Jared Matthews’s Reviews > Watchmen > Status Update

“You’ve arrived”
“Have I?” “Sometimes, I feel as if I’ve been here all the time.”

Despite the tragedy of the situation, governments and politicians take advantage of the situation. Not viewing him as a person that is suffering, but as someone to get on their side. Someone that can help their side win. Someone that can kill the other side. Regardless of what he wants.

It’s pretty jarring in issue #3 how inhuman Dr Manhattan is. Despite trying to be “human” with romantic relationships, it’s clear that he is more concerned with other things. He is emotionally unavailable, and it’s not quite clear whether or not he even has emotions as we think about them.

It’s weird. It shouldn’t be, since he clearly is not human. But it’s unlike how alien heroes are usually shown

Fascinating how we almost expect anyone with the label “superhero” to have certain human aspects, even if it is quite clear that they are not human.

Superman and Martian Manhunter are both aliens and are different from humanity in a lot of ways. However, we expect the writers to keep them compassionate and understanding and generally human.

The Pagliacci joke is the punch line. While the heroes work to save those who need them. Who works to save the heroes when they need it? Who watches the Watchmen?

Not only is life as a hero unsustainable and dangerous, it cuts yourself off from any possible salvation or asylum when you need it.

Rorschach’s monologue at the end of #2 makes the brilliant observation that being a “hero” is unsustainable. Not only does it “appeal” to a certain kind of person, but they must start young, before they are able to have the maturity to deal with this kind of life. This kind of life is a “violent life, ending violently”.

Watchmen constantly insists that there are no “heroes” as opposed to “villains” and no “good guys” as opposed to “bad guys”. Even those who you think or want to be morally pure always disappoint you.

It’s a pessimistic attitude, but it’s not far from the truth. Dealing in black and whites rarely lead to a viewpoint that is in touch with reality.

Everything is gray, and tends to get darker.

On top of the moral grayness (or blackness) of many heroes is the added observation that many have different motives for their capers.

While some want justice or order or for evil to be punished, others are in it for power. They also choose to fight those who are inconvenient or annoying to them, whether or not they are innocent civilians or supervillains.

It was a bold task to attempt to deal with the subject of rape and trauma in a comic book in the 80s.

Silk Sceptre’s sexual assault and maltreatment by those closest to her caused her to be okay with degradation by others.

Showing “superheroes” in horrifying real-life situations shows just how simplistic superhero comics were at that time (and still are).

The ability to communicate this in 3 pages is crazy

The characters in watchmen match real-life much more the typical comics. In a post-superhero age, some superheroes became political weapons. Some became sad saps, reminiscing about the glory days. Some became sell-outs living cushy pampered lives. And some never moved on.