian is a questionable hero, he loves violence and uses the cover of superhero to act upon that violence. “Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes any sense.” The world is a joke to him, so why try to make a living or become someone great when it does not matter. The world is never going to take you seriously. He works for the government once masked heroes are banned and fights in the Vietnam War alongside Dr. Manhattan. He sees the bad in the world and gives it right back. He understands Dr. Manhattan, calling him out for not caring about humans, probably because he does not care either. The Comedian does have an existential crisis when he discovers Ozymandias’ plan, not knowing what to believe anymore, but because of this discovery, Ozymandias kills him.
The Comedian is a questionable hero, he loves violence and uses the cover of superhero to act upon that violence. “Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes any sense.” The world is a joke to him, so why try to make a living or become someone great when it does not matter. The world is never going to take you seriously. He works for the government once masked heroes are banned and fights in the Vietnam War alongside Dr. Manhattan. He sees the bad in the world and gives it right back. He understands Dr. Manhattan, calling him out for not caring about humans, probably because he does not care either. The Comedian does have an existential crisis when he discovers Ozymandias’ plan, not knowing what to believe anymore, but because of this discovery, Ozymandias kills him.
