Watchmen #2: Absent Friends

Watchmen #2

by Alan Moore (Writer), Dave Gibbons (Artist), John Higgins (Colorist)

Watchmen, issue 2 of 12.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics

35 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Alan Moore is an English writer most famous for his influential work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. He has also written a novel, Voice of the Fire, and performs "workings" (one-off performance art/spoken word pieces) with The Moon and Serpent Grand Egyptian Theatre of Marvels, some of which have been released on CD.

As a comics writer, Moore is notable for being one of the first writers to apply literary and formalist sensibilities to the mainstream of the medium. As well as including challenging subject matter and adult themes, he brings a wide range of influences to his work, from the literary–authors such as William S. Burroughs, Thomas Pynchon, Robert Anton Wilson and Iain Sinclair; New Wave science fiction writers such as Michael Moorcock; horror writers such as Clive Barker; to the cinematic–filmmakers such as Nicolas Roeg. Influences within comics include Will Eisner, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Kirby and Bryan Talbot.

Reviews

[Sandee is Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing I liked about this issue is how it showed you more about the past of these characters. I - somehow - got a better understanding of some of the major players in the story. I am still curious to know who the person who did the murdering of the Comedian.

I couldn't wait to see the next issue.

Also, I'm watching the film but had to pause. I realised the movie was really doing a very close interpretation of the comic book. The first 30 mins of the movie were from the first issue, so you don't want to spoil yourself, read the comic book first. Hehe

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this issue most questions remain unanswered but we get some interesting insight into the Minutemen's background and the Comedian's past. It's an asskicking ride through the adventures that made Rorschach, Nite Owl and Silk Spectre; the stories regarding the first are especially intriguing.
P.S. I absolutely adore the quotes Moore puts in the very last panel, they are always so incredibly accurate to the mood and events taking place.

[Ben-Ain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Capítulo en el que se nos presenta a los Minutemen y cómo han llegado a lo que son hoy en día.
Muy muy bueno.

Review en el volumen de la saga completa.

[Rodrigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigue poco a poco la investigación del caso de asesinato de El comediante.
Nos van explicando un poco su vida pasada inicios y demás.
El dibujo sigue genial,y el ambiente conla decadencia de la sociedad, la apatía de los heroes...

[Rachel MacNaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

A child killing rapist out to save the world, backed by Nazis, perverts and monsters recalled, after death, by said lofty companions.
Awesome volume.

[Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I`m up while the dawn is breaking
Even though my heart is aching
I should be drinking a toast to absent friends
Instead of these comedians
- Elvis costello
العدد الثانى من كوميكس Watchmen قررت اقرا السلسلة بتمهل كل يوم عدد حابب استمتع بالسلسلة و جمالها و أقرأ عدد جديد كل يوم و أستمتع بالرسومات و الكتابة الجميلة
5/5

[Amin Matin · Rating 4 out of 5]

الان می‌فهمم چرا واچمن رو جزو شاهکارهای ادبی هم به حساب میارن
Heard joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says, "But doctor...I am Pagliacci.

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

As more Minutemen and heroes are introduced, the reader is further brought into the story.
With multiple flashbacks and dynamics being presented, I can already tell that there is a lot to unpack from Allan Moore's story.

[Aleksandar Janjic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Пробао сам да мало детаљније опишем шта се све дешавало у овом наставку, али ово је већ постало толико компликовано да би сваки такав напор захтијевао недопустиво много времена. У основи, имамо неколико временских линија које преплићу. Једна је са самог почетка, из тридесетих година двадесетог вијека, кад је тек формиран први суперхеројски тим који се врло брзо распао јер суперхероји у овом стрипу не поштују суперхеројске конвенције из модерних филмова и посједују слабости које су за суперхероје апсолутно недопустиве. Друга је неколико деценија касније, прати нову групу, која се донекле преплиће са старом и активна је нпр. у вијетнамском рату, а трећа линија је садашње вријеме (тј. садашње у вријеме настанка стрипа, тј. у другој половини осамдесетих година) у којем наш херој Роршах покушава да докучи шта се дешава са радњом стрипа, као и са свијетом уопште.

На сахрани оног лика што је рикнуо, за којег се кроз флешбекове испоставило да је био једно обично ђубре, био је и доктор Менхетн, за ову прилику обучен и висок не сто метара него нормалне висине. Али ту је био и некакав Молох, који је неколико деценија раније био активан супернегативац, а онда се повукао, баш као и његова суперхеројска "браћа". Тог истог Молоха је Роршах спопао и од њега сазнао неке битне и интересантне информације о његовом (Молоховом) сусрету са Комичарем и бизарном понашању овог потоњег, који је споменуо некакво острво и још неке сличне ствари, што ће по свој прилици бити битно касније.

У наставку аутобиографије Ноћне сове сазнајемо детаље о настанку прве суперхеројске дружине и о њеном распаду, али такође сазнајемо много и о стварима којима се суперхеројски филмови углавном не баве, рецимо о потешкоћама типа руковања плаштом или избора квалитетног имена или маске и томе слично. Као да је сценаристи Алану Муру синуло на памет да је читава та суперхеројштина, типа кад неко обуче неки блентави костим и онда се рока с негативцима у том костиму, заправо прилично блесава ствар, па је одлучио да се не прави да та блесавост не постоји, него да јој да видно мјесто у свом наративу.

И даље нам није јасно шта је и ко је Др. Менхетн и колика му је тачно моћ (иако је сад већ очигледно да је ВРЛО велика) и одакле му она, јер колико ми се чини велика већина ликова који се овде појављују немају никакве натприродне способности, већ су једноставно одлучили да се обуку у костиме и боре против злочина, као у филму Супер.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

My God, Edward Blake is such an interesting character.

[Jinx:The:Poet {the LiteraryWanderer & WordRoamer} · Rating 3 out of 5]

[REVIEW FOR THE SERIES...]

Watchmen (Vol. 1-12)

"Who watches the Watchmen?"

Watchmen was a very interesting read and I’m glad to have finally gotten around to it. While I really appreciated some aspected such as the gritty world and symbolic, satirical plot line, there were times when it really didn’t live up to the hype surrounding it, at least not in my opinion. When compared to V For Vendetta, one of Moore’s best in my opinion, it just didn’t cut it for me, nor strike me with anything really meaningful afterwards. This is going to be a really hard one to rate and review for me— but here it goes.

P.s. If haters wanna hate, please go hate elsewhere. ;)



"This Hugo Award-winning graphic novel chronicles the fall from grace of a group of super-heroes plagued by all-too-human failings. Along the way, the concept of the super-hero is dissected as the heroes are stalked by an unknown assassin.

One of the most influential graphic novels of all time and a perennial best-seller, Watchmen has been studied on college campuses across the nation and is considered a gateway title, leading readers to other graphic novels such as V for Vendetta, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and The Sandman series." -Book Blurb



Because I’m reviewing the entire series, and want to avoid an overly long review as well as story spoilers, in this review I’m just going to cover a few things, some things that stood out, things I liked, things I didn’t etc.



In the beginning of Watchmen the readers are introduced to this dark world, an alternate history, and are initiated into the story through the mysterious and grim character of Rorschach, whom I instantly liked albeit his strange attitude and growingly apparent fact that he was lacking some amount of sanity. He operates outside the law, as superhero’s are outlawed by the government. The mystery was compelling enough, the world is very dark and interesting.



As the story goes on we are introduced to other ex-heroes like Nite Owl II, (who seemed ironically a parody of Batman), and Ozymandias, as well as heroes contracted by the government such as Doctor Manhattan (the only actually superhuman in the series), The Comedian and Silk Spectre II. While the characters were interesting at times, most notably Doctor Manhhattan and Rorschack, many of the others felt dull to me, like bland caricatures.



One aspect I disliked was the weird, and seemingly pointless romance between Silk Spectre II and Nite Owl II. It felt creepy and out of place, boring me and ultimately jarring me from the otherwise interesting plot. Why was it necessary to bog the plot down with their awkward affair, (including facts about his erectile dysfunction)? What was perhaps meant to flesh out the side characters, just ended up feeling like a lot of filler material. Bleh. It slowed the overall momentum for me.



Another irritant was the issue concerning the backstory of Silk Spectre I and The Comedian, and the flippant way her sexual assault/rape was dealt with. It felt only a cheap tactic used to give the readers a twist later on, which was obvious to me miles away, and ultimately felt an easy way to manipulate the reader and story. It did not have that effect on me. The matter was not handled very tastefully, in my opinion. Silk Spectre I’s response— or lack thereof—to the crime against her made the writing and overall story have a very misogynistic undertone, which continuously reared its head throughout the following issues.



That continuous feeling was highlighted and accentuated by the apparent uselessness of most of the female characters, who rarely if ever, contribute to the story in any meaningful way. Not to mention the fact that so few women were present at all, the story tiresome by their lack of contribution. One obvious exception being Silk Spectre II’s pleading with Doctor Manhattan on Earth’s behalf later on, even then he probably would have come to the decision on his own, given how his mind worked. So perhaps I’m reading between the lines here, but that’s how it struck me. It didn’t sit well, and I’m overly used to comics using women in the usual ways, to titillate as eye candy and fan service, serving no real purpose. I guess I expected more, too much, from something hailed as an innovative masterpiece.

Moving on.



There were things I did really like, though the story was bogged down with politics, propaganda and misogyny. I really like the satirical take of the golden age superhero story, the way the story makes you think about things in a different light, albeit a very pessimistic—dare I say—nihilistic light. I like the jaded hero perspective. The art was very fitting and did a good job setting the overall tone, even though it wasn’t as pleasing on the eye. It conveyed the general vibe of the plot really well.



I loved the fact that the series read more like a mystery noir novel that a traditional action comic book. I really enjoyed the characterizations of Rorschach and Doctor Manhattan the most. I LOVED Doctor Manhattan’s backstory. It was so epic and philosophical; those chapters really made me think. While Rorschach’s background was very sad, it was also a bit underwhelming, considering how much I loved his character. He made an excellent anti-hero.



Overall, I really enjoyed it, but could not say I loved it by any means. I appreciate what it means to the world and legacy of comic books and graphic novels, I think it changed the industry in many ways, not all for the better, but in many ways it was good. I liked how original it was. I like the philosophical mindset it gets you in. Some of the characters were so memorable, but the bad somewhat equals the good for me. There was a lot of filler material that felt tedious to read through, dragging the story out. As much as I enjoyed it, I also felt annoyed by it. I felt it was lacking in some pivotal areas, where it could have done more. Many of the characters were so unlikeable and dull, like cardboard cutouts. Seeing how much depth Rorschach and Doctor Manhattan had, I think all of the characters had that potential as well.



So I guess I’m in a love-hate thing with Watchmen, no matter which way I slice it, I can’t seem to pick a definite stance. I was pretty disappointed with the ending. I would recommend reading it, to appreciate the leaps Watchmen gave the genre of graphic novels, and for the interesting plot and setting, but in my opinion V for Vendetta was better in most regards.

[VOLUMN RATING: 3 STARS]

[OFFICIAL RATING: 3.5 STARS]

[Sunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The evolution of a super-hero's costume:

"Eventually, I opted for a design that left the arms and legs as free as possible..."

"I experimented with a cloak... In practice, however, I found it too unwieldy. I was always tripping over it or getting it caught in things, and so I abandoned it for an outfit that was as streamlined as I could make it."

"While attempting to stop a raid upon one of his employer's banks, his cloak became entangled in the bank's revolving door and he was shot dead at point-blank range before he could free it. Designers employed by the bank had designed his costume for maximum publicity appeal. If he'd designed it himself he might have left out that damned stupid cloak and still be alive today."

To summarize, Edna Mode from The Incredibles would have simply said "NO CAPES!"

Full review HERE.

[Tawfek · Rating 5 out of 5]

welcome to flashback city i loved the ride
better in every aspect then the first comic of the series
specially the memories of hollis in the end they were much better much more intersting to read the the ones in the end of the first issue

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the Comedian wasn't funny and wasn't much of a hero either - unless your heroes are rapists who kill small children ... in the name of freedom.

[Dylan Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good issue. Love most Characters. Hate the Comedian- don't feel sorry for him at all. Dragged a bit.

[Javier Lárraga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este segundo número donde conocemos a los primeros heroes enmascarados y tambien donde vemos el declive y fin de sus actividades como vigilantes se me ha hecho muy corto, necesito saber más acerca de este mundo.

Me gusta como el autor esta haciendo sutilmente una crítica hacia los símbolos de justicia y los superheroes; mientras que algunos actuan con fines de hacer publicidad, otros lo hacen por diversión, algunos porque creen que es lo correcto y otros por arrogancia y superioridad porque creen que su moral esta por encima de la ley.

No quisiera decir nada del contexto histórico en el que viven los watchmen, pero creo que las referencias a la época y los cambios para convertir este comic en una novela de ficción son muy interesantes y hacen reflexionar. Estoy impaciente por iniciar el volumen 3.

[Jacob Helberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much slower than the first issue and we get a loooooot of backstory thrown at us. These older comics are definitely known for having a whole lot of text in them, and this issue follows suit. I felt like there was so much backstory of the Minutemen thrown into this that it just made it a tad boring. Necessary, but boring. Still liked it quite a bit though.

[May Be · Rating 4 out of 5]

The flashback and the creation of backstories were absolutely great. As the previous Issue, it has a 4 page story from Nite Owl's autobiography which describes the way the Minutemen were gathered and fall apart.
I like the way Alan Moore avoids stretching the story-lines in vain. It seems he has a lot to tell.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an episode long eulogy.

[Elif · Rating 4 out of 5]

So very cool

[Javiera Garay · Rating 5 out of 5]

El capítulo III va siendo mi favorito hasta ahora.

[Vikas · Rating 5 out of 5]

So the story is still picking up that's why we have Comedians burial and also start of the trouble. And as last time some wonderful story from 'Under the Hood' I love it all.

I have always loved comics, and I hope that I will always love them. Even though I grew up reading local Indian comics like Raj Comics or Diamond Comics or even Manoj Comics, now's the time to catch up on the international and classic comics and Graphic novels. I am on my quest to read as many comics as I can. I Love comics to bit, may comics never leave my side. I loved reading this and love reading more, you should also read what you love and then just Keep on Reading.

[flaams · Rating 4 out of 5]

so the comedian was a hero, who was not a comedian and wasn't much of a hero either... everyone seems to hate him but no one seems to be willing to stop him. until one day, he gets frown out of his own window and dies...
in the end, the comedian was just a scared lad who couldn't find his place in this world and as every american who took part in the Vietnam War, he was shaken by that war that left him scared as hell.
i'm almost feeling sorry for him.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heard joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says, "But doctor...I am Pagliacci.” Many laugh. Snare drum. Curtains close. But now the comedians dead; and nobody’s laughing. 😢😢😢😢😢😢 heavy

[Nẹdu · Rating 4 out of 5]

'A masked adventurer's costume is one of those things that nobody really thinks about. Should it have a cape, or no cape? Should it be thick and armored to protect you from harm, or flexible and lightweight to allow maneuverability? What sort of mask should it have? Do bright colors make you more of a target than dark ones? All of these were things that I had to consider.'

[Shibin k · Rating 5 out of 5]

Issue #2, getting used to the last portion(under the hood) of the book.
Now i know why this is a classic.

[Index Purga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watchmen 2 of 12, Collector's Edition
pág. 0:
créditos #2
pág. 1:
ABSENT FRIENDS
Pág. 29:
UNDER THE HOOD III. y IV. by Hollis Mason
Pág. 33:
créditos editoriales

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in an alternate history where costumed heroes have helped shape society since the beginning of time, the controversial yet prolific costumed hero Edward Blake (more commonly known by his alias The Comedian) is found dead and the perpetrator is nowhere to be found. Unable to solve such a bizarre murder by conventional means, the masked vigilante Rorschach who once served as a costumed hero alongside Comedian and four others takes matters into his own bloodstained hands to track down a mysterious assassin that's taking out costumed heroes one by one. Conspiracies abound, political tensions are through the roof, the threat of WWIII is lurking just around the corner and the gritty and depressive atmosphere of a rotting New York City during the 1980's sets the scene for a grim dissection and criticism of classic superhero archetypes.

Watchmen redefines the term superhero. With the exception of Dr. Manhattan, none of them have any notable powers. The Comedian is merely a grotesque reflection of American society and all its shameless faults, as well as how misguided patriotism can be used to justify mindless violence and prejudice. Rorschach is a vigilante who throws around the words good and evil to justify his brute force and questionable methods of solving problems. Silk Spectre is a normal woman struggling between following her own path in life and forever remaining trapped in the shadow of her mother's legacy. Nite Owl almost feels like a comedic parody of Batman, poking fun at the fact that he's an awkward old nerd that loves owl-themed gadgets and dressing up in what is essentially a big Halloween costume. Dr. Manhattan is the embodiment of how power, knowledge, wealth and limitless freedom to do anything imaginable can alienate and dehumanize a person from the rest of the world. All of the superheroes are extremely flawed everyday people with everyday issues and imperfections who hide behind masked personas to cope with the questionable acts they're performing and the faulty morals behind them.

The heroes of this tale defy the image of flawless paragons of justice that can do no wrong. They are just as capable of being selfish, abusing their powers and doing evil things out of spite and unchecked negative emotions as everyone else. This critiques the very idea of putting idols on a pedestal in the first place. This can be compared to the famous actors, pop stars and politicians of today. It's easy for people to treat the words and actions of their idols like the words of God himself, forgetting that they're ordinary people with many imperfections just like everyone else. Again, most of the Watchmen have selfish reasons for hiding behind their costumed personas, because they feel powerless, guilty and ordinary without them. What does it say about who you are when you can't even show yourself in public without hiding behind a carefully crafted disguise? Why wear a mask if you're in the right and have nothing to hide?

All of this deception and abuse of authority is where the popular slogan (Who watches the Watchmen?) comes from. The people in power are constantly watching and judging the actions of the average person, but who are watching and judging the actions of the people in power? The people in power punish us for our wrongdoings but who punishes the people in power for theirs? Dismantling the infallible images that figures of authority try to maintain, dissecting issues of confused morals and identities hiding behind literal and figurative masks, tearing the veil from the one-dimensional definition of superheroes, all of these things are masterfully challenged in the shape of a dark psychological crime-thriller with many timeless themes that go harsh on politics and society.

Our heroes and leaders are never the flawless, perfect beings we romanticize them to be.

***

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[Evelyn Blackwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a disturbing issue...

The Comedien is one of the most interesting characters I have ever come across. More intersting than the Joker. That's for sure.
Since leaving the theater after seeing the film adaptation- that was the character I had the hardest time really putting in a bottle.
In fact, a lot of these characters are just... so hard to have an absolute feeling about. Like, philosophically speaking, Ozymandias is probably the one I relate to the most. An yet, I don't really like him that much and I have a hard time agreeing whole heartily to his plan. (Most likely the point).
Rorschach is a complete nut job who I couldn't disagree more with. An yet his lack of compromise, while certainly his greatest flaw, makes him utterly engaging, and dare I say, worthy of respect? (I don't dare say that. Cause he's still a monster. But a monster with rules).
Dr. Manhattan is by far the most interesting of the characters- while also still being the most un-relatable.

Then there's the Comedian. The main subject for this issue. (Which has an amazing cover if I do say so myself).
He certainly falls into that Rorschach category. But it's still a little more confusing. Because his vile deeds far exceed anything Rorschach ever did. But he clearly has an emotional core. (Tucked away it may be). He's arguably the most transparent and honest character in the book. I dare say he's the most human of the cast. The best and worst of humanity. All of its violent malevolence, the uncrushable guilt, the phony attempts at having a chuckle in the face of the abyss.

He's someone who took that Joker mentality "everything in life is a joke" and instead of becoming a depressed hipster like the rest of us- he used it to justify every vile urge he ever had.
Then after learning that he might actually have to answer for those vile crimes, it suddenly didn't matter that life was a joke.

The Comedian is basically the Joker if the Joker was taken to the next level. If someone actually allowed the Joker to reflect his character would cease to be. But my gosh would it be an interesting twist with fascinating outcomes.

The discussion at the end with Moloch is just what sends this over character into timelessness. The remorse contrasting the deeds is so visceral and extreme... I have no words.

It sounds silly to say something so obvious as "nothing is black and white in this book." But that's always my take away, and nowhere is it more apparent than with a character like the Comedian. A character I want to hate, but can't commit entirely to hating.
Perhaps because it's so rare in most any entertainment to find characters whose ethics and morality is ever so gray. It's difficult to contextualize and digest.
This is like a Star Trek episode centering around Super Heroes.

With that said, even if I have never really found a way to FEEL about this book or these characters- I know for sure that the experience I had was a powerful one. One that will make me think until my time has come.
For that, I'm grateful.

[Simbasible Comics · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absent Friends is the second issue in the twelve-issue series Watchmen, written by Alan Moore and drawn by Dave Gibbons.

The second issue continues the story from the first one, but it is actually quite different from it in terms of tone and approach. While the first functioned more as a detective mystery with a great hook, this one is more of a drama period piece that is littered with flashbacks that help us meet the Comedian better.

Apparently, he was a horrible human being who beat up women, killed children etc. He was pretty much hated by most, but he was still considered a hero due to his heroic actions in wars. This made for a fascinating character study and a great take on the idea of a superhero and whether or not superheroic deeds can compensate for the person’s horrible actions outside the battleground.

Dr. Manhattan continues to be an intriguing presence. It is hinted that he has humanity in him, but he doesn’t show it yet, which makes him fascinating and mysterious. Laurie got a much meatier role here and she was quite memorable, but it is her mother Sally that received a terrific backstory through fantastic flashbacks. The flashback structure is definitely overwhelming in this issue, but it’s so superbly done that ultimately I’d come to really appreciate it.

There is this one moment where it’s examined how enemies visit our graves while as friends we fight while we are alive due to our self-destructive human nature. That was such a powerful, rather truthful statement that left a big emotional effect on me. The highlight of this issue is the cinematic quality behind it all as the flashbacks are seamlessly incorporated and there is an epic feel to the story so swiftly going into the past and coming back to make one point or another. The illustrations truly continue to shine and that final literary supplement was once again insightful, here going through the beginning of the first iteration of this superhero team in the late thirties.

Overall, Absent Friends definitely doesn’t progress the story, but it certainly deepens it through incredible, moving flashbacks, fascinating character study, artistic illustrations and a cinematic feel to the story that never went away.