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* MisaimedFandom: Some people take Rorschach and [[StrawNihilist The Comedian]] ''seriously''. Or rather seriously as ''superheroes''. They are supposed to be somewhat relatable, interesting and flawed characters shown WartsAndAll, but neither they nor anyone else in the comic are intended as role models. They specifically miss the point that neither of them are as ''infallible'' as they believe them to be at their job. Rorschach makes EntertaininglyWrong assumptions and it's ultimately Dan Dreiberg's BoringButPractical basic detective work that even gets them [[spoiler:to Ozymandias' SupervillainLair and Rorschach is not even a match for Ozymandias as a fighter, his street-wise CombatPragmatist approach no match for CharlesAtlasSuperpower]]. Both Rorschach and The Comedian are great characters in the literary sense and are pretty badass but neither are as badass as they want people to think they are, nor are they in a situation where being one is of much help.
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* MisaimedFandom: Some Might as well call this trope "The Rorschach Test"--Some people take Rorschach and [[StrawNihilist The Comedian]] ''seriously''. Or rather seriously as ''superheroes''. They are supposed to be somewhat relatable, interesting and flawed characters shown WartsAndAll, but neither they nor anyone else in the comic are intended as role models. They specifically miss the point that neither of them are as ''infallible'' as they believe them to be at their job. Rorschach makes EntertaininglyWrong assumptions and it's ultimately Dan Dreiberg's BoringButPractical basic detective work that even gets them [[spoiler:to Ozymandias' SupervillainLair and Rorschach is not even a match for Ozymandias as a fighter, his street-wise CombatPragmatist approach no match for CharlesAtlasSuperpower]]. Both Rorschach and The Comedian are great characters in the literary sense and are pretty badass but neither are as badass as they want people to think they are, nor are they in a situation where being one is of much help.
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* ParodyDisplacement: With the possible exceptions of ComicBook/TheQuestion, ComicBook/CaptainAtom & ComicBook/BlueBeetle, hardly anybody remembers the old Charlton characters the cast of Watchmen were based on. Adding to the problem is that ''Watchmen'' ended up inspiring their subsequent portrayals. For instance Captain Atom was originally [[https://am22.akamaized.net/tms/cnt/uploads/2014/05/Captain-Atom-Costumes-Intro-580x311.jpg humanoid looking]] but later acquired a blue palette inspired by Dr. Manhattan. Ditko's The Question was used as a Rorschach stand-in in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' for its conspiracy-centric Cadmus StoryArc, which ended up making him more famous than he was before. In fact, until [[https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-81/ J.M. DeMatteis debunked it]], it was erroneously believed Ted Kord's weight gain during ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational'' was a similar homage to Dan Dreiberg.
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* ParodyDisplacement: With the possible exceptions of ComicBook/TheQuestion, ComicBook/CaptainAtom & ComicBook/BlueBeetle, hardly anybody remembers the old Charlton characters the cast of Watchmen were based on. Adding to the problem is that ''Watchmen'' ended up inspiring their subsequent portrayals. For instance Captain Atom was originally [[https://am22.akamaized.net/tms/cnt/uploads/2014/05/Captain-Atom-Costumes-Intro-580x311.jpg humanoid looking]] but later acquired a blue palette inspired by Dr. Manhattan. Ditko's The Question was used as a Rorschach stand-in in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' for its conspiracy-centric Cadmus StoryArc, which ended up making him more famous than he was before. In fact, until [[https://www.cbr.com/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-81/ J.M. DeMatteis debunked it]], it was erroneously believed Ted Kord's weight gain during ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational'' was a similar homage to Dan Dreiberg. While ComicBook/{{Peacemaker}} began to gain mainstream popularity in the 2020s [[Film/TheSuicideSquad thanks to]] Creator/JamesGunn [[Series/Peacemaker2022 and]] Creator/JohnCena, the fact that he was the basis for the Comedian is still a rather obscure bit of trivia.
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** There's a similarly vocal camp that has emerged in response to the above fans who claim that "Watchmen" is a story all about heroes being sad, pathetic losers and treating it like a Creator/GarthEnnis style story about heroes being idiots, punchlines or psychopaths. While some of that is present with "Watchmen", it ignores that other heroes are treated with far more respect and shown to be well-meaning and competent but unable to do anything beyond low-level heroism.
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*** Ozymandias being the one to personally kill Eddie Blake can run into this as well: is he being pragmatic knowing that a hired gun wouldn't be likely to succeed (either because they couldn't win a fight against an active, government-sponsored assassin or if they could, they couldn't do it without it compromising Veidt's scheme in the process) or is he still that bothered by losing their fight all those years ago and this is him taking the opportunity to get payback for that humiliation?
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*** Ozymandias being the one to personally [[spoiler:personally kill Eddie Blake can run into this as well: is he being pragmatic knowing that a hired gun wouldn't be likely to succeed (either because they couldn't win a fight against an active, government-sponsored assassin or if they could, they couldn't do it without it compromising Veidt's scheme in the process) or is he still that bothered by losing their fight all those years ago and this is him taking the opportunity to get payback for that humiliation?humiliation?]]
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*** Ozymandias being the one to personally kill Eddie Blake can run into this as well: is he being pragmatic knowing that a hired gun wouldn't be likely to succeed (either because they couldn't win a fight against an active, government-sponsored assassin or if they could, they couldn't do it without it compromising Veidt's scheme in the process) or is he still that bothered by losing their fight all those years ago and this is him taking the opportunity to get payback for that humiliation?
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** Likewise, it is common to assume that ''Watchmen'' killed off the goofier, more idealistic [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] type stories for some time, nevermind that the Silver Age was over for nearly ten years by that point. As critic Lance Parkin notes, it's actually closer in visual style to the Silver Age era than the GrimDark books that would follow. Furthermore, as successful as ''Watchmen'' was, it was not by any means the great blockbuster that people imagine it. It was outsold by Creator/JohnByrne's ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel'' and not nearly as successful as ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns''. Something like ''ComicBook/ADeathInTheFamily'' and especially ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' probably had a bigger cultural and editorial impact on the darkening of comics than ''Watchmen'' did.
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** Likewise, it is common to assume that ''Watchmen'' killed off the goofier, more idealistic [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks [[MediaNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] type stories for some time, nevermind that the Silver Age was over for nearly ten years by that point. As critic Lance Parkin notes, it's actually closer in visual style to the Silver Age era than the GrimDark books that would follow. Furthermore, as successful as ''Watchmen'' was, it was not by any means the great blockbuster that people imagine it. It was outsold by Creator/JohnByrne's ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel'' and not nearly as successful as ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns''. Something like ''ComicBook/ADeathInTheFamily'' and especially ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' probably had a bigger cultural and editorial impact on the darkening of comics than ''Watchmen'' did.
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* FranchiseOriginalSin: This book, along with ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'' and ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' kickstarted UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks, showing flawed superheroes and bad guys that actually won. However, many writers seem to lose themselves in trying to copy this book's success by tossing lighthearted characters into DarkerAndEdgier scenarios and losing them there. It got so bad that ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' essentially blamed this book for its changes. Literally.
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* FranchiseOriginalSin: This book, along with ''ComicBook/VForVendetta'' and ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' kickstarted UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks, MediaNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks, showing flawed superheroes and bad guys that actually won. However, many writers seem to lose themselves in trying to copy this book's success by tossing lighthearted characters into DarkerAndEdgier scenarios and losing them there. It got so bad that ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' essentially blamed this book for its changes. Literally.
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* MagnificentBastard: Adrian Veidt, alias Ozymandias, is a former costumed vigilante, the most brilliant man alive and the architect of every wrong in the plot [[WellIntentionedExtremist for a just cause]]. A self-made millionaire who built his entire fortune from the ground up after giving away his vast inheritance, Veidt uses his vast resources as a cover for an elaborate plot to force peace upon the world in the brink of nuclear war, meticulously silencing every loose end in the way. Veidt discredits the omnipotent Dr. Manhattan and drives him off Earth after framing him for giving people cancer, and assassinates those who find out too much about his plan, from Moloch to the Comedian, all while effortlessly playing the part of a VillainWithGoodPublicity. Veidt, through research into genetic development and teleportation, creates a monstrous alien creature he drops on New York, killing millions, all to frame it as the attack of alien invaders and thus force the world's leaders to cooperate again an imaginary bigger threat before they can destroy each other. Ultimately, Veidt's plan is a success, executing his master stroke thirty-five minutes before it can ever be intercepted, afterwards proclaiming he'll thrust the world upward into an utopia of his own design. Calculated, unfettered, and ruthless while still remaining human enough to feel remorse over the horrors he's committed, Ozymandias is one of the most intelligent and morally complex characters to have come out of [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks the Dark Age]].
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* MagnificentBastard: Adrian Veidt, alias Ozymandias, is a former costumed vigilante, the most brilliant man alive and the architect of every wrong in the plot [[WellIntentionedExtremist for a just cause]]. A self-made millionaire who built his entire fortune from the ground up after giving away his vast inheritance, Veidt uses his vast resources as a cover for an elaborate plot to force peace upon the world in the brink of nuclear war, meticulously silencing every loose end in the way. Veidt discredits the omnipotent Dr. Manhattan and drives him off Earth after framing him for giving people cancer, and assassinates those who find out too much about his plan, from Moloch to the Comedian, all while effortlessly playing the part of a VillainWithGoodPublicity. Veidt, through research into genetic development and teleportation, creates a monstrous alien creature he drops on New York, killing millions, all to frame it as the attack of alien invaders and thus force the world's leaders to cooperate again an imaginary bigger threat before they can destroy each other. Ultimately, Veidt's plan is a success, executing his master stroke thirty-five minutes before it can ever be intercepted, afterwards proclaiming he'll thrust the world upward into an utopia of his own design. Calculated, unfettered, and ruthless while still remaining human enough to feel remorse over the horrors he's committed, Ozymandias is one of the most intelligent and morally complex characters to have come out of [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks [[MediaNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks the Dark Age]].
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** Lance Parkin, Creator/AlanMoore's biographer also pointed out that in practical terms, ''Watchmen'' was not as influential or impactful as people think it was. While the comic sold well and earned much critical acclaim, it was outsold by Creator/JohnByrne's ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel'' series, and ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' was a bigger cultural event than ''Watchmen'' was, and it would be hard to say that Moore inspired either comics. For one thing, Byrne is not a fan of Moore and has stated that he doesn't care for his works, while ''The Death of Superman'' was more or less an editorial improvisation as a result of shenanigans over ''Series/LoisAndClark'' and not any ''Watchmen''-inspired event (and Moore, as the author of ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'' had a vastly different attitude to Superman in any case). In terms of what people think of as the worst part of UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks i.e. GenericDoomsdayVillain, DeathIsCheap, more violence and {{Gorn}} than usual, ''The Death of Superman'' is more representative of the Dark Age and more influential than ''Watchmen'' is, considering [[ComicBook/{{Knightfall}} the]] [[Comicbook/SuperiorSpiderMan number]] [[ComicBook/SecretEmpire of imitations]] or {{Spiritual Successor}}s it has spawned.
** It doesn't help that Moore and Gibbons themselves took to the idea that it was Watchmen that American writers were copying in the UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks, and plenty of comic book critics and experts loved to use the publication of one of the most critically-acclaimed comics of all time as a sort of neat date for the start of the dark age. When in truth, a lot of the stylistic and thematic elements of UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks seemed more inspired by violent science fiction and action movies from the TheEighties, like Film/TheTerminator. Watchmen influences eventually *did* start cropping up in superhero comics after the TurnOfTheMillennium though, like in Creator/JMichaelStraczynski's ComicBook/SupremePower and Brad Meltzer's ComicBook/IdentityCrisis2004, for instance.
** It doesn't help that Moore and Gibbons themselves took to the idea that it was Watchmen that American writers were copying in the UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks, and plenty of comic book critics and experts loved to use the publication of one of the most critically-acclaimed comics of all time as a sort of neat date for the start of the dark age. When in truth, a lot of the stylistic and thematic elements of UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks seemed more inspired by violent science fiction and action movies from the TheEighties, like Film/TheTerminator. Watchmen influences eventually *did* start cropping up in superhero comics after the TurnOfTheMillennium though, like in Creator/JMichaelStraczynski's ComicBook/SupremePower and Brad Meltzer's ComicBook/IdentityCrisis2004, for instance.
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** Lance Parkin, Creator/AlanMoore's biographer also pointed out that in practical terms, ''Watchmen'' was not as influential or impactful as people think it was. While the comic sold well and earned much critical acclaim, it was outsold by Creator/JohnByrne's ''ComicBook/TheManOfSteel'' series, and ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman'' was a bigger cultural event than ''Watchmen'' was, and it would be hard to say that Moore inspired either comics. For one thing, Byrne is not a fan of Moore and has stated that he doesn't care for his works, while ''The Death of Superman'' was more or less an editorial improvisation as a result of shenanigans over ''Series/LoisAndClark'' and not any ''Watchmen''-inspired event (and Moore, as the author of ''ComicBook/WhateverHappenedToTheManOfTomorrow'' had a vastly different attitude to Superman in any case). In terms of what people think of as the worst part of UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks MediaNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks i.e. GenericDoomsdayVillain, DeathIsCheap, more violence and {{Gorn}} than usual, ''The Death of Superman'' is more representative of the Dark Age and more influential than ''Watchmen'' is, considering [[ComicBook/{{Knightfall}} the]] [[Comicbook/SuperiorSpiderMan number]] [[ComicBook/SecretEmpire of imitations]] or {{Spiritual Successor}}s it has spawned.
** It doesn't help that Moore and Gibbons themselves took to the idea that it was Watchmen that American writers were copying in theUsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks, MediaNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks, and plenty of comic book critics and experts loved to use the publication of one of the most critically-acclaimed comics of all time as a sort of neat date for the start of the dark age. When in truth, a lot of the stylistic and thematic elements of UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks MediaNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks seemed more inspired by violent science fiction and action movies from the TheEighties, like Film/TheTerminator. Watchmen influences eventually *did* start cropping up in superhero comics after the TurnOfTheMillennium though, like in Creator/JMichaelStraczynski's ComicBook/SupremePower and Brad Meltzer's ComicBook/IdentityCrisis2004, for instance.
** It doesn't help that Moore and Gibbons themselves took to the idea that it was Watchmen that American writers were copying in the
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** Rorschach is also subject to this some degree. While he’s certainly no saint, and he holds many bigoted and reactionary beliefs, and can be hypocritical at times, some fans dismiss him as just a crazed hatemonger, when in actuality, he never hurts anyone innocent, and even refrains from insulting his landlady after seeing her children are present.
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** Rorschach is also subject to this some degree. While he’s certainly no saint, and he holds many bigoted and reactionary beliefs, and can be hypocritical at times, some fans dismiss him as just a crazed hatemonger, when in actuality, he never hurts anyone innocent, and even refrains from insulting his landlady after seeing her children are present. In general, this goes so far as to claim that Moore wrote Rorschach as an entirely unsympathetic character or hated him--something that contradicts Moore's own interviews, where he claimed Rorschach was one of his favorite characters to write, and the actual text of the story, which gives him a ''mountain'' of a FreudianExcuse. The story continuously presents Rorschach's unsavory views and instability as [[JerkassWoobie the product of a lifetime of trauma and an environment that was in no way helpful for nurturing a stable mindset]] (even in the modern day, he lives in squalor). Moore never claimed that Rorschach was an entirely hateable figure; rather, he only took exception with people who treated him as an admirable figure worthy of emulation.
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** In addition to the DracoInLeatherPants treatment, Ozymandias is also subject to this. Granted, while he’s definitely guilty of terrible crimes, it’s worth remembering that they’re generally done out of ruthless pragmatism rather than malice or pettiness, with the exception of his murder of the Comedian, which arguably falls under PayEvilUntoEvil. Furthermore, he’s shown to have had a long and distinguished career as a hero, often foiling plots even when it brought him into conflict with the state, such as his foiling of a plot by rogue elements of the Pentagon, so his desire to do good is clearly genuine to at least extent.
** Rorschach is also subject to this some degree. While he’s certainly no saint, and he holds many bigoted or reactionary beliefs, and can be hypocritical at times, some fans dismiss him as just a crazed hatemonger, when in actuality, he never hurts anyone innocent, and even refrains from insulting his landlady after seeing her children are present.
** Rorschach is also subject to this some degree. While he’s certainly no saint, and he holds many bigoted or reactionary beliefs, and can be hypocritical at times, some fans dismiss him as just a crazed hatemonger, when in actuality, he never hurts anyone innocent, and even refrains from insulting his landlady after seeing her children are present.
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** In addition to the DracoInLeatherPants treatment, Ozymandias is also subject to this. Granted, while he’s definitely guilty of terrible crimes, it’s worth remembering that they’re generally done out of ruthless pragmatism rather than malice or pettiness, with the exception of his murder of the Comedian, which arguably falls under PayEvilUntoEvil. Furthermore, he’s shown to have had a long and distinguished career as a hero, often foiling plots even when it brought him into conflict with the state, such as his foiling of a plot by rogue elements of the Pentagon, so his desire to do good is clearly genuine to at least some extent.
** Rorschach is also subject to this some degree. While he’s certainly no saint, and he holds many bigotedor and reactionary beliefs, and can be hypocritical at times, some fans dismiss him as just a crazed hatemonger, when in actuality, he never hurts anyone innocent, and even refrains from insulting his landlady after seeing her children are present.
** Rorschach is also subject to this some degree. While he’s certainly no saint, and he holds many bigoted
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*RonTheDeathEater:
** In addition to the DracoInLeatherPants treatment, Ozymandias is also subject to this. Granted, while he’s definitely guilty of terrible crimes, it’s worth remembering that they’re generally done out of ruthless pragmatism rather than malice or pettiness, with the exception of his murder of the Comedian, which arguably falls under PayEvilUntoEvil. Furthermore, he’s shown to have had a long and distinguished career as a hero, often foiling plots even when it brought him into conflict with the state, such as his foiling of a plot by rogue elements of the Pentagon, so his desire to do good is clearly genuine to at least extent.
** Rorschach is also subject to this some degree. While he’s certainly no saint, and he holds many bigoted or reactionary beliefs, and can be hypocritical at times, some fans dismiss him as just a crazed hatemonger, when in actuality, he never hurts anyone innocent, and even refrains from insulting his landlady after seeing her children are present.
** In addition to the DracoInLeatherPants treatment, Ozymandias is also subject to this. Granted, while he’s definitely guilty of terrible crimes, it’s worth remembering that they’re generally done out of ruthless pragmatism rather than malice or pettiness, with the exception of his murder of the Comedian, which arguably falls under PayEvilUntoEvil. Furthermore, he’s shown to have had a long and distinguished career as a hero, often foiling plots even when it brought him into conflict with the state, such as his foiling of a plot by rogue elements of the Pentagon, so his desire to do good is clearly genuine to at least extent.
** Rorschach is also subject to this some degree. While he’s certainly no saint, and he holds many bigoted or reactionary beliefs, and can be hypocritical at times, some fans dismiss him as just a crazed hatemonger, when in actuality, he never hurts anyone innocent, and even refrains from insulting his landlady after seeing her children are present.
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** The panel of [[spoiler:Dr. Manhattan annihilating Rorschach]] has become a commonly used meme template.
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this is the result of memed-on versions of moore's actual view on rorschach. moore does like rorschach and consider him sympathetic; he's clearly written and intended as such. what he disagreed with was readers ignoring rorschach's negative traits.
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* BrokenAesop: Alan Moore's intention to make Rorscharch into a negative character is a bit undermined by having him as the ''only'' character in the story shown not to be ok with covering up mass-murder for the greater good.
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* BrokenAesop: Alan Moore's intention to make Rorscharch into a negative character is a bit undermined by having him as the ''only'' character in the story shown not to be ok with covering up mass-murder for the greater good.
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* AluminumChristmasTrees: There really is a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galle_(Martian_crater) smiley face crater]] on Mars.
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* AluminumChristmasTrees: AluminumChristmasTrees:
** There really is a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galle_(Martian_crater) smiley face crater]] onMars.Mars.
** Creator/ECComics really ''did'' publish [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy_(comics) comic books about pirates]] in the 1950s--they just didn't become a massive fad in RealLife. ''[[ShowWithinAShow Tales of the Black Freighter]]'' is actually a pretty decent approximation of what many of EC's crime and horror comics were actually like during the company's heyday; they really ''were'' rather infamous for their frequent graphic violence, psychological intensity, and lurid tone.
** There really is a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galle_(Martian_crater) smiley face crater]] on
** Creator/ECComics really ''did'' publish [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piracy_(comics) comic books about pirates]] in the 1950s--they just didn't become a massive fad in RealLife. ''[[ShowWithinAShow Tales of the Black Freighter]]'' is actually a pretty decent approximation of what many of EC's crime and horror comics were actually like during the company's heyday; they really ''were'' rather infamous for their frequent graphic violence, psychological intensity, and lurid tone.
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** The line mocking Creator/RobertRedford's candidacy. Let's just say he comes damned close in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier''.
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** The line mocking Creator/RobertRedford's candidacy. Let's just say he comes damned close in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier''.''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier''; and achieves it in the HBO Show.
