The Watchmen Part II

The Comedian is the central figure in the first scene. Unlike the Joker character, he makes no attempt to be funny. It is no coincidence that he is the only super in the story who mirrors other humans by using their favorite weapon, a gun. Unlike the Batman character who despises them and would never cross that line, the Comedian, part soldier part super hero, has made his reputation upon being the anti-hero. We learn just how the other supers feel about him as they are made aware of his death, and at the funeral we see flash-backs from each of the supers own experience with him.

The second scene begins by witnessing the alienation of Dr. Manhattan from life. He finishes his work with another hero, Adrian Veidt, creating an infinite power source, but looses his love Silk Spectre II when she walks out on him. Giving credit to the makers of this film, following details of the book meticulously, we learn how he came to be. Manhattan is as smart as he is powerful, and he and Veidt have gifts of intellect which they attempt use to make the world a better place in an economic, scientific, and sociological way. He is accused of causing cancer in those closest to him from his past in a televised interview, and leaves the planet for Mars.

My favorite part of the story is Veidt's confrontation with the businessmen, including Lee Iacocca (who ironically supported Bush in the 2000 election, and Kerry in the '04 election). They accuse him of being a socialist because he intends to make energy free. In the present political world, the desire to help people live without fear is the great dichotomy. Capitalism as defined by the "conservatives," another contradiction, is in direct conflict with helping people because they only see how it will hurt their pocket book. It's the naive of our population who think it's about morality. Is it not immoral to ignore those in need? Even if it's 18% of the population of America? How many millions of people does that translate into? I'm sorry to say that religion feeds the fear of the ignorant masses. Fear of communism is reborn. Veidt, "the smartest man on the planet," looks their greed in the eyes and defies them, and an attempt is made on his life by a man who appears from the elevator.

Rorschack is framed and put in prison, and we learn his background while he's questioned by a "shrink." Night Owl and Silk Spectre hook up, and defy the Keene Act which outlawed masks by saving people from a building fire.

After springing him, the third scene begins with Night Owl and Rorschack following leads that end at Veidt's doorstep. Spectre convinces Dr. Manhattan on Mars to return to Earth and try to prevent the nuclear war as the US and USSR face off. All super heroes converge on Veidt who plans on attaching the population with the technology Manhattan gives him. They are too late as explosions on specific cities kill millions. His real intention is revealed once captured by Manhattan, and TVs show a world reeling from these attacks, apparently caused by Manhattan, unite in peace, and two super-powers retreat against a new foe.

Rorschack refuses to let the lie be hidden from the population, and Manhattan is forced to kill him, as his body forms a rorschack pattern in the snow.

Two points must be made. One, as the theme of The Watchmen plays out, it is Rorschack who states it plainly. It isn't God who creates this world, the way it is, it is men. We choose. That's why most people live in fear. Fear of trying to make the world better. The confusion that distracts our world prevents real change. Two, the miracle that Dr. Manhattan realizes on Mars is the very act of creation that is placed in our hands. It is man-kinds right to choose the wrong path that belittles the miracles, "so specific a form." Out of all the contradictions in life, life is the reason we're here... And free agency is the prime directive.