History Awesome / Watchmen

** Rorschach's time in jail starts with all the crooks he helped put there informing him of everything they're going to do to him now that he's stuck in prison with them, which Rorschach listens to without responding or even batting an eyelid. Later, an inmate actually tries to attack him in the prison cafeteria. Rorschach throws hot grease in the attacker's face, and, as he is being dragged off to solitary and the attacker is being rushed to the infirmary, Rorschach turns to the other prisoners and says, very calmly:

---> "What's that? Another ultimate weapon?"
---> "You could say that." (switches on all the international news stations)

-->'''Dr. Manhattan''': "Pay attention. You will all return to your homes."
-->'''Rioter''': "Oh yeah? And what if we don't, ya big blue fruit?"
-->'''Dr. Manhattan''': "You misunderstand me. '''''It was not a request.'''''"
-->(Then he teleports the entire crowd to their individual homes.)

* Adrian laying a massive [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech verbal smackdown]] on the [[AcceptableTargets oil/coal/gas company representatives.]]

** In a meta sense, Matthew Goode gave a similar (though much more profane) rant to critics of the film, telling them he doesn't "give a fuck" what they think and can "suck my dick" if they don't like it.

* While Adrian's plan may have succeeded in the short term, Rorschach ultimately out-played him... simply by cataloguing the events and leaving them for the ''New Frontiersman'' to publish. [[spoiler:Of course, that depends on whether or not it's acted upon, which is no certainty considering he chose to give it to a tabloid.]]

* While Adrian's plan may have succeeded in the short term, Rorschach ultimately out-played him... simply by cataloguing the events and leaving them for the ''New Frontiersman'' to publish.

-->''[[spoiler:"Do it?" Dan, I'm not a Republic serial villain. Do you seriously think [[EvilGloating I'd explain my masterstroke]] if there remained the slightest chance of you affecting its outcome? [[YouAreTooLate I did it thirty-five minutes ago.]]]]''
** Also, most of the fallout in #12. As horrific and doomed to failure in the long term ThePlan is, the way that [[spoiler: Adrian manages to pull everything off and ''talk the others into helping cover it up''.]]
** Not to mention [[spoiler: Ozymandias]] beating the hell out of [[spoiler: Nite Owl and Rorschach]] while hardly getting up while eating his dinner.
** And the second time he beat up [[spoiler: Rorschach]], not only does he do it without letting [[spoiler: Rorschach]] lay a finger on him, he ''keeps monologuing the whole time''!

** This is [[{{Deconstruction}} deconstructed]]: [[spoiler: He chose to die rather than betray his principles and compromise. According to WordOfGod, Rorschach is a DeathSeeker, so it is most likely what Rorschach wanted.]] Which leads to another CMOA: ''"DO IT!"''

** Rorschach's HannibalLecture in the end of Chapter VI after he admits to seeing a dog's head cleaved in half on a Rorschach Inkblot Test, where Rorschach tells his therapist a story where a kidnapping investigation goes wrong when the superhero detective breaks in a suspect's house to find [[spoiler:that the owner of the household killed the girl by roasting her in an oven/cutting her into little pieces and tries to cover up the murder by feeding the roasted/diced corpse to the dogs.]] How does Rorschach respond to this discovery? [[spoiler:He takes a hatchet/cleaver and cleaves the dogs' heads in half. Then he proceeds to burn the wretch alive when he returns, watching the building burn for an entire hour, making sure the bastard doesn't escape, and becomes utterly disgusted with the evils of humanity and resolves to clean man of its filth through murder.]] The most amazing thing about this example is that [[spoiler:the story even causes the shrink to become a more moral and compassionate person at the cost of his happiness.]]
* Dr. Manhattan also has several, though his finest is probably [[spoiler:reconstructing himself after Veidt destroys him]], afterwards telling him:
-->'''Dr. Manhattan''': "I've walked across the Sun. I've seen events so tiny and so fast they hardly can be said to have occurred at all, but you... you are a man. [[spoiler:And the world's smartest man means no more to me than does its smartest termite]]."
** [[spoiler:Veidt's]] response to that scene is pretty damn good too, as [[spoiler:he picks up an object while staring down someone who could kill him and ruin everything with a thought]].

---> "You could say that." ([[spoiler:switches on all the international news stations]])

** "[[spoiler:I'm disappointed in you, Adrian. VERY disappointed.]]"

*** It's more than that. As Rorschach brings him round to his nihilistic way of thinking, ''only then'' does he start to help people. It's incredible, really. The psychologist's wife was literally threatening to leave him on the spot when he stopped to help that girl, his life is more or less ruined, and yet he ''still'' just ''has'' to stop and help. Picking up genuine heroism from a psychopathic AntiHero might seem odd, but what do you know? [[spoiler: And then Ozymandias' plan gets everyone involved blown up anyway. [[ShootTheShaggyDog Ouch.]]]]

* Even though it doesn't work. Silk Spectre's attempt to unload a pistol into the BigBad with a ShutUpHannibal: "You're an asshole, [[spoiler:Veidt]]."
** And to be fair, the only reason it doesn't work is that [[spoiler:Veidt manages to ''catch'' the bullet]], which is awesome in itself, but it's not half as awesome as the way he ''convinced Nite-Owl he could''. Especially when [[spoiler:Adrian [[HowDidYouKnowIDidnt admits he wasn't sure he could do it either.]]]]

* Also a [=CMoA=], which also fall firmly into a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}}; When [[spoiler: Adrian's genetically engineered monster reaches its destination]], we see a sequence in which [[spoiler: Bernard the news vendor runs to protect young Bernie from the blast ''with his own body.'']] Later, we see the two [[spoiler: both dead, with Bernard still protecting Bernie]].
* ''The Veidt Method'' Fitness Ad: [[spoiler:"I WILL GIVE YOU BODIES BEYOND YOUR WILDEST IMAGININGS!"]].

* Nite-Owl, angered by [[spoiler:the death of Hollis Mason]], beats the crap out of a topknot. He goes so far that ''Rorschach'' gets disturbed by it.

*** Same here. Few things embody the [[CrapsackWorld crapsacky]] {{Deconstruction}} that is ''Watchmen'' better than "the invincible man" killing (implicitly thousands of) people simply because a politician asked him to, after which they declare him to be a god out of fear of retribution (which, [[FridgeBrilliance in retrospect]], brilliantly foreshadows [[spoiler:Adrian's plans]]).

* The sex scene in flight between [[spoiler:Nite Owl and Silk Spectre]] after the flame thrower is hit.

** [[spoiler:Adrian knew when the killer would probably show up. Which means he either knew what method the killer would likely use - and carefully manipulated everyone so they'd be in good blocking positions, including that executive he didn't like - or he came up with a plan more or less on the spot.]]

* In what possibly may be even more of a GeniusBonus than the comic, part of the poem 'Ozymandias' is on the Ramses II pedestal, explaining in [[FridgeBrilliance the most subtle way possible]] that [[spoiler:Ozy's peace]] will last about as long as a pinky finger in the presence of Rorschach.
** While at the same time, the Surface Meaning is full of IronicEcho that suggests OhCrap, coming just as it does after TheReveal. Just like the book's EasterEgg of the endlessly-repeated fitness-ad, ''The Veidt Method'': [[spoiler:"I WILL GIVE YOU BODIES BEYOND YOUR WILDEST IMAGININGS!"]] which [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome reappears in the climactic scene]]. (and I think is [[BetterOnDVD actually included in the DVD]]!)

** Not to mention that [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Mozart's Requiem Aeternam]] plays in the background, perfectly symbolizing [[spoiler: exactly what is going through Veidt's mind]] without the need for any dialogue.
* Not Ozymandias [[spoiler:catching the bullet]], but Ozymandias [[spoiler:acting as though he'd been shot and laying there until Silk Spectre came up and he could knock the crap out of her.]]
** And [[spoiler: catching the bullet]] too.
*** And this time, with [[spoiler:Adrian's hand armored]], it actually made sense somewhat.

* [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic All Along The Watchtower]] playing as Nite Owl II and Rorschach are flying to [[spoiler: Veidt's base]]. An added bonus is the line "two riders were approaching" directly matches up with a shot of the two walking towards their destination.

** While at the same time, the Surface Meaning is full of IronicEcho that suggests OhCrap, coming just as it does after TheReveal. Just like the book's EasterEgg of the endlessly-repeated fitness-ad, ''The Veidt Method'': [[spoiler:"I WILL GIVE YOU BODIES BEYOND YOUR IMAGININGS!"]] which [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome reappears in the climactic scene]]. (and I think is [[BetterOnDVD actually included in the DVD]]!)

-->None of you understand. ''I'm'' not locked up in here with ''you.'' ''You're'' locked up in here with ''me.''"

* Rorschach's "justice" on the child killer, altered from the graphic novel, due to the fact that the original scene would of been WrongfullyAttributed as a ripoff of ''Franchise/{{Saw}}''.

* The opening scene gives ByronicHero The Comedian a badly needed one: he clearly knows the whole time that he's not going to win the fight, but he completely refuses to give up throughout [[spoiler:the beating Ozy gives him]].

* In what possibly may be even more of a GeniusBonus than the comic, part of the poem 'Ozymandias's is on the Ramses II pedestal, explaining in [[FridgeBrilliance the most subtle way possible]] that [[spoiler:Ozy's peace]] will last about as long as a pinky finger in the presence of Rorschach.

*** "Never disposed of sewage with toilet before. Obvious, really."
** And, later, drowning the Big Figure himself in a toilet bowl. Dialogue afterward: "We don't want to get too reckless and go diving headfirst into things!" "Hurm. Good advice. Sure there are many who'd agree with you."

*** This got even better in 2019 when it was quoted by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez upon taking her place in Congress.

* Also a [=CMoA=], which also fall firmly into a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming; When [[spoiler: Adrian's genetically engineered monster reaches its destination]], we see a sequence in which [[spoiler: Bernard the news vendor runs to protect young Bernie from the blast ''with his own body.'']] Later, we see the two [[spoiler: both dead, with Bernard still protecting Bernie]].

* This entire book is a CrowningMomentOfAwesome for Creator/AlanMoore--even if you disagree on the story's message, characters and writing, no one can deny the amazing amount of {{Easter Egg}}s and FridgeBrilliance that went into every single panel. Everytime you read this comic you notice something new.

* Mars. Smiley face. Combination CMOA and CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming.

** While at the same time, the Surface Meaning is full of IronicEcho that suggests OhCrap, coming just as it does after TheReveal. Just like the book's EasterEgg of the endlessly-repeated fitness-ad, ''The Veidt Method'': [[spoiler:"I WILL GIVE YOU BODIES BEYOND YOUR IMAGININGS!"]] which [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome reappears in the climactic scene]]. (and I think is [[BetterOnDVD actually included in the DVD]]!)

** Not to mention that [[CrowningMusicofAwesome Mozart's Requiem Aeternam]] plays in the background, perfectly symbolizing [[spoiler: exactly what is going through Veidt's mind]] without the need for any dialogue.

* [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome All Along The Watchtower]] playing as Nite Owl II and Rorschach are flying to [[spoiler: Veidt's base]]. An added bonus is the line "two riders were approaching" directly matches up with a shot of the two walking towards their destination.

** Set up perfectly with the climax of [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming Jon and Laurie's]] [[GondorCallsForAid story arc]] and the AstronomicZoom to the smiley face on Mars!

--> '''Police Officer''': Here we come. Hope you're ready, ''hero''.\\
'''Rorschach''': When you are.

** And, later, drowning the Big Figure himself in a toilet bowl. Dialogue afterward: "We don't want to get too reckless and go diving headfirst into things!" "Hurm. Good advice. Sure, there are many who'd agree with you."

* Also a [=CMoA=], which also fall firmly into a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming; When [[spoiler: Adrian's genetically engineered monster reaches it's destination]], we see a sequence in which [[spoiler: Bernard the news vendor runs to protect young Bernie from the blast ''with his own body.'']] Later, we see the two [[spoiler: both dead, with Bernard still protecting Bernie]].

* Even though it doesn't work. Silk Spectre's attempt to unload a pistol into the BigBad with a ShutUpHannibal: "You're an asshole, [[spoiler:Veidt]].

** Not just a blunt object, a ''velvet rope stanchion''. Ones that size can be ''heavy'' bastards, and he just casually sweeps it up in a run and swings it like a bat at the guy, hardly being affected by the momentum of the weight. ''Awesome''.

** Not just a blunt object, a ''lamp stand''. Ones that size can be ''heavy'' bastards, and he just casually sweeps it up in a run and swings it like a bat at the guy, hardly being affected by the momentum of the weight. ''Awesome''.

* Rorschach lays out to the prison populace just how screwed they are: "None of you seem to understand. I'm not locked in here with you! ''You're locked in here with me!''"

** Taking his first step to being a NominalHero as a kid: when some bullies tease him (accurately) about his mother being a whore and then threaten to beat him up, he grabs the cigarette one of them is smoking and [[EyeScream stabs it in the guy's eye]]. He then proceeds to attack ''another'' bully, biting his cheek. Only then is he restrained.