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  • Essay / Watchmen series and superhero stereotypes

    As modern American culture has developed, comic books have been used as a way to reflect on the nature of our society and the culture that has defined the country in itself. Comic books have long been an integral part of American media, creating iconic characters such as DC Comics' Batman or Marvel Comics' Spider-man. Comic books were originally used to depict feats of superhuman power, performed by individuals willing to help and save those around them. Classically, these stories always had antagonists who, for one reason or another, wanted to disrupt or destroy the sanctity of the country or world, and it was the superhero's responsibility to assert themselves as a positive force and to guarantee the security of the country's citizens. the country or the globe. Although other comics could be said to have introduced the idea that superheroes are detrimental to the well-being of humanity, few have expressed this sentiment with such deep resonance as that of the 1986 Watchmen series, by Alan Moore and David Gibbons. In this comic, the creators confront the grisly reality of a world where superheroes arguably cause as much destruction as they facilitate growth, giving a developed and cultured take on the classic superhero structure. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay In the reality of the Watchmen series, the world was subjected to a chaotic and apocalyptic reality where the United States remained under authoritarian leadership from Richard Nixon, some twelve years after the events of the Watergate scandal. In this world, the United States found itself in a devastating nuclear war with Soviet Russia, and the effects shook the foundations of society. The story follows a group of retired superheroes who attempt to investigate the murder of one of their allies, who helped them fight the Soviet presence and develop the nation into the dark and dark world destitute in which they live at the start of the series. Moore's construction of history was developed largely as a way of thinking about the nature of the American presence in the world, the capacity for implacable force and power to be negative for humanity and to deconstruct the very concept of the classic superhero. Superheroes emerged in the 1940s and throughout the 1960s in this world, and their involvement in the Vietnam War ensured America's victory and helped propel Richard Nixon forward to cover up the events of the Watergate scandal. The influence of the heroes themselves was even used to ensure that Watergate was never revealed. Since 1985 in the series, the United States has been perpetually moving closer to an all-out global assault and the catalyst for World War III with the Soviet Union. As a result, the implementation of costumed superheroes was banned and restricted by the government. This has led to a situation where virtually all superheroes have retired or are working directly as agents on behalf of the government. The premise of this story was to think about what superheroes would be like if they were forced to live in a real, believable world. Bradford Wright claimed that Watchmen was "Moore's obituary for the concept of heroes in general and superheroes in particular." (Wright, 110) The purpose of the story was to reveal the humanity of those who were designated as heroes and to highlight the idea that, in a real world, these individuals could oftenbe used for purposes of devastation and against their perceived morality. have had in classic superhero comics. The heroes of this comic are designed in a way that essentially deconstructs the concept of the hero as a whole and what constitutes a being that is meant to be intrinsically good. Watchmen is considered a comic book with mature themes and has helped the comics themselves grow and develop to better reflect reality and the real, gritty nature of the universe in which these stories take place. As such, the villains of the stories themselves are often the culture and society at large in which these heroes exist. They are used as a means to an end and as a collective weapon that American military engineers develop to perpetuate their goals. Additionally, as the government begins to utilize these heroes more, their involvement in scandals and corruption becomes more widespread, allowing an individual such as Richard Nixon to abdicate the throne of the United States and establish himself as a sort of de facto dictator. Watchmen shows that if the superhero ideas and fantasies we all have became reality, the world itself would be changed and radically altered, and it wouldn't be for the good of humanity. Nixon's resignation was directly affected, for example, by the existence of the Watchmen. In particular, the one named "The Comedian" was used by the President to assassinate Woodward and Bernstein to ensure that there would be no public involvement or scandal to ensure his eventual downfall. This represents one of the main ways in which the entire society is transformed by the presence of heroes. In our current reality, Nixon was forced to resign and the corrupt and scandalous actions he committed were brought to light to reveal the nature of his character as a statesman and being in general. In this world, there was no opposition to Nixon's advances because he used what was originally intended for good to help perpetuate his own advances and imperialism. The comedian's actions directly reflect the idea that the presence of superheroes might not be directly linked to them being heroes. He is a uniquely right-wing hero, willing to serve the president, even in the face of corruption and controversy, to give the American government an unprecedented level of authority. The superheroes' possession is also called into question by this narrative and by the existence of a particularly powerful man, known as Dr. Manhattan. Although it can be argued that Superman was used as a tool for good, Alan Moore and David Gibbons portray Dr. Manhattan as a Goliath of superhuman proportions and absolute devastation, even in the face of nuclear weapons. (Duin, Richardson, 88) The artistic style and presence that Dr. Manhattan imposes in many of the panels in which he appears places him as a stark, non-human juxtaposition with the other heroes, reflecting how his relentless power has changed and the way the US government has used it has distorted its desire to help it achieve its goals. Russia is terrified of the United States at the start of the Cold War due to the total decimation caused by Dr. Manhattan in the Vietnam War. However, Dr. Manhattan's inherited superior intellect convinced him of the obsolete nature of humanity, and he decided to leave Earth for Mars, which in turn catalyzed an impending nuclear war due to the fact that Russia wishes to assert his dominance once again, with Dr. Manhattan no longer wishing to be involved with humanity. In this regard, Moore constructs a.