When superheroes were created in the 1930s, they always did what was right and were successful no matter the odds. The villains were unsympathetic bad guys driven by destruction, greed, and hatred. There was no ambiguity, it was good versus evil, plain and simple. Over time, superheroes were given more flaws, struggles, and triumphs, and they started acknowledging that some outcomes weren’t fair. Comics began to incorporate current events, and the escapism of the medium evolved into more complex storytelling. Watchmen, which turns 40 in September 2026, is a prime example of comic evolution. It’s a story that has had a lasting impact on comic book storytelling.

A Tale of the Watchmen

The Watchmen is a 12-issue maxiseries that was published by DC from September 1986 to October 1987. Written by Alan Moore and drawn by Dave Gibbons, Watchmen is set in an alternate timeline in which superheroes shaped major historical events. They emerged in the 1940s and ‘60s, and with their help the US won the Vietnam War, and the Watergate scandal was never publicized.

The story takes place in 1985 when the US and the Soviet Union are dangerously close to starting World War III and Richard Nixon is still the president. Costumed heroes have been outlawed, so most retired and a few started working for the government. The former heroes are pulled out of retirement when the Comedian, a superhero working for the government, is killed. As they investigate, the heroes are tempted by the allure of returning to active duty. They also uncover terrible truths surrounding the Comedian’s death. The overwhelming fear of another global war leads to a catastrophic incident orchestrated by one of their former teammates.

Who are the Watchmen?

Watchmen follows six primary characters and tells their stories in the present and the past. Dr. Jon Osterman, aka Doctor Manhattan, is a scientist who gained immense power over matter following a lab accident. The transformation deeply affected his emotions and his perspective on the value of life.

Walter Kovacs, aka Rorschach, is a man who only sees situations in black and white, and is comfortable using extreme violence against criminals. He wears a mask that has a constantly changing ink blot design and he operates as an illegal vigilante.

Laurie Juspeczyk, aka Silk Spectre II, is a strong fighter who leads with her heart. She is the daughter of former hero Sally Jupiter and the Comedian, and is in a relationship with Doctor Manhattan.

Daniel Dreiberg, aka Nite Owl II, is a Blue Beetle-like hero who uses gadgets, his intellect, and fighting skills in battle. His civilian identity is a likeable nerdy guy who genuinely wants to do good and wrestles with what that means.

Edward Blake, aka the Comedian, is a government sanctioned hero whose murder sets the story in motion. He is a cynical and violent character who is just as likely to end conflict as he is to do something cruel.

Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias, is the smartest man on the planet. He focuses on running his business empire after he retired from being a hero until he unleashes a giant alien-like creature on New York. Adrian believes that a new global threat will force the world to set aside their differences and work together against a larger threat.

A Complex Comic Book

Watchmen deconstructs standard aspects of the superhero architype. Characters like Superman have unchecked power and guys like Batman have superior intelligence and resources. Those advantages can so easily corrupt, and for a long time superheroes were largely immune to the temptation.

But creators like Moore chose to explore superhero fallibility. In Watchmen we encounter a group of flawed people whose perspectives have been heavily influenced by their power, abilities, or lack of oversight. The Comedian’s experiences with humanity’s dark side has turned him into a nihilist who does what he pleases. Doctor Manhattan’s awesome power has made human connection seem unimportant compared to his work and the threat of war. Ozymandias is so confident in his intelligence that he makes a terrible decision that costs countless lives.

Moore gave his characters complex and messy relationships. Laurie and Doctor Manhattan are in a romantic relationship that has become increasingly one-sided. Rorschach grapples with a terrible childhood and a deep-seated belief that good and evil are clearly defined constructs. Laurie learns that the Comedian tried to rape her mother and that she was born of a second, consensual encounter. After Ozymandias executes his plan, Laurie, Dan, Manhattan, and Rorschach argue over whether they should reveal the truth. They (minus Rorschach) acknowledge that the revelation would make world tension even worse than it was before.

The Watchmen’s Lasting Impact

The Watchmen was a commercial success with readers and received praise from comic and literary critics. Incorporating fears of the Cold War grounded the story in a way that related to readers’ real concerns. Fully developing the characters by making them a different breed of costumed crimefighters gave the book more depth than less complicated superheroes. It inspired writers and artists to create limited series in which heroes were involved in longer conflicts rather than one-offs or arcs that only lasted a few issues.

It’s impact is still seen today in comics like The Boys, which also took critical approach in stories about people with superpowers. The characters and concept returned in the prequel Before Watchmen limited series and one-shots. They also appeared in the Doomsday Clock 12-issue series, marking the first time that those characters interacted with the main DC roster.