Another tale of Cold War tensions, Alan Moore’s “Watchmen” tells the story of a band of superheroes ravaged by a changing world, where Nixon won re-election, the Vietnam war was a successful military venture, and the US government has successfully created an omnipotent super being known to the world as Dr. Manhattan, used to crush all communist threats. As lies, murder, and deception begin to tear apart at the remainders of the superhero community, the question of the corrupting abilities of unchecked power create a point best put by Young Americans for Liberty blogger Franklin Harris:
While Iron Man and The Dark Knight both deal with issues of power and corruption, they ultimately side with their vigilante protagonists…. “Watchmen,” however, remains admirably faithful to its source material and comes to a different conclusion. Its costumed crusaders are, at best, powerless when it comes to doing good and, at worst, make the world a far more dangerous place. If, as Lord Acton said, power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely, then unaccountable superhumans with near God-like powers are not necessarily a good thing. Like a powerful central government that is able to dominate local governments or an imperial presidency that co-opts powers properly belonging to Congress, superheroes upset existing power structures. “Who watches the Watchmen?” is a question with no obvious answer.
its ok kids, the government says “the Comedian” is a good guy!
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and The Dark Knight
both deal with issues of power and corruption, they ultimately side with their vigilante protagonists…. “Watchmen,” however, remains admirably faithful to its source material and comes to a different conclusion. Its costumed crusaders are, at best, powerless when it comes to doing good and, at worst, make the world a far more dangerous place. If, as Lord Acton said, power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely, then unaccountable superhumans with near God-like powers are not necessarily a good thing. Like a powerful central government that is able to dominate local governments or an imperial presidency that co-opts powers properly belonging to Congress, superheroes upset existing power structures. “Who watches the Watchmen?” is a question with no obvious answer.
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