In a group of bizarre, costumed crime fighters, Dr. Manhattan must be placed in his own category. Partly due to the fact that he doesn't fight crime or wear a costume. But what really sets him apart in this fantastic superhero story is that he is the only character with superhuman powers. From the beginning, we receive immediate clues that Dr. Manhattan is no ordinary character. His extreme powers tell us that he is not like the rest of the superheroes. Before he utters a single word, his bluish color suggests his cold attitudes; his pupilless eyes tell us that he sees things differently. The sum of the parts indicates that he is hardly human at all. He is the opposite of Rorschach who acts impulsively in defense of principles, while Dr. Manhattan is always calculating in his respect for logic and reason. “The superman exists and he is American” (Moore, Volume 4, Page II). This simple but powerful quote is found in the supplementary text "Dr. Manhattan: Superpowers and Superpowers" and suggests that in a world where a man develops the power to manipulate the laws of space and time, we would celebrate probably the fact that he's on our side. It is certain that governments would quickly use its immense capabilities to gain both military and political advantages. In the case of the story, Dr. Manhattan was briefly used by the US military and proved to be the difference in bringing the Vietnam War to a successful conclusion in this alternate timeline. The "Superpowers" text goes on to infer that "Dr. Manhattan could at any time instantly destroy large areas of Soviet territory" (Moore, Volume 4, Page II). But its greatest value to the U.S. military is that of national defense. In case of Soviet Union...... middle of paper ......o defend principles rather than save people. We sacrifice ourselves for commercial gain and for the fame that comes from worshiping outsiders. We worship our own achievements, obsess over time, and ultimately lose what makes us human as we continue down a path that takes us further away from each other and deeper into ourselves. Works Cited Dubose, Mike S. "Holding Out for a Hero: Reaganism, Comic Book Vigilantes, and Captain America." Journal of Popular Culture 40.6 (2007): 915-935. SPORTDiscus with full text. EBSCO. Internet. February 11, 2010. Fishbaugh, Brent. “The Keepers of Moore and Gibbons: Accurate Personifications of Science.” Extrapolation 39.3 (fall 1998): 189-198. Rep. in Contemporary Literary Criticism Select. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Information Resource Center. Internet. February 11, 2010. Moore, Alan and David Gibbons. Guardians. New York: DC Comics, 1986 - 1987