1. At Midnight, All the Agents...

Edward Blake, known as the Comedian, is murdered. Rorschach begins his investigation, believing someone is killing costumed heroes. We see flashbacks of the Comedian's career and the alternate history where superheroes emerged in the 1940s.

The chapter introduces the gritty, morally complex world of Watchmen and establishes the mystery that drives the plot. Features the iconic smiley face button in the blood gutter.