As modern American culture developed, comics have been used as a means to reflect on the nature of our society and the culture that has defined the country itself. Comic books have long been an integral attribute of American media, creating iconic figures such as the Batman character from DC Comics or Spider-man from Marvel Comics. Originally, comics were used to depict feats of superhuman power, exhibited by individuals who had a disposition 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 the world, and it was the superhero's responsibility to establish himself as a positive force and ensure the safety of the citizens of the country or the globe . While other comics can be said to have introduced the idea that superheroes are detrimental to the betterment of humanity, few have articulated this sentiment with such profound resonance as that of Alan Moore and David Gibbons' 1986 Watchmen series. In this comic, the creators face the macabre reality of a world where superheroes arguably cause as much destruction as they facilitate growth, taking a developed and cultivated approach to the classic superhero structure. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In the reality of the Watchmen series, the world was subjected to a chaotic, apocalyptic reality in which the United States remained under the authoritarian leadership of Richard Nixon, approximately twelve years after the events of the Watergate scandal. In this world, the United States has arrived at a devastating nuclear war with Soviet Russia, and the effects have shaken the foundations of society to its core. The story follows a group of retired superheroes as they attempt to investigate the murder of one of their allies, who helped them fight the Soviet presence and transform the nation into the grim, destitute world they live in at the beginning of the series. Moore's construction of the story was developed largely as a means to reflect on the nature of America's global presence, the capacity for relentless strength and power to be bad 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 push Richard Nixon to cover up the events of the Watergate scandal. The influence of the heroes themselves was used above all to ensure that Watergate was never revealed. Starting in 1985 in the series, the United States is continually moving closer to an all-out global assault and the catalyst for World War III with the Soviet Union, and as a result, the implementation of costumed superheroes has been outlawed and limited by the government. This has led to the situation where essentially all superheroes have retired or work directly as agents for government reasons. The premise of this story was to reflect on what superheroes would be like if they were forced to live in a real, believable world. Bradford Wright stated 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 in those who were designated as heroes and to show the idea that, in the real world, these individuals could often be used for the devastation and against morality they are perceived to be. have had in classic superhero comics. The heroes in this comic are designed to essentially deconstruct the concept of a heroas a whole and what constitutes a being that should be intrinsically good. Watchmen is considered the comic that showcased mature themes and helped comics themselves grow and develop to better reflect reality and the gritty, real 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 the United States military designs to perpetuate its goals. Furthermore, as the government begins to utilize these heroes more, their involvement in scandals and corruption becomes rampant, allowing an individual like Richard Nixon to abdicate the throne of the United States and establish himself as a sort of de facto dictator. Watchmen proves that if the superhero ideas and fantasies we've all had were made real, the world itself would change and alter drastically, and it wouldn't be for the betterment of humanity. Nixon's resignation was directly influenced, for example, by the existence of the Watchmen. In particular, one named "The Comedian" was used by the President to kill 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 society as a whole is changed 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 progress because he used what was originally intended for good to help perpetuate his own progress and imperialism. The Comedian's actions directly reflect the idea that the presence of superheroes may not be directly related to them being heroes. He is a particularly 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. Furthermore, and in a different aspect, the more direct and pronounced power that superheroes possess is also called into question by this narrative and the existence of a man particularly gifted with superpowers, known as Dr. Manhattan. While Superman could be said to have been used as a device for good, Alan Moore and David Gibbons portray Dr. Manhattan as a Goliath of superhuman proportions and utter devastation, even in the face of nuclear weapons. (Duin, Richardson, 88) The art style and presence that Dr. Manhattan commands in many of the panels in which he appears make him a stark, non-human juxtaposition to the other heroes, reflecting the extent to which his relentless power makes him has changed, and the way the American government has used it has distorted its willingness to help it achieve its goals. At the beginning of the Cold War, Russia is terrified of the United States due to the absolute decimation caused by Dr. Manhattan during the Vietnam War. However, Dr. Manhattan's inherited superior intellect has convinced him of humanity's obsolete nature, and he decides to leave Earth for Mars, which in turn has catalyzed an impending nuclear war because Russia wishes to once again assert the his rule with Dr. Manhattan who no longer wishes to be involved with humanity. In this regard, Moore constructs a type of hero that shows the true nature of superheroes and develops the fantasies that exist about heroes in the nightmares in which they truly exist, when the reader reflects on their existence in general. This is reinforced by the presence of the detective hero Rorschach, who he took.