Superhero In Alan Moore's Watchmen

The Red Scare left a lasting effect on US government and society. In doing so, it deeply affected the elements of American popular culture. Pop culture is a key figure in our everyday social world whether we realize it or not. This reading refers to how big of a deal communism was, and how it impacted the nation. According to the text, “popular culture is created and marked by an entertainment industry and transmitted through channels of mass communication” (pg. 232). The key assets to pop culture were mothers and homemakers; each contributed a different role in society. Popular culture can be shaped by many influences, the main one being communism. Communism was taking away America’s freedoms and destroying its culture and it was becoming more than just a social issue.

When read with a critical eye, the world of superhero comics often offers a lens with which we can examine society, our values, the meaning of justice, and the role of the individual in regards to the greater community. If all of this information is garnered from critical reading, then the way in which the medium of comics constructs these meanings will reflect an embrace or a rejection of the common symbols and ideology of it’s source culture. In the case of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon’s 1987 graphic novel, Watchmen, the second approach is used, as Moore’s writing draws upon the common cultural understanding of superheroes and exaggerates or tweaks them, exposing their underlying ideals. In this way, Watchmen functions not only as a

He also struggles with his own demons - his history and what happened to his sister shaped him into what he is today. He is very obsessive compulsive and must have things exactly so - anything not to his specifications MUST be seen to until it's perfect. Messing with his carefully constructed world can unbalance him.

The portrayal of superheroes in films has changed in terms of their character, appearance, style and strength. Superheroes has been a popular theme in hollywood films since its inception. They are what peoples imagination can only think of. A perfect human being who saves the world .The first time superhero appeared on T.V was “The Adventures of Captain Marvel” in 1941. Superheroes was on the rise within popular comic books in 1930′s to the 1940’s as well in which they were considered the ‘Golden Age of Comic Books’ . Comic books became widespread and popular which translated into making films about them.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a superhero as, “a fictional character who has amazing powers (such as the ability to fly)” or “a very heroic person”; yet, many of the characters in Watchmen have no supernatural power and are immoral by most precedent societal standards. Alan Moore, in the graphic novel Watchmen (1986-1987), asserts Rorschach as an example of deontology. Moore supports his thoughts through dialogue and illustration. The author’s purpose is to juxtapose philosophical beliefs by comparing their varied flaws through differing narrators’ points of view. The author takes a condescending tone in an effort to enrage his target audience of adult males. This paper seeks to illustrate, qualify, and challenge Moore’s claim that Rorschach is a deontologist.

Alan Moore’s Watchmen uses names to deconstruct various characters in the graphic novel. Laurie’s, Dan’s, Kovacs’, Adrian’s, and Jon’s multiple names provide insight into their personalities and roles in the novel. Laurie Juspeczyk is the daughter of Sally Jupiter, formally known as Silk Spectre. The name Laurie is derived from the Latin name “Laurel”.

Watchmen is a revolutionary piece of literature. It is technically a comic book, some prefer to call it a graphic novel. There is a negative connotation that goes along with that. Graphic novels are frequently presumed too childish and fantastic to actually teach any insightful lessons or even make you ponder them at all. Watchmen is a graphic novel that transcends this undue criticism of comic books. It is, “One of the first instances ... of [a] new kind of comic book ... a first phase of development, the transition of the superhero from fantasy to literature." (Klock, pgs. 25-26)

Think of a world with superheroes like DC or Marvel. But it's corrupted and only one person has actual superpowers, and is praised as a god. Then on top of that it is the 1980’s America won Vietnam, Nixon is in office for a 3rd term and instead of a cold war, a nuclear war is about to occur any day now between the U.S and Russia. That is the world of The Watchmen, in the story ‘’Watchmen’’ by Alan Moore.

Subsequently, while most superhero plots involve an element of fantasy, the characters in Moore’s graphic novel are, for the most part, embedded into pessimistic version of reality with only lifelike traits. Obviously, the one glaring exception in Watchmen is Doctor Manhattan, who is transformed into a being capable of a number of otherworldly abilities. However, the other five heroes in the story are regular humans who take the initiative to aid in the protection of society. This is unlike most superheroes in previous comics, who are often blessed with a divine power that allows them to conquer all evil. Additionally, referring to the society in which Moore’s heroes are immersed in, it is situated in a location known to its readers, with a certain twist. While Superman has his Metropolis and Batman has his Gotham City, the six costumed adventurers are based in New York City, or more accurately, a filthy parody of it. The universe in which Moore sets his story is the closest to reality, with a hyperbolic emphasis on the evil in society, in which superheroes have been set it. Hence, the problems presented to the superheroes are not something to be combatted with fantastical talents, but more nuanced with realistic obstacles without a clear solution. In Watchmen, the imminent threat of nuclear war is a state of affairs that would have been realistic for readers, particularly during the time period of the graphic novel’s release in 1987. This, coupled with the urban violence

In Allen Moore’s Graphic novel, Watchmen, he explores what life might have been like if the United States of America had won the Vietnam War. When the nations lost, it made a lot of people question ask the question, are we really the good guys? In this time period, the country starts to see traditional conservative values change. Women’s liberation and awareness of drugs begins. However, in the alternative reality, none of these things happen. Americans continue to believe that everything is being done right. The characters that Moore has created lets us see the issues of not only this alternative reality, but also the present one. An analysis is done on each character to explain further the corruption of America.

Allen Moore’s sordid depiction of twentieth century life presents a complex world, where the distinction between a virtuous hero and a villainous wrongdoer is often blurred. In stark contrast to the traditionally popularized portrayal of superheroes, whose unquestionably altruistic motives ultimately produce unrealistically idealized results; the realistically flawed characters of Watchmen exist in a multi faceted world characterized by moral ambiguity. America’s imperialistic ambitions have long been justified as an expression of American idealism. Much like the portrayal of superheroes in popular culture, America’s intervention in foreign affairs was portrayed as the result of a clearly defined problem, where American intervention was

he Watchmen deconstructs the typical superhero genre in a number of different ways and attempts to explain how they would fit into our world.

Watchmen Written by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons is about masked superheroes being murdered. The first murder was the comedian, his name was Edward Blake. Edward Blake was thrown out of a window after being beaten up by someone, who isn’t known yet. When he was thrown out of the window the killer left a bloody smiley face as a symbol. Rorschach is one of the few masked superheroes left that still investigate and work to solve a crime. He finds the body and the smiley face and goes to investigate the crime scene after the police leave the scene. Rorschach goes to the previously masked superheroes and warns then. The first hero he goes to is Dan Dreiberg, he was the nite owl.

Watchmen by Alan Moore and illustrated by Dave Gibbons utilizes the literary tool of symbols. Symbols such as the smiley pin, clocks, and the haunting “who watches the watchmen” graffiti all come up several times in the graphic novel, thus alluding to a deeper meaning. Time is a major theme throughout the comic and plays a significant part in the structure and outcome of the story. This theme is successfully coupled to the theme of destiny by the use of the clock and other symbols that are present throughout the comic. Symbols such as clocks, the smiley pin, and the graffiti are utilized to efficiently connect the themes of time, justice and loss of innocence throughout Watchmen.

A superhero’s main characteristic is to be able to a unique individual which will separate them from being categorized with the typical other “heroes”. Coogan states that a “superhero” is an individual that exemplifies the three main characteristics mission, power and identity. A unique superhero must have a mission that involves the main motive to save civilians without there being any personal gain from this experience. Coogan states that without this personal mission that this “superhero” would just be a ordinary person that would be an extremely helpful in the event of a dilemma. A unique superhero must posses these extraordinary but mystical powers that reflect their human identity or personality. These powers have been greatly exaggerated