The Fantastic “Watchmen”

Within class this semester, we have taken several texts representing a range of genres or mediums-- novels, films, songs, etc. to make interesting descriptive statement about their relationship, culture, formation, or about the genres, mediums, and textual concerns.  One work that we talked about that really stood out to me was the graphic novel Watchmen.  With the highly complex comic and film composition both in mind, I wanted to choose a work of art that could stand alongside and compliment Watchmen and its various components.  The medium that I chose in conjunction with Watchmen is the Fantastic 4.  I feel as though the Fantastic 4 and Watchmen’s main themes are interwoven within each other.  Since we have discussed, in such detail in class, Watchmen, and its complexity, I will be spotlighting The Fantastic Four’s essentials and how the characterization and some themes and motives of this work are concurrently in harmony with Alan Miller’s graphic novel, Watchmen.

           The origin of the Fantastic 4 is an internationally renowned unique group of superhero champions derived out of New York City.  The initial mission this group is dedicated to the betterment of the world through scientific discovery and defense against evil.  (Marvel, The Origin)  This first tidbit above about the Fantastic 4 connects with the general logistics of Watchmen.  The setting of the major action within these two works is New York City.

In addition to the setting, the overall mission of both of the superhero groups is for the betterment of the world by fighting against evil; however, these two groups tackle that issue very differently.  The Minutemen, from Watchmen go about this by fighting crime on the wicked streets of New York City using their alter egos; while the characters of the Fantastic Four use the special powers that were created by radiation that had mutated their bodies and altered their DNA (Marvel, Setting up Shop).  “Reed is able to stretch like rubber; Sue can turn invisible and create force fields, especially when angered; Johnny can produce fire at supernova temperatures, and is able to fly; and Ben is transformed into 'The Thing', a large, rock-like creature with super strength”  (IMDB, Fantastic Four). All four decided to use their powers to better humanity and founded the Fantastic 4.  The group of close colleges who’s DNA was mutated set out to safeguard the world from any and all threats beyond the purview of conventional peacekeeping forces.

To understand these spheres we can turn to a quote from Mr. Incredible, from the movie The Incredibles stated, “Every superhero has a secret identity.”  This quote is applicable to the characters in the Fantastic 4 as well as Watchmen.  In Watchmen, the characters possessed secret identities literally. Some of the secret identities possessed by characters were revealed overtime, while other secret identities became a part of their original persona.  A perfect example of this is Rorschach.

His character was committed to his super-hero identity and to fighting crime for the greater good of society.  He felt as though human actions play an important role within society.

In relation to the Fantastic 4, I feel as though Ben, “The Thing,” mirrors Rorschach.

“The Thing” did have a normal life until the DNA mutation.  After mutating into “The Thing,” he became more like Rorschach.  First, the appearances of these two characters remain constant, independent and evident throughout the movie.  In the Fantastic 4 everyone else is dualistic in the physical sense, but Ben stayed the same.  Secondly, what I consider the strongest link between the two is the human experience and the human side behind the secret identities of these characters.  For Rorschach, he had disinherited childhood where he wasn’t loved, but ended up making something out of nothing by acting on the behalf of others. “The Thing” was not loved based on his appearance.  People referred to him as a freak.  They were terrified of his appearance, didn’t understand what drove his inner emotions.  This can connect to Rorschach, when being questioned after he was captured, and how Dr. Malcolm Long didn’t understand him.  Although both characters were unlovable and unreachable, the complexity and the significance of these two characters has a significant purpose in both mediums.  The rage of being unloved drove both characters to act the way they did within their respective works. 

In the Fantastic 4, the plan for all the characters once they discovered that they were different and that their DNA had been altered was to not show off their special powers while in public.   As usual, there is that one, who doesn’t abide by the group's rules and lives according to his own intuition.  This was Johnny, the Human Torch.

It was hard for Johnny to keep his powers from the public because he loved the attention that he was receiving from women.  This reminds us me of the Comedian.

Johnny mirrors me of the Comedian in the way he carries himself.  Johnny was a happy go lucky person, just like the comedian, happy-go-lucky doing the things that he wanted to do whenever he wanted where every he wanted.

Another similar relationship can be seen with Reed, and Dr. Manhattan.  This encompasses two aspects, (1) the relationship and pursuit of love, and (2)  the powerful men who can change the world with their inner powers.

First, the notion of love and past relationships.  Before all of the chaos of cosmic radiation and Dr. Manhattan being zapped when retrieving his watch, they held a relationship with a woman.  Once this event occurred, altering the human, the result of the relationships that these two characters possessed went different directions.  Reed decides to let go of his old habits and marry Sue, who was at one point talking with Victor Van Boom.  As for Dr. Manhattan, he ends up leaving this world and relocating to a place far from this world.

In addition to the love and relationship aspects, these characters both try to solve a worldly problem.  The similarities in both situations is that they both know the answer but only one of them actually does something about it and that would be Reed.  Dr. Manhattan lets things play out and does not intervene when Veidt destorys New York City.

Lastly, the most important theme that is heavily intertwined within these two works is the greed of individual and the corruptive state of mind.  This motif is the one that is explicitly evident within both Fantastic 4 and Watchmen that drives both plots and storylines home.  Victor von Doom and Adrian Veidt are both characterized as of the wealthy, power hungry, evil foes that attempt alter the world.

Victor, who was also affected by the cosmic radiation, ended up with full power.  He was able to use this power to destroy and manipulate things in his favor.  However, with the combination of all four of the Fantastic 4, Victor wasn’t able to withstand.  There was too much power to defeat.

 However, as we know this wasn’t the case with Veidt.  With all the power going to his head, and the world already corrupt, he was able to create a monster that destroyed New York City and was on top of the world.  So, is Veidt really evil, or just obsessed and a bit out of control?

Overall, the characterization of the Fantastic 4 lines up with the characterization of those figures in Watchmen.  In addition to the characterization, there were some similarities intertwined within Watchmen and Fantastic 4.  In closing, the Fantastic 4 was a great movie with a great storyline with intense action.  The quotes at the beginning of the essay sum up the major points from both movies Fantastic 4 and Watchmen respectively.

Works Cited

Marvel Universe. "Fantastic Four." Fantastic Four - Marvel Universe: The definitive online source for Marvel super hero bios. Marvel Universe. 24 Mar. 2010 <http://marvel.com/universe/Fantastic_Four#The_Origin>.

Pereya, Anthony. "Fantastic Four (2005) - Plot Summary." The Internet Movie Database. 23 Mar. 2010. Keyword: Fantastic Four.