DC Comics is doubling-down on hype surrounding Watchmen, announcing a new restricted series about Rorschach set after the events of the original restricted series. Now, fans of Watchmen understand that at the end of the comic, Dr. Manhattan atomizes Walter Kovacs, the guy who originally used the Rorschach mask. Yet, a character named Reggie long took up that identity for Doomsday Clock the sequel to the original graphic book that brought Watchmen characters into the DC world proper. This new series, by Tom King, Jorge Fornés, Dave Stewart as well as Clayton Cowles, will comply with the aftermath of an assassination attempt where one of the killers dressed as Rorschach.
In the continuity of Watchmen, president Richard Nixon stayed in office well into the 1990s. However, he was soon supplanted by president Robert Redford (yes, the actor who played the head of Hydra in Captain America: The winter season Soldier). This new series will, borrowing from Watchmen on HBO, showcase a conventional candidate rising to power, difficult president Redford for the very first time in decades. The inciting event of Rorschach will be a failed assassination attempt on that politician.
The tradition of the original Rorschach is different in this book than in Watchmen on HBO, however. In the series, Rorschach influenced a racist cult to take up his picture to institute their plan unseat president Redford. However, in the book series, the late vigilante is “a cultural icon” for exposing Ozymandias’ involvement in the inter-dimensional squid assault on new York City. (Comic books!) Our protagonist in this series will be “one identified detective” whose investigation will take them with the history of the Watchmen world back to the days of the original series.
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Why Do We “Need” A Rorschach restricted series from DC Comics?
picture through DC Comics
Despite the constant lamentations of co-creator Alan Moore, DC is extremely keen on keeping the world of Watchmen to life on screens as well as comic pages. in spite of Moore’s insistence that Rorschach was implied to be a character audiences type of reviled, the masked vigilante is one of the most prominent characters from the books. (Also, Jackie Earle Haley’s amazing portrayal of the character in Zack Snyder’s film assisted to bolster fans’ affection for him.) Yet, Rorschach was not a great guy. So, of all the heroes in the Watchmen pantheon, it seems unusual for the newest series to focus on him.
Yet, according to a statement from writer Tom King, the title has less to finish with the character than the tests from where he got his name.
He said:
“Like the HBO Watchmen show as well as extremely much like the original ‘86 Watchmen, this is a extremely political work…. It’s an upset work. We’re so upset all the time now. We have to do something keeping that anger. It’s called Rorschach not since of the character Rorschach, however since what you see in these characters tells you much more about yourself than about them.”
picture through DC Comics
This statement from King, a former CIA operative before ending up being one of the most prominent writers in comics, is illuminating. While some on social network suggest the sentiment is “pretentious,” your humble reporter discovers it intriguing. If anything, it seems to address Moore’s issue with the dissonance between his objective with the character as well as exactly how fans adore Rorschach. The concept that exactly how we feel about the characters tells us much more about ourselves than it does them strikes me as valid, particularly when it concerns problematic characters like Rorschach or The Punisher.
Rorschach problem #1 debuts October 13, 2020. As part of the DC Black Label, it’s for mature visitors only as well as will retail for $4.99 per issue. The series will run for 12 overall issues.
What do you believe about the new Watchmen restricted Rorschach series from DC Comics? Are you thrilled or do you believe the Watchmen characters ought to be left alone?
Featured picture through Warner Bros.
