Manhattan's Flashback of the Comedian

Manhattan's Flashback of The Comedian

During The Comedian's funeral, Doc Manhattan has a flashback of when he and The Comedian

were in Saigon after the United States had won the Vietnam War. Doc Manhattan and The Comedian

were the only two people in the bar, besides the bartender, discussing the events of VVN night. After

stepping off the porch of the bar, a murder took place.

During their discussion, The Comedian makes comments about what the different outcomes may

have been had the Vietnamese won the war. The comedian is drinking bourbon while he and Doc

Manhattan are having this discussion. The Comedian frequented alcohol, most likely as a means of

comfort because of being able to see the gray areas, not just the black and white. Especially where Doc

Manhattan was concerned.

Doc Manhattan tells The Comedian "You sound bitter. You're a strange man, Blake. You have

strange attitudes to life and war."(13; ch. 2) In this statement made to The Comedian, Doc Manhattan

implies that The Comedian really does not care who won the war. It also implies that The Comedian

does not care about people in general. Manhattan makes this statement because he is able to see into

the future, thus seeing The Comedian's actions before they even happen. The Comedian always has an

answer for everything. He does not just walk away without justifying his reason for being the way he

is.

The Comedian proceeds to tell Manhattan "Listen, once you figure out what a joke everything is,

being the comedians the only thing that makes sense.: (13: ch. 2) The Comedian realizes that life is not

black and white. He understands that the world can not be changed, non the less saved. People need to

change in order for the world to be saved. That brings to light The Comedian remembering how

Manhattan eventually broke off his relationship with Jenny Slater after he noticed Laurie, aka Silk

Spectre II, during the first meeting of the Crimebusters. With that in mind, The Comedian thinks it is a

joke that Doc Manhattan is to save the world, when he is very much like everyone else. He tells

Manhattan that he is "driftin outta touch, turnin into a flake. God help us all."(15; ch.2)

Another reason that The Comedian thinks of Doc Manhattan as a flake is because when they were

standing on the porch outside the bar, Doc Manhattan asked The Comedian if he was anxious to leave.

The Comedian was appalled that Manhattan would even question him about such a thing. After all,

the USA won the Vietnam War because of Doc Manhattan's ability to see into the future. Once again,

this brings up the point of Doc Manhattan saving the