In this episode: Dr. Peter Coogan joins the crew to discuss his theory that the sequel to Watchmen doesn't need to be written, because it already has... Clues to the sequel to Watchmen By Peter Coogan This reading of Watchmen was inspired by a comment by Sara J. Van Ness in Watchmen as Literature (McFarland, 2010). She pointed to the excerpt from Under the Hood in chapter 1 and the paperclipped note on its first page, “‘We present here excerpts from Hollis Mason’s autobiography, UNDER THE HOOD, leading up t the time when he became the masked adventurer, Nite Owl. Reprinted with permission of the author’ (27). This ‘we’ is the novels only reference to the narrator” (p. 61). This comment inspired me to track down the identity of the narrator and it led to a series of discoveries about the novel. Read through these clues and see if you can figure out why there is no need for a sequel to Watchmen. How did Moore and Gibbons build the sequel into the text? These clues assume that Watchmen has been published diagetically (diagetic = in the world of the story). What does the diagetic publication of Watchmen imply about Veidt’s status in 1986? Who probably owns DC Comics in the world of Watchmen and what does that probable imply or indicate? I.9.4. What do Under the Hood and Gladiator have in common? What book is missing from Hollis Mason’s bookshelf? How is Hollis Mason’s authorship of Under the Hood connected to the authorship/source of the diagetic Watchmen? D1-1. Under the Hood excerpt. In the paperclipped note, who is “we”, where is “here”, and how do they have the permission of the author, Hollis Mason, who is dead? Who has inherited Hollis Mason’s copyright of Under the Hood. IV.15. Who has access to this conversation between Hollis Mason and Dr. Manhattan after Mason’s retirement? D-6. Who would have the ability to get Kovac’s arrest report and various childhood files? Or Malcom Long’s notebooks? VII.13-15. Who has access to the story of Dan and Laurie’s failed lovemaking? D-7. Why is “Blood from the Shoulder of Pallas” included? It doesn’t reveal anything about the background of the characters. It doesn’t supply any real information that contributes to an understanding of the larger story. IX. Who has access to Jon and Laurie’s conversation on Mars? This is a crucial conversation (more so than some of the invented conversations discussed below in the “Problems” section) because it explains why Jon returned to Earth and would therefore offer a real selling point for the book. D-9. Who has access to Sally Jupiter’s scrapbook? D-10. Who could have taken a picture of Veidt’s desktop, with calendar? XI. Who has access to Veidt’s discussions with Dan and Rorschach at Karnak? XII. Who has access to the events at Karnak? XII.20 What does the publication of Watchmen mean about Dan and Laurie’s agreement to keep Veidt’s plan secret? Problems with this theory: It seems unlikely that Moore and Gibbons intended this reading of Watchmen as they initially only planned 6 issues and originally intended to run letter pages after issue three and so included Under the Hood excerpts only as a placeholder until letter pages started. Moore originally planned to use MLJ’s Mighty Crusader characters and so started the story with the death of the Shield. All of these arguments are versions of the intentional fallacy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intentional_fallacy). Watchmen was published in September 1986, so the turnaround time from October of 1985 is problematic, but not impossible. Some of the depiction of the characters has to be declared fictional or speculative under this theory: All the Bernie/Bernard interaction at the newsstand, the Shea/Hira interaction on the island and the freighter, the police officers interaction in chapter 5 (and elsewhere), Godfrey and Seymour at the New Frontiersman, Veidt’s interactions with his servants and his role in their deaths. But some of these interactions could have been recorded by Veidt in his bugging and so might have been found. And other interactions might have come out of Congressional testimony, other investigations, or interviews published as part of the coverage of the revelations of Veidt’s role in the squid attack (such as the war room in chapter 10). Likely the inclusion of Tales of the Black Freighter is symbolic, either on the part of the source or “Moore” and “Gibbons” (the diagetic versions of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons). It’s also likely that many of the other texts mentioned in the book (e.g. The Day the Earth Stood Still, “The Architects of Fear”) are also symbolic.

This week on the show: Shoes from the future - TODAY! Something about a new comic launch from DC Comics, Matthew likes a girl version of Wolverine, Rodrigo likes Dinosaurs, and Stephen likes Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight… but that isn't new news is it? NEWS Nike Air Mag shoes get everyone excited, and then really really sad LINK REVIEWS Stephen Morning Glories #12
story NICK SPENCER art JOE EISMA cover RODIN ESQUEJO
With a slew of unexpected deaths rocking the very foundations of the academy, the faculty are on high alert - and suspicions arise among the Glories as they learn there may be a killer in their midst. The stage is set for the action-packed third arc right here! [rating:3.5/5] Rodrigo Jurassic Park: Dangerous Games #1 (of 5) Greg Bear, Erik Bear (w) • Jorge Jimenez (a) • Jeff Zornow, Geof Darrow (c) The time has come... to return to Isla Nublar! The famed original Jurassic Park island has become overgrown and wild after years of being stuck in United Nations limbo. A major criminal overlord has moved in and started using the island as a base of operations. Undercover agent Espinoza tries to bring down the drug cartel- but when he's found out, there's only one place to run... the dino-infested island interior! It's survival of the fittest at Jurassic Park! *2 regular covers will be shipped in a 1-to-1 ratio. FC • 32 pages • $3.99 [rating:3/5] Matthew X-23 #14 Written by MARJORIE LIU Penciled by PHIL NOTO Cover by KALMAN ANDRASOFSZKY GUEST-STARRING THE FF AND SPIDER-MAN! A cosmic force is tearing apart New York, and targeting X-23, Sue Richards, and Spider-Man along the way. What strange connection do these three heroes share, and is it the key to saving the city and the world -- or will it get them killed? [rating:4/5] MAJOR SPOILERS POLL OF THE WEEK It's been nearly a full week since DC unleashed their first full offering of the DCnU.  We've covered all the books so far, and you know what we think, but now it is time for you to make your voice heard...AGAIN! [poll id="200"] ">VOTE TRADE PAPERBACK DISCUSSION Legends of the Dark Knight: Venom By Dennis O’Neil, Russell Braun, Trevor Von Eeden, and José Luis García-López When Batman fails to save the life of a young girl held for ransom, he decides to try a new experimental drug designed by her father called Venom. Contact us at [email protected] Call the Major Spoilers Hotline at (785) 727-1939. A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends about the podcast, get them to subscribe and, be sure to visit the Major Spoilers site and forums.