Rorschach (Walter Kovacs)
Rorschach, whose real name is Walter Kovacs, is one of the main protagonists of Watchmen. He is a vigilante who wears a mask resembling a shifting Rorschach ink-blot test and works independently after the retirement of the second Nite Owl. Rorschach investigates the murder of The Comedian and believes that it is evidence of a conspiracy to kill off superheroes. He is later assisted by Silk Spectre and Nite Owl and uncovers a larger and more formidable plot by Ozymandias.
The Comedian (Edward Blake)
The Comedian, whose real name is Edward Blake, was a morally-corrupt and sadistic masked vigilante who was a member of two major superhero groups: the Minutemen and the Crimebusters. He efficiently suppressed organized crime while committing criminal acts himself, including the sexual assault of his fellow superhero: Sally Jupiter, the first Silk Spectre. The events of Watchmen begin directly after Edward Blake’s murder.
Doctor Manhattan (Dr. Jon Osterman)
Doctor Manhattan, originally Dr. Jon Osterman, is a nuclear physicist who, after an incident which involved his bodily disintegration and reanimation as a radioactive anthropomorphic being with blue skin and a variety of superpowers, including the ability to manipulate matter. After his transformation, he is employed by the U.S. government and used as a weapon in the Vietnam War. While he possesses an apparent indifference towards the human race, he develops a romantic relationship with the second Silk Spectre, Laurie Juspeczyk.
Silk Spectre II (Laurie Juspeczyk)
Silk Spectre II (Laurie Juspeczyk) is the daughter and the successor of the first Silk Spectre, Sally Jupiter. She has a deep dislike for The Comedian after hearing of his sexual assault of her mother. Laurie later becomes romantically involved with Dr. Manhattan, but when their relationship takes a turn for the worse, she becomes romantically involved with Nite Owl. The two work together with Rorschach in his investigations and stand with him against Adrian Veidt when Veidt’s plot is exposed.
Nite Owl II (Daniel Dreiberg)
Nite Owl II (Daniel Dreiberg) is the successor of the first Nite Owl, Hollis Mason. He worked with Rorschach to fight crime, but retired after a little over a decade. In Watchmen, he returns to life as a superhero, working alongside both Rorschach and Silk Spectre to investigate The Comedian’s murder and Adrian Veidt’s plots and activities.
Ozymandias (Adrian Veidt)
Ozymandias, whose real identity is Adrian Veidt, is the primary antagonist of Watchmen. He is a former superhero and successful businessman who models himself after historical figures like Alexander the Great and Ramses II. Veidt devises a plan to use Doctor Manhattan as weapon of mass destruction against the people of New York. Nite Owl, Rorschach and Silk Spectre work together in an effort to stop him.
