History Heartwarming / Watchmen

** Eddie was absolutely no angel, was generally unpleasant in personality, and had done a multitude of heinous acts. But he felt terrible about his attempted rape and physical assault of Sally enough to respect her wishes to not talk to Laurie, and not tell her who her father was. He was uncharacteristically kind and gentle when meeting Sally again in 1949, and is the same way to Laurie (or at least the closest he can be) when she confronts him at the party. He has killed many out of his twisted sense of patriotism and is unapologetic about it, [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes but Eddie at least cares about the family he could've had]] amid the wretched, bloodstained life that he enjoys.

** Eddie was absolutely no angel, was generally unpleasant in personality, and had done a multitude of heinous acts, but apparently he felt terrible about his attempted rape and physical assault of Sally, enough to respect her wishes to not talk to Laurie, and not tell her who her father was. He was uncharacteristically kind and gentle when meeting Sally again in 1949, and is the same way to Laurie (or at least the closest he can be) when she confronts him at the party. He has killed many out of his twisted sense of patriotism and is unapologetic about it, [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes but Eddie at least cares about the family he could've had]] amid the wretched, bloodstained life that he enjoys.

** Eddie was absolutely no angel, was generally unpleasant in personality, and had done a multitude of heinous acts, but apparently he felt terrible about his attempted rape and physical assault of Sally, enough to respect her wishes to not talk to Laurie, and not tell her who her father was. He was uncharacteristically kind and gentle when meeting Sally again in 1949, and is the same way to Laurie (or at least the closest he can be) when she confronts him at the party. He has killed many out of a twisted same of patriotism and will happily do so again, [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes but Eddie at least cares about the family he could've had]] amid his wretched, bloodstained life.

** Eddie was absolutely no angel in life, was generally unpleasant in personality, and had done a multitude of heinous acts, but apparently he felt terrible about his attempted rape and physical assault of Sally, enough to respect her wishes to not talk to Laurie, and not tell her who her father was. He was uncharacteristically kind and gentle when meeting Sally again in 1949, and is the same way to Laurie (or at least the closest he can be) when she confronts him at the party. He has killed many out of a twisted same of patriotism and will happily do so again, [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes but Eddie at least cares about the family he could've had]] amid his wretched, bloodstained life.

** Eddie was absolutely no angel in life, was generally unpleasant in personality, and had done a multitude of heinous acts, but apparently he felt terrible about his attempted rape and physical assault of Sally, enough to respect her wishes to not talk to Laurie, and not tell her who her father was. He was uncharacteristically kind and gentle when meeting Sally again in 1949, and is the same way to Laurie (or at least the closest he can be) when she confronts him at the party. He has killed many out of a twisted same of patriotism and will happily do so again, [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes but Eddie at least cares about the family he could've had.]]

** Eddie was absolutely no angel in life, and had done a multitude of heinous acts, but apparently he felt terrible about his attempted rape and physical assault of Sally, enough to respect her wishes to not talk to Laurie, and not tell her who her father was.

* Just before the end of the book, it's revealed that Laurie found out that the Comedian was her dad, and forgives him. But that's not the most touching bit. It's revealed that, despite everything, despite the attempted rape and beating her up, despite the horrible, CrapsackWorld that is Watchmen's Earth, that Sally truly loved Eddie and misses him terribly. And the last thing we see is her kissing his face on the Minutemen portrait. For all the trouble it gave them, despite the fact that it was impossible for them to ever be together, Sally and Eddie loved each other in the only way they could.
** Our last look at Laurie, meanwhile, is her being truly invigorated at being a hero for the first time in her life, and considering altering her costume to make it more like the Comedian’s. While at first the shocking truth of her parentage understandably left her a sobbing wreck, she’s now starting to accept it on her own terms, and possibly taking steps to give the name of the Comedian a more positive legacy.

* Just as Ozymandias' plan is revealed, we see a group of normal people attempting to stop one stranger from beating another. Two of the people rushing to help are encouraged by the person they're with to just leave it and not interfere in others' problems, but both reject the idea, noting that they refuse to see the pain and troubles of the world and do nothing about it. Of course, the heartwarming moment is interrupted by the horrifying culmination of Ozymandias' plan, but this scene before all the destruction is a possible refutation to Ozymandias' pessimistic belief that humanity would be doomed to destroy itself without outside intervention.

* Rorschach begging Dr. Manhattan to kill him, because he knows that if he survives, his nature demands that he expose the truth about Ozymandias' {{plan}}. Alternatively, it could be treated as CassandraTruth, given how outlandish Ozymandias' plan is (Nite-Owl takes a ''long'' time to consider its conceivability, even as he sees it in action, and he is arguably the closest to a normal person in this story), and how fractured Rorschach's psyche has become over the years - people could simply write it off as another of his conspiracy theories. Adrian himself points this out after Rorschach leaves.

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* Meta-Example: While Moore quickly disassociated himself from the adaptation, Gibbons helped out with the crew and gave his blessings. Even better is that Gibbons openly praised Snyder and the cast for honoring the source material even in spite of his own disagreements.

* Just before the end of the book, it's revealed that Laurie found out that the Comedian was her dad, and forgives him. But that's not the most touching bit. It's revealed that, despite everything, despite the attempted rape and beating her up, despite the horrible, CrapsackWorld that is Watchmen's Earth, that Sally truly loved Eddie and misses him terribly. And the last thing we see is her kissing his face on the Minutemen portrait. For all the trouble it gave them, they made up and fell in love.

''It would be a stronger world. A stronger loving world to die in.''

* Meta-example: While Creator/AlanMoore hated the idea of the upcoming prequel ''ComicBook/BeforeWatchmen'', Dave Gibbons was more open to it. The heartwarming part is that he actually wished them well, and hopes it will be successful.

* Meta-Example: While Moore quickly disassociated himself from the adaptation, Gibbons helped out with the crew and gave his blessings. Even better is that Gibbons openly praised Snyder and the cast for honoring the source material even in spite of Gibbon's own disagreements.

* The second Silk Spectre's reconciliation with her mother is lovely, the perfect combination of this trope and TearJerker.

* [[spoiler:Laurie and Daniel]] falling in love.
* SociopathicHero Rorschach thanks Nite Owl for being his friend and apologizes for being such a pain.
** His [[TheFaceless face]] ''smiles''. It ''smiles''.

* Just as [[spoiler:Ozymandias' plan is revealed]], we see a group of normal people attempting to stop one stranger from beating another. Two of the people rushing to help are encouraged by the person they're with to just leave it and not interfere in others' problems, but both reject the idea, noting that they refuse to see the pain and troubles of the world and do nothing about it. Of course, [[spoiler:the heartwarming moment is interrupted by the horrifying culmination of Ozymandias' plan]].
** For this troper, the biggest is when [[spoiler:the newsstand seller and the comic book reading guy hug seconds before Ozymandias plan is complete; the heartwarming part of this is that those background characters didn't have any meaningful interaction between each other in the previous issues]].
*** Added to when you re-read the comic; not only is the [[spoiler: newsstand guy's care for the kid foreshadowed when he gives him his cap and a free comic (despite explicitly stating he doesn't ever do it)]], but when you combine it with [[spoiler: your knowledge of his later shielding of the kid, it only adds to the heartwarming when you realize he really looks out for the kid (despite their squabbles).]]
*** These scenes before all the destruction was a possible refutation to Ozymandias' pessimistic belief that humanity would be doomed to destroy itself without outside intervention.
*** Made even more powerful when you realize that it wasn't a hug. I always thought it was a hug too, two people embracing just before the end. But I finally realized that in the four-page spread opening #12 that it wasn't. Bernard (the newsvendor) was grabbing Bernie (the comic-book reader) and shoving him to the ground to shield his body from the blast. "In this world you have to look out for yourself" my ass.

* Another Rorschach one: When Daniel and Rorschach [[spoiler: go to retrieve Rorschach's spare mask]], and he calls his landlady a whore to her face. She responds, "Oh, please, don't say that in front of my kids... please, they... they don't know." and he doesn't press it any further. Again, basic human decency for most, but a Crowning Moment for Rorschach.
** What stops Rorschach in his tracks is the fact that he identifies himself with the children at that point. His mother was a prostitute, he had a miserable life about it. The fact that his landlady's children don't know yet, that they are sheltered from it, is what stops him. His mom being a prostitute, and him being aware, is what contributed him to being Rorschach. By backing down, doesn't Rorschach offer these kids a better life than he had? (They'll find out anyway, but at least it's not him who broke it to them).

** For all that Rorschach has deeply, deeply entrenched issues with women (especially sex workers) this scene cuts to the quick, that that's exactly what they are -- they're not a proud reasoned part of his philosophical stance, the trauma came first and his philosophy came after.

* After the original Nite Owl has been beaten to death over a case of mistaken identity, Dan is distraught. Rorschach comments impassively that the killing might have something to do with the mysterious deaths of other costumes that have occurred recently. Dan angrily demands why Rorschach can't just let his conspiracy theory lie. Rorschach, still impassive, remarks "Merely suggesting that by finding mask killer, can have revenge for Mason's death. Was meant to comfort you." Okay, it's still a more-than-a-little sociopathic, but considering that it's Rorschach, and that he clearly cares about Dan's feelings and wants to comfort him, it's still strangely heart-warming.
** Before that scene, Nite Owl's BerserkButton gets pressed when he is informed of his predecessor's death. When he starts beating up the guy who breaks the news and curses at him, Rorschach (the guy who regularly beats people up at the bar they were in) tells him to calm down, reminding Nite Owl "Not in front of civilians". This kinda shows (aside from a bit of HypocriticalHumor) that Rorschach isn't willing to beat people up for no reason and supposedly has a limit of sorts to his brutality.
* [[TheSpock Doctor Manhattan]] ''smiling'' when [[spoiler: [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy he sees Laurie happy with Daniel]].]]
* Adrian Veidt's Vietnamese servants talking to the interviewer. "[[TakeThat He is not one of your pop music stars.]] [[HonestCorporateExecutive He does not inject drugs, or treat young women badly. Make sure you say that.]]"
* Rorschach [[spoiler: begging Dr. Manhattan to kill him]], because he knows that [[spoiler:if he survives]], his nature demands that he expose the truth about [[spoiler:Ozymandias' {{plan}}]].
** Or it could be treated as CassandraTruth, given [[spoiler:how outlandish Ozymandias' plan is (Nite-Owl takes a ''long'' time to consider its conceivability, even as he sees it in action, and he is arguably the closest to a normal person in this story), and how fractured Rorschach's psyche has become over the years - people could simply write it off as another of his conspiracy theories]]. Adrian himself points this out after Rorschach leaves.
* When Ozymandias says" "I did it. I DID IT! I saved Earth from hell. Next I'll help her towards Utopia. It is as Rameses said: "Canaan is devestated, Ashkelon is fallen, Gezer is ruined, Venoam is reduced to nothing, Israel is desolate and her seed is no more, and Palestine has become a widow for Egypt, all countries are unified and pacified."
* Meta-example: While Creator/AlanMoore hated the idea of the upcoming prequel ''ComicBook/BeforeWatchmen'', Dave Gibbons was more open to it. The heartwarming part is that he actually wished them well, and hopes it will be successful.

* Just before the end of the book, [[spoiler: it's revealed that Laurie found out that the Comedian was her dad, and forgives him.]] But that's not the most touching bit. [[spoiler: It's revealed that, despite everything, despite the attempted rape and beating her up, despite the horrible, CrapsackWorld that is Watchmen's Earth, that Sally truly loved Eddie and misses him terribly.]] And the last thing we see is her [[spoiler: kissing his face on the Minutemen portrait.]] For all the trouble it gave them, they made up and fell in love.

* In ''Watchmen'', after Dr. Manhattan gives his speech about how miraculous human life is, his ship lands on a giant smiley face on Mars. The fact that there actually is a smiley face on Mars makes it especially heartwarming.
* Rorschach's awkward little handshake with Nite Owl, along with his admission that he's a difficult man to know, was so unexpected and nice.

** During their fight with [[spoiler:Ozymandais]], Roraschach and Dan get knocked down. After Rorschach gets back up, he actually walks over and helps Dan up.

** During their fight with [[spoiler::Ozymandais]], Roraschach and Dan get knocked down. After Rorschach gets back up, he actually walks over and helps Dan up.

* Rorschach [[spoiler: begging Dr. Manhattan to kill him]], because he knows that he [[spoiler:if he survives]], his nature demands that he expose the truth about [[spoiler:Ozymandias' {{plan}}]].
** Or it could be treated as CassandraTruth, given [[spoiler:how outlandish Ozymandias' plan is (Nite-Owl takes a ''long'' time to consider its conceivability, even as he sees it in action, and he is arguably the closest to a normal person in this story), and how fractured Rorschach's psyche has become over the years - people could simply write it off as another of his conspiracy theories.]] Adrian himself points this out after Rorschach leaves.

** In the following scene when they're flying to Ozymandias's lair and Daniel is having some turbulence trouble, Rorschach tells him to put up in the most awkwardly polite way possible. It shows that he really took what had just happened to heart and is trying to be a nicer guy.

* The second Silk Spectre's reconciliation with her mother is lovely, the perfect combination of this trope and TearJerker.

* Adrian Veidt's Vietnamese servants talking to the interviewer. "He is not one of your pop music stars. He does not inject drugs, or treat young women badly. Make sure you say that."

* When Ozymandias says" "I did it. I DID IT!, I saved Earth from hell. Next I'll help her towards Utopia. It is as Rameses said: "Canaan is devestated, Ashkelon is fallen, Gezer is ruined, venoam is reduced to nothing, Israel is desolate and her seed is no more, and Palestine has become a widow for Egypt, all countries are unified and pacified."