8 Things You May Have Missed About DC's Watchmen

2. There's Really No Wrong Way To Read Its Ending

Ozymandias was, in the main Watchmen timeline, the world's smartest man. He had brains. Lot's of them.

And so, he came to the conclusion that the only way humanity could ever save itself from nuclear catastrophe would be if a threat large enough - and lethal enough - caused the world's leaders to cooperate (think Independence Day, but with significantly less Bill Pullman, and you're about halfway there). This of course leads to Veidt's infamous squid monster, and, most damagingly of all, the murder of The Comedian. All, as the Sanford saying goes, for the greater good.

Rorschach, unwilling to compromise in the face of armageddon, leaves to expose Veidt's plans. The rest of the group, however (including the omniscient Doctor Manhattan), see Veidt's logic, and - before ol' Walt can escape - Manhattan tragically incinerates him. The real tragedy of this murder, however, is that Manhattan himself cares not to disclose the future to his comrades. Imparting one last statement to Ozymandias, he reminds him that, as is often the case with history, "nothing ever ends."

One can only speculate whether Veidt lived to see the peace he created last, but it's an interesting prospect to consider nonetheless, especially if it turned out that Rorschach's journal was printed en masse - a consequence that would have surely ensured the failure of his plans. That is, unless anyone would even believe the ramblings of a disgraced vigilante in the first place.

Sigh, why does this book's ending have to be so tragic?