How DC Comics Is Confronting the Legacy of ‘Watchmen’ With ‘DC Universe Rebirth’

Nite-Owl and Silk Spectre – A very popular theory currently doing the rounds is that the two mysterious vigilantes who will soon make their presence felt in Gotham City are Nite-Owl and Silk Spectre. There’s once again a physical resemblance there, and as Watchmen’s only true heroes in many ways, it makes sense that they might take on a similar role in the DC Universe, don’t you think?

DC Comics head Geoff Johns explained a bit of the concept in an interview with USA Today. The full details of how Watchmen will tie in with the DC mainline universe haven’t been revealed yet, but we know Doctor Manhattan will be a very big factor of it. Johns said to USA Today, “If you’re going to have a conflict between optimism and pessimism, you need to have someone who represents a cynical view of life and also has the ability to affect this. I know it’s crazy but he felt like the right character to use.”

If you’re going to have a conflict between optimism and pessimism, you could just put the “usual” DC universe concepts into what Warner Bros. is trying to develop into a cinematic universe. I can’t think of a purer conflict between those forces than that. But Watchmen?