In this episode, Curt and Kevin start the clock, kicking off a four-part exploration of one of the most acclaimed comic book series of all time with a look at Watchmen #1-3, written by Alan Moore, drawn by Dave Gibbons, and published by DC Comics!

In an alternate-reality version of 1985, a man named Edward Blake is thrown to his death from his penthouse apartment. Investigating this Manhattan murder mystery, the faceless vigilante known as Rorschach discovers that Blake was once the government-sanctioned crimefighter called the Comedian!

Fearing that someone may be targeting former costumed adventurers, Rorschach attempts to warn his onetime allies—Dan "Nite Owl" Dreiberg, Adrian "Ozymandias" Veidt, Laurie Jon "Doctor Manhattan" Osterman and his live-in girlfriend, Laurie "Silk Spectre" Juspeczyk. But Rorschach's warnings seem far-fetched, until the godlike Doctor Manhattan is accused of causing cancer in his friends and enemies—and abandons Earth for Mars!

With America's atomic protector gone, can President Richard Nixon prevent an impending nuclear conflict? And will our protagonists live long enough to retire to that home for hidebound heroes known as … The Comics Canon?

Things Discussed in This Episode:

• The kid gloves come off!
• Watchmen's Charlton Comics roots
• The signature trope of Watchmen
• Why is he called The Comedian when he doesn't tell any jokes?
• What kind of person would want to become a costumed vigilante?
• Tales of the Black Freighter: The feel-good book of the year!
• A surprise menage-a-trois
• "Threatening man buns"
• Citizen Kane—the Watchmen of movies!
• Peter Cannon, Thunderbolt

Join us in two weeks as our four-part series continues with a look as issues 4-6!

Until then, why not peruse our new spring line of Comics Canon merchandise? We also invite you to check out the King Krackle digital brushes from our friends at Category 4!

Last but not least, please be so kind as to rate us on iTunes, send us an email, or hit us up on Twitter or Facebook, and we may read your comments in an upcoming episode. And as always, thanks for listening!