Watchmen:Origins 14 - 'In the Footsteps of Alexander'

Well! At last, our attention turns to Adrian Veidt. Perhaps more than any other character from Watchmen, his origin stories (there's one more to come, folks, which will be my final video for this series after we round off the stories of Laurie, Rorschach and Dr Manhattan) are crucial to understanding his character, ambitions and motivation. Enjoy!

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[Sasso]

Fantastic as always, AYB. What movie is the score from? It's astonishing how well it suits Veidt.

[AllyourbasicGerrard]

Thanks Sasso! Something by Sigur Ros I think....

[YoungLadyGuru]

Tell me, was there ever an origin story for Dan Dreiberg/Nite Owl in the story?

[AllyourbasicGerrard]

Unfortunately, no. :(

He appears in other origin stories but the focus is always on another character. Nevertheless you can get a slight insight into the character - try watching number 4 and 6 with him in mind.

In the book there are also references to his past. Dan sent a letter to the first Nite Owl, Hollis Mason, who wrote in his book:

[AllyourbasicGerrard]

(cont.)

"He told me of his great admiration for my efforts as Nite Owl and proposed that since I'd retired and would no longer be using the name, perhaps he could borrow it since he intended to follow my example and become a crime-fighter. I've visited his home since then and seen some of the fabulous technology he intends to bring to bear on the war against crime."

There's also Dan's article on owls that is read as metaphorical and includes reference to Dan's childhood.

[hotbulletslug]

This is great.

[AllyourbasicGerrard]

thanks

[Elric33239]

Amazing what self-delusional hedonism and drug-addiction can do to a misguided genius. Excellent presentation.

[Dodec84]

LOL ... "I only got average grades, because I didn't want to pull too much suspicion" ... i must remind that one to explain my bad grades from my high school period.

[Elric33239]

@frankensteinmoneymac If you read my earler comment, I didn't say that The Comedian wasn't hedonistic! I said that his hedonism was less extreme than Ozymandias' because he didn't market himself as The Ideal Man like Ozy did and he was a soldier for the same reason that he was a superhero: as a means to channel his anger and rage while protecting others. Look at the scene where he and Niteowl were repelling anti-hero protestors. He said that he was "protecting society from themselves!"

[frankensteinmoneymac]

@Elric33239 Personally I think The Comedian's service to his country was just another part of his Hedonism. If you go back and look at any panels of him engaging an enemy in a violent way, he loves it! He gets off on it (think about the rape scene) He'd do it for no rewards, I'd imagine...also I think that he would just as likely join the other side if it was the only way for him to get his kicks . Luckily for him, he had plenty of opportunity to indulge his Violence fetish while still a "hero"

[frankensteinmoneymac]

I've been watching these clips, more of less in order...they are very good! I felt compelled to write to this one....so far this one has my favorite musical interpretation. Do you, or for that matter does anyone else know what this track is? Thanks!

[Elric33239]

1. He considered himself a reincarnation of Alexander the Great

2. He presents himself as a philanthropist while living a self-indulgent lifestyle

3. He uses himself as an ideal example for finding "the superhero in you!"

4. He and he alone decided that 15 million people should die in order to "save the world from itself!"

The Comedian also qualified as a hedonist, but not to the degree as Ozymandias because he served his country for few personal rewards and without becoming a media icon!

[Dodec84]

Dan also used to have a love affair with a kinky mistress which he refers to as a "sick woman". It is the origin of his costume fetish.

[Dodec84]

how is Oz. hedonistic?

i would think The Comedian is the most hedonistic of the guys