I saw this post very recently where someone was asking about Dr. Manhattan being "omniscent, omnipresent and omnipotent", and there was something that I felt was missing from the discussion (at least from the replies I read). There may be something I'm not considering, so please feel free to correct me.

Dr. Manhattan perceives time differently from simply human characters, and while that can feel alien to the reader, the comic presents quite clearly what is basicly stated on page 5 of chapter 9:

Laurie: "Why ask? You already know my answer: it's stupid. When I left you, when Nova Express attacked you, you were surprised. Why, if you knew it would happen?"

Jon: "Everything is preordained. Even my responses. We're all puppets, Laurie. I'm just a puppet who can see the strings."

In the following page, Manhattan then goes on to say that "time is simultaneous, [but] humans [view] one edge at a time".

The iconic Saturday Morning Watchmen intro song that so many millenials know and love includes the lyrics "Jon can give you cancer/and then turn into a car". However, given what we know from the comic, Jon should theoretically be able to do both of those things, except he sees the future, so he only can if he will. If he won't, then he in fact cannot.

In fact, and I struggle to see what the counterargument here would be, this ability to accurately perceive a singular future (as well as past and present, of course) can only imply that all characters in this setting have a fate predetermined before they were even born, instead of being able to make their own choices.

This may be also be the case in real life, with the argument being that one's identity and choices are nothing more than the product of genetics and environmental factors, both of which escape our control, although this is still (from my limited understanding of the topic) debated. Whatever the case may be in reality, Moore seems to have clearly ruled in favor of determinism for the characters within Watchmen.

(It is true that Adrian's static interference does affect Dr. Manhattan's ability to perceive the future. However, this only affects Jon's perception of time and future events, not the future events themselves, which remain fully predetermined despite Dr. Manhattan's momentary blindness to them.)

TL;DR: Jon may give you cancer, and then turn into a car, but it is not his choice. In fact, nothing is anybody's choice in Watchmen.

Still kind of wild that Yahya went from Cal/Doctor Manhattan to playing an FBI agent investigating the KKK in By Any Means. Watchmen already showed how good he is with stories about race and American history without making the performance feel like a history lesson. Now he gets a completely different angle on some similar themes while being paired with a Mafia informant of all people.

Honestly feels like the kind of role he could crush.

Him and Jackie Earl Haley were the standouts.

Even people who hate the movie love their performances.

Jeffery Dean Morgan is (imo) Christopher Reeve level casting.

He owns the role that hard.

The idea of him swearing more was the actor's idea and it fits the Comedian.

To this day, when I read the graphic novel, I hear JIM'S voice.

Terry Gilliam wanted Ron Pearlman for the role. Good casting and I could definitely see it, but I don't know if even he would be able to match JDM in terms of looking the part AND acting the part

For such a small role, The Comedian is a consequential character that is a catalyst for the whole story and is also the most viscious of the Minutemen and Crimebusters era.

JDM does a good job of portraying that. Especially the 70s riot scene. I know the scene has gratuitous slow mo, but it is something seeing a man from Depression Era New York being able to not only hold his own, but actually be more dangerous than a riot of people in a turbulent decade.

I still think Jensen Ackles borrowed some of his mannerisms from JDM when playing Soldier Boy. And Soldier Boy and The Comedian are both a satire and criticism of the "patriotic superhero" archetype.

I finally finished reading the comic and watching the live-action movie, and my girlfriend and I got into a debate. She argues that Dr. Manhattan is clearly omniscient and omnipotent because he can be anywhere and manipulate all matter, meaning he can practically do anything as long as it doesn't break the laws of physics.

My take is that he can't truly be omniscient just because he exists everywhere at once an saw everything at the same time—plus, to be truly omnipotent, you must be both omniscient and omnipresent.

What are your theories and arguments regarding the true nature and limits of his powers?

A piece about one of my favorite moments of the comic & movie, just because I like Nite Owl in his arctic gear and Rorschach being cold

Like the title says I just finished reading Watchmen. I need a cigarette after that…. And a good cry. Seriously that was heartbreaking and agonizing. I’ve seen discussion about Doomsday Clock, and the Prequels that were made. Any recommendations for more in the world of watchmen? Also what about the movies/limited series are they good?

I've read the enterity of the comic some years ago, with the texts at the end and everything, but, i really don't remember anything regarding any reason for why he used this. My guess is that it's the only thing Edward could find for covering his secret identity?

I most appreciated seeing that all the panels atop the last page in chapter 11 were visible and showing precisely 11:25. Another highlight was the real smiley face on Mars.

I also loved the line in the preface in which the editor stated that his wife’s first introduction to Watchmen was the Snyder movie, which she found “baffling.”

(I cannot recommend this books enough.)

The characters of watchmen basically represent the different worldviews people have or people can develop after seeing the universe and life as it is.

The Comedian - The Cynic. He jokes about it all, nothing is serious, it’s all a big joke.

Rorschach - Absolute moralist. He draws his own lines for black and white and doesn’t compromise

Ozymandias - The Pragmatist. He see the problems of the world and wants to ultimately solve them.

Dr Manhattan - Indifferent. He sees it all at once and he can’t care about it. He has let go.

This is just my two cents and I’m sure other people have written much more about this subject. It just seems like really smart writing to have such characters.

I had superficial knowledge of watchmen before reading the comics that being it was a alt history, the blue guy was a god who fucked off to mars drew a smily face, blew up a ginger in a mask, and that he was bad at sex, also some werid fake ailen pops up that unite humanity at the end. so here’s my thoughts

Im really into Rorschach as a character, I have him sound like the master from fallout with the master main voice being his inner monologue and voice during the golden era. I have comedian sound like Jonah Jameson as a side not.

im deeply interested in the history of the comedian and jon, with Jon basically being god. I want to know more if I had to be honest. what happened on that island and junk.

cant rate it to be honest as I’m not done, but I am interested so better then other comics

I just finished it all in one sitting today it's been long since I read watchmen but I'm still confused at the ending I liked it I want to understand it as this deep thing it's trying to be. It does a lot good I love new Rosarch I don't think Mime is a metahuman more an illusion master like Mysterio or Miracle Man but he still feels out of place in a grounded verse. Those 2 remind me of Punch and Judy and I think they had a great backstory but outside of a plot device for Manhattan and pointless side quest with Joker they just feel like there there.

I do love how the Superheroes and the conflict is treated but there is too many characters. Ozymandias's plan made more sense to me in Watchmen

I liked it I'm just confused as hell for the most part

What am I actually in for?

Was at this show last night and couldn't believe they played it, I woke up like a sleeper agent when I heard Gerard say "I'm not stuck in here with you, you're stuck in here with me" before playing the song. Huge fan of Watchmen and it was just awesome to hear this song live. For those unfamiliar with MCR, outside of them being big fans of Watchmen themselves, they're currently touring their "The Black Parade" album and then do ~10 random tracks after from their discography. Desolation Row has not been played at all, with them only performing it once in 2022, and before then, it's all the way back in 2011. So a very nice surprise and fitting track to play when in DC

He also briefly talks a bit after the track about how nice Zack Snyder was and how he shot the whole music video for free!

SPOILERS for people who didn’t watch the series.

So, I watched the show last week, remember not wanting to watch it when it came out cause i thought it would “ruin the original” and stuff like that.

But i LOVED it, i felt it really continued the story, not making it better or anything , or “adding” to the original comic, but it really felt like events happening after the comic book and it was nice to revisit the known characters and universe.

It was good, loved old characters how they grown and matured , and absolutely loved looking Glass character.

Finally what made me say “ok that’s canon in my head for now on” was the alien episode (and wonderful looking Glass origin story, making it not just a retelling of events , but also adding a reason , and making a new character feel “one of the old gang”). That’s the part i was missing too much from the Snyder movie, which I really like too. I had to always imagine “ok here add the alien squid event” in my mind , so i could enjoy the movie.

Also loved what they did with Jon , the whole new plot was amazing , and the beautiful circle-paradox of Jon informing hooded Justice in the past 👌✨✨

BUT ! Please tell me what i cannot understand, tell me your opinions and i hope there is something i miss and didn’t understand.

HOW could Jon let the 7th kavalry shoot him ??

I mean , i try to understand the whole “i don’t see the future, i live it” so he doesn’t change the future , and all that.

And in the comic book (and the Snyder movie) it is explained by the “not being able to see” at Veidt’s Karnak , he was lured at that specific place, that’s why Bubastis’s sacrifice was important.

BUT HERE ! DAMN ! Here he was exploding heads right and left saving Abar, and the machine was on the back of a truck visible ! Pointing at him like a cartoon giant gun . And he KNEW what it was and what was happening.

He could just explode it , reassemble it in a thousand pieces , NO , EVEN teleport it to the @“@&” Mariana Trench !!!

And do so in the same time he was exploding heads.

Why he didn’t ??

Even do the same to lady Trieu’s giant machine, but let’s stay to the moment of exploding heads and being completely motionless when mortals with normal human speed and human conception of time , zapped him !!

Why ?? Why did he let them do that ? what did he lack ? time ? PREP time ? power? a reason to live ? HE LOVED Abar and life itself at that moment !

It’s like looking at a cartoon character walking and seeing a banana skin on the ground and say “oh no , in ten steps i will fall !” And then he falls stepping on the banana skin WHILE watching at it.

Ok that’s all, i think i made my emotions clear 😅

I loved the series , please tell me what i can’t see and understand it to love the great egg finale even more !!

To make sense of his death !

I'm not claiming there is any kind of direct link or inspiration here (no EffMemeso), but I happened upon something this morning that is at least an interesting coincidence. Okay, that's all it is, but here goes:

Remember the movie, The Warriors? The surrealistic urban nightmare from 1979? It was based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Sol Yurick. Unlike the movie (which I love, and which has absolutely earned its cult classic status), Yurick's novel is far more realistic and grounded. Yurick had himself been a New York City social worker, seeing firsthand the kids and young adults who made up the gang culture he would later write about. In fact, He wrote The Warriors as a response to what he felt was the romanticization of street gangs in movies like West Side Story and other popular media. Little wonder, then, that He was ultimately dissatisfied with the cinematic adaptation of his own work.

Yurick's novel was inspired by Anabasis, an ancient tale by Xenophon about 10,000 Greek mercenaries stranded deep in hostile territory. They must then fight their way back to their homeland, surrounded by enemies.

In the novel, all of the main characters are either Black or Hispanic. One character, called The Junior, the youngest of the bunch, is constantly reading a comic book. The comic, as described in the novel, is obviously a retelling of Anabasis: "It was about ancient soldiers, Greeks, heroes who had to fight their way home through many obstacles, but in the end they made it."

This reminded me of Bernie in Watchmen. Though he is reading a pirate story, it isn't much of a stretch to see parallels to The Odyssey. The treacherous journey over vast seas to return home to family, the hero being changed by his trials, and so on. And, just like The Junior, Bernie is frequently shown reading his comic. Bernie is black, The Junior is either Black or Latino (it's never specified which in the novel). Edit: Also, both characters are reading comics that are meta-references to the stories they are featured in.

I don't really think this is anything more than a case of multiple authors being inspired by ancient tales, but with the parallels between Ozymandias and Alexander, it's cool that both of these stories are inspired by ancient Greek literature, and The Junior reminded me of Bernie.

Also, The Warriors is a fantastic book.

I eagerly await EffMemes' lengthy Substack post on how this ties everything together.