From: [d--u--a] at [yang.earlham.edu] (Doug Atkinson)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: REPOST: Watchmen Annotation #1
Date: 16 Mar 93 05:20:11 GMT


                           THE ANNOTATED WATCHMEN

                Chapter 1: "At Midnight, All the Agents..."

     Watchmen is a trademark of DC Comics Inc., copyright 1993.  These
annotations copyright 1993 by Doug Atkinson.  They may be freely copied and
distributed, provided the text is not altered.

     Certain notes are true for each issue.  Each one is written by Alan
Moore, drawn and lettered by Dave Gibbons, and colored by John Higgins.
     Moreover, each issue has a continuing motif, a reoccuring object or
pattern that is seen on the cover, the first and last page (usually), and
throughout the issue.  This issue's motif is the blood-spattered smiley-
face button.
     Another trend is the title, which is always an excerpt from an apropos
quote shown in its entirety in the last panel.  This issue's title is from
Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row."
     The clock appearing on the covers counts the minutes to midnight,
similar to the clock in the _Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists_, which is
an estimate of the world's closeness to nuclear war.  The clock stands at
11 minutes to midnight, and advances by one minute per issue.

Cover: First appearance of the blood-spattered smiley-face button.  The
button belonged to the Comedian, who we first see in flashback on page 2.
The shape of the blood stain reappears in issues 11 and 12.

Page 1, panel 1: The narration is an excerpt from Rorschach's journal.

The blood is from the Comedian.

Panel 4: Possible symbolism: "Followed in the footsteps" as Rorschach
tracks the blood on the sidewalk.  Rorschach believes his father was a war
hero (see issue 6).  He sees President Truman as a good man, hard-working
and honest; possibly his ordering the nuking of Hiroshima has something to
do with this, too.

Panel 5: The vehicle with the triangle in the circle belongs to Pyramid
Deliveries.  The triangle is a continuing theme; its significance will be
learned later on.  Pyramid Deliveries is owned by Adrian Veidt
(Ozymandias); he seems to be everywhere in this series.

If the vehicles appear strange, it's because they are electrically powered.

Panel 7: The first appearance of Joe Bourquin, who is a continuing
character.

Page 2, panel 1: The first appearance of Detective Steve Fine, who is also
a continuing character.

Panel 3: We see these flashbacks from another point of view in issue 11.

Panels 4-7: Edward Blake is in good shape because he's the Comedian.  His
identity is not public knowledge; he is well-known in diplomatic circles as
Blake.  As the Comedian, he has been employed by the government since WWII.

Panel 8: We see how he got the scar in issue 2.

In our world, Ford was vice-president from 1973 (when Spiro Agnew resigned)
to 1974, when Nixon resigned and he became president.  In their world,
somebody, maybe the Comedian, snuffed Woodward and Bernstein before they
could report Watergate, and this, combined with Nixon's popularity
following the victory in Vietnam, led to his serving at least five terms.

Page 3, panel 3: This shows the source of the blood-spatter on the button.

Panel 7: This panel is an example of a continuing narrative device
throughout the series: a narration box applying to the rest of the panel,
although it's not directly related.  This is used to good effect in the
"Tales of the Black Freighter" sections, for example.

Page 4, panel 1: Knot-tops are a popular fashion, especially common among
street gangs. KT-28 seems to be a popular street drug; the users refer to
them as "Katies."

Panel 3: First appearance an issue of "Tales of the Black Freighter."  Note
the other things on the newsstand: two pirate comics and a _New York Times_
with "Vietnam 51st State: Official!" as the headline.  As is demonstrated
later, in this world pirate comics supplanted super-hero comics as the
principal product of the industry.

Panel 5: First appearance of the Gunga Diner.  The person in the lower
right-hand corner is a Knot-top.

The Gunga Diner is this world's equivalent of McDonald's, as the ever-
present fast-food restaurant.  It was founded by an Indian who left the
country during the famine in the '60's (see the poster on page 17).

If this newsstand is meant to be the same one that appears again starting
with #3, it is misplaced (see notes for issue #5).

This panel is the first appearance of a reference to "Mmeltdowns," a
popular candy.  (See Ozymandias's interpretation in issue #10, page 8.)

Notice the 25-cent fare on the taxi.

Page 5, panel 3: The button reappears.

Panel 6: This is Rorschach's gas-powered grappling gun, built for him by
Daniel Dreiberg (Nite Owl II).

Page 6, panel 1: Here we see Rorschach's mask for the first time.  Notice
that the patterns are constantly shifting; the mask is formed by "two
viscous fluids between two layers latex, heat and pressure sensitive."

Rorschach's name comes from Dr. Hermann Rorschach, who invented a
psychological test based on interpretations of inkblots.  Inkblots are
formed by pouring ink onto a piece of paper, folding it, and unfolding it,
producing a symmetrical image.  The actual Rorschach test uses ten cards
with multi-colored blots.

Also, notice the geodesic dome in the background; this is the Astrodome.
Its purpose is never mentioned, apart from being the site of a charity
event Ozymandias performed at; but it's identified in issue #7, page 23.
(This structure does not exist in our New York; there is a building named
the Astrodome, but it's in Houston.)

Page 8, panel 1: This is the Comedian's equipment and second costume.  The
picture on the left (which we see more clearly later) is a group shot of
the Minutemen, a 1940's crimefighting team of which Blake was a member for
a while.  (More on his past in issue 2.)

Page 9, panels 1-3: The man pictured and speaking is Hollis Mason, the
first Nite Owl.  He is speaking to Dan Dreiberg, who took up his name.
Mason was the second costumed adventurer.  On his wall are various pictures
and clippings from his career; one is seen to read "Hero Retires: Opens Own
Auto Business."  Note the time on his clock.  Phantom is his dog.

Panel 4: The statuette was presented to Mason upon his retirement.  The
books are: Two copies of his autobiography, _Under the Hood_; _Automobile
Maintenance_; and _Gladiator_ by Wylie (one of the first novels about a
superhero, and partial inspiration for Superman).  Note the owl items.

Panel 6: The "Pale Horse" graffiti refers to a popular band.

Panel 7: "Who Watches the Watchmen" was popular graffiti around the time of
the Keene act.  It comes from the Latin phrase "Quis custodiet ipsos
custodes" from Juvenal's _Satires_ and, of course, is the source of the
title of the series.  The phrase never appears in its entirety in the
series; it is always cut off somehow.

The Keene Act, re-illegalizing vigilantism, was passed in 1977; it was
named after its sponsor, Senator Keene.  I don't think Keene was a real
person, and we never learn his (her, for all we know) name or home state.
I'd guess he was from New York, though; NYC was the home of most cotumed
heroes, and hence would have been the likeliest site of the police strike.

Panel 8: "Obsolete models a specialty." Mason learned his trade on internal
combustion engines, not electric ones.  (It also serves as a commentary on
Mason.) Note the "Gunga Diner" takeout box.  It should be clear that this
isn't a very good neighborhood.

Page 10, panel 1: Can anyone identify if this is a real song?

Panel 2: The first appearance of Nostalgia, a Veidt product, which
reappears continually throughout the series.  Veidt products seem to
infiltrate every corner of life.  Also, Treasure Island, a comics shop
which reappears a few times.

Panel 3: The plate on the right reads "Floors 1-4 Dreiberg;" apparently Dan
owns the entire building.

The male Knot-Top here is Derf, who reappears later.  The headline reads,
"Russia Protests US Adventurism in Afghanistan," and the storefront says
"86 Buicks Here!"

The headline is a reversed version of news in our world; the US was
proposing Russian adventurism at this time.

Panel 7: The calendar on the right appears later; it has a picture of an
owl.

Panel 8: The can refers to "58 Varieties." In our world, it's "Heinz 57."
The slogan was invented in 1892; apparently there are at least trivial
differences between our world and theirs going back a ways.

Page 11, panel 3: The button again.

Panel 5: The first apearance of "Sweet Chariot" sugar cubes.  (I don't know
if these are a Veidt product; the "Chariot" reference is his style, but the
name refers to a Gospel song, which isn't.)

Panel 8: This is Dreiberg's workshop.  The thing under the tarps is
"Archie," his flying vehicle.

Page 12, panel 1: Dreiberg retired after the Keene act.

Panel 8: On the right is Dreiberg's Nite Owl costume, which we see clearly
on the next page.

Page 13, panel 2: Rorschach and Nite Owl worked together during the '70's
in the dock and warehouse district.

Page 14, panel 4: The sign in the window reads "Stick with Dick in '84;"
obviously a Nixon campaign sign.

Panel 5: The first appearance of Happy Harry's, a sleazy bar that Rorschach
patronizes for information.  The headline on the paper reads, "Congress
Approves Lunar Silos," and the graffiti reads, "Viet Bronx."

In our world, international treaties prohibit nuclear weapons in space;
evidently here, the US's increased clout due to Dr.  Manhattan stopped such
treaties.

Page 15, panel 2: Happy Harry himself.

Page 17, panel 1: The speaker is Adrian Veidt, formerly Ozymandias, another
retired crimefighter.  We learn his background in issue 11.  Notice the
time on the clock.

Panel 4: Dr. Manhattan, who we learn more about later, is the center of
America's current defensive strategy; he can theoretically destroy large
chunks of Soviet territory and simultaneously 60% of incoming missiles
fired at the US before they impact, thus giving the US an immense strategic
advantage.  (See the essay at the end of issue #4.)

Panel 6: The poster reads: "Veidt: OZYMANDIAS Southern Indian Famine
Relief."

Panel 7: This is just what Veidt did.

Page 18, panel 1: There is a considerable difference of opinion between the
two; their political beliefs and world-views are radically different.

Panel 3: Rorschach's exit through the window and Veidt's "Have a nice day"
is either a very subtle hint, or just coincidence.

Panel 4: The _Gazette_ headline reads, "Nuclear Clock Stands at Five to
Twelve, Warn Experts;" below it, "Geneva Talks: U.S. Refuses to Discuss Dr.
Manhattan." Note the city, with the airship and the Astrodome.

Page 19, panel 1: "Rockefeller Military Research Center, Founded 1981." The
symbol on the left of the sign bears a striking resemblance to Superman's
chest logo as it originally appeared.

Panel 4-5: The others referred to were all members of the Minutemen.  More
on them later.

Panel 5: The door reads, "Special Talent Quarters: Private."

Panel 9: The speaker is Dr. Manhattan.

Page 20, panel 1: Dr. Manhattan can change his size at will (among other
things).  The woman is Sally Juspeczyk, the second Silk Spectre and
daughter of the original.

Page 21, panel 6: As we see in the next issue these "allegations" are true.
The sugar cube is one he got from Dreiberg's apartment.

Page 22, panel 5: Dr. Manhattan can also teleport himself and others.  He
has complete control over matter (to put it in superhero terms).

Page 23, panel 7: The bestiary refers to a list of the subatomic particles
whose existence has been confirmed, but The Bestiary is a place from Dr.
Manhattan's past (see issues 3-4).

Page 24: A number of reoccuring themes on this page.  A Gunga Diner box,
"Who Watches the Watchmen" graffiti, and a Nixon campaign poster.  The
"Krystalnacht" graffiti and the poster refer to Pale Horse's upcoming
Madison Square Garden concert (Krystalnacht is another band appearing with
Pale Horse).  The shadows of the embracing lovers in panels 3-4 are a
continuing motif.  The curved surface above Rorschach's head may be the
Astrodome.

The band name, "Pale Horse," refers to Revelations 6:8, where the fourth
horseman of the Apocalypse, Death, is said to ride a pale horse.
(Sometimes a pale green horse.) The band's lead singer is named Red D'Eath
(more on this later).  The other band's name, "Krystalnacht," refers to a
night of terror against Jews in Nazi Germany; the name derives from all the
broken glass from broken storefronts.

Page 25, panel 1: Presumably this is the Astrodome again.

Panel 2: Laurie is Dr. Manhattan's lover.  She's kept around by the
military to have some control over him.

Panel 4: The red-headed woman also has the knot-top hairstyle; presumably
she's not a gang member.  (Compare the hairstyles and fashions here to
those actually in use in '85, and remember that this is a fancy restaurant.
Also, notice the two men embracing in the lower right-hand corner; is this
an indication of social changes?) The chicken/turkey being served on the
left of the panel has four legs and no wings; apparently genetic
engineering has gone a ways.

Panel 8: The button yet again.

Page 26: Notice the similarity between this page and page 1.

Pages 27-32: Excerpts from "Under the Hood," Hollis Mason's autobiography,
detailing his early life.

Page 5, paragraph 1: Mason was a fan of the pulps, one of the earliest
sources of superheroic literature.  Doc Savage and the Shadow seem to be an
influence on him.

Paragraph 4: Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman and perhaps
the most important single work in the development of the superhero.

Page 6, paragraph 1: "All these old characters are gone and forgotten now;"
superhero comics never caught on in a world with real costumed adventurers.

Paragraph 4: The first costumed vigilante, Hooded Justice.  More on him in
the next issue.

ACKNOWLEDEMENTS: Thanks to:

[t w hite] at [advorak.amd.com] (Tom White)
[apn 207 s] at [momth0.maths.monash.edu.au] (Mr A Dempster)
[d--i] at [netcom.com] (Dani Zweig)        for all sorts of notes.
[m--el--y] at [ovid.helios.nd.edu] (Michael Kelly) for pointing out the bloodstain
     shape's reappearance.
[z--nk--r] at [meceng.coe.northeastern.edu] (     Regis     ) for pointing out the
     four-legged turkey.

[d--u--a] at [yang.earlham.edu]             Doug Atkinson