Flashback to Watchmen #1 when Adrian (Ozymandias) Veidt threw Eddie (Comedian) Blake out of his high-rise window to his death. This time, though, as Blake falls, the world goes black and fades back in as Blake falls into a body of water instead of hitting the street. Metropolis's skyline is in the background as he swims to shore, where Dr. Manhattan walks up next to him.

After some passage of time, Comedian is in his costume and fighting Ozymandias. Blake has knowledge of his own death, and that Ozymandias's plan came to fruition at the end of Watchmen. Ozymandias has been caught by surprise seeing Blake, and retreats by throwing himself out the window. He is injured after a window-washer rig snaps, and an awning breaks his fall.

In Gotham, Batman confronts the new Rorschach, who has discovered the Bat-Cave. Rorschach has trouble explaining where he came from and what is happening, so he hands Batman the journal written by Walter Kovacs, the original Rorschach. Rorschach stands over Batman's shoulder while he reads, so Batman sends him away to clean up.

At a retirement home, Johnny Thunder stands looking out the window, waiting for his granddaughter and great-grandson to pick him up for dinner. They are late and it is after 10. The other residents are watching TV, first a news story about the rise of metahumans since Superman appeared, then switching to the movie The Adjournment, a black and white film noir featuring the detective Nathaniel Dusk. Scenes from the movie are shown through the entire issue, often mirroring the actions and thoughts of the characters.

Marionette and Mime, in full costume and makeup while searching for Dr. Manhattan, stop into a dive bar on the outskirts of Gotham for a drink. Some of the Joker's henchmen are there, and take exception to their white face paint. One of them grabs Marionette and holds a knife to her face for disrespecting their boss. Mime shoots him with his imaginary gun, then the duo teams up to slaughter everyone in the bar, and finally get that drink. Then they decide to seek out this "Joker."

More news reports on the retirement home TV as the residents change channels while fighting over the remote. A German explosion seems to be because their government is trying to manufacture superheros...Lex Luthor is in surgery after being attacked...Pakistan, Russia, Israel, and Qurac are accused of using Luthor's Metagene Detectors on their own citizens. All the while, Johnny Thunder looks heartbroken staring out the window, before realizing his daughter is not coming, and finally turning away.

In a Wayne Manor bedroom, an unmasked Rorschach wakes from a dream that is actually a memory - him driving right into the path of the "alien" that destroyed New York City at the end of Watchmen. Batman is sitting at his side, out of costume. He says he knows where Dr. Manhattan is; Arkham Asylum.

Both now in costume, Batman leads Rorschach there, and directs him into a cell. After Rorschach enters, Batman closes the door on him, saying "I'm sorry. You belong here."

Rorschach screams "Let! Me! Out!" repeatedly.

The addition to the issue is a copy of "Screenland Secrets" magazine from the late 1950s, featuring a story on the mysterious death of actor Carver Colman. He was beaten to death in his home with the Oscar he won for his role in the Nathanial Dusk movies. Colman's face was beaten so badly that it was unrecognizable to even his own friends.

- Rob Otto

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