The Annotated Watchmen, Doug Atkinson [fb2 epub reader txt] 📗

dwindled in popularity due to the existence of real

"superheroes." The '50s led to pirate titles dominating the

market, led by EC. The anti-comic sentiment came to nothing; the

government came down on the side of comics to "protect the image of

certain comic book-inspired agents in their employ." In 1960, DC

premiered TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER by Max Shea and Joe Orlando [who

exists in our world, and has worked with Alan Moore], which

proved to be groundbreaking. Pirate books continue to dominate into

the mid-'80s, until the "alien" comes to New York; horror comics

become more popular after that.

Note that pirate comics have never been popular in our world;

with the exception of CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED's adaptation of

Treasure Island, I can't think of a single one offhand. (EC

may have published one as part of their "New Direction.")

NIXON: In our world, Nixon was Eisenhower's vice president

from 1953-1961, and was defeated in the 1960 presidential election

by John Kennedy. In 1962 he lost in a bid for the governorship

of California. In 1968, he was elected President, and was

re-elected in 1972 with the widest victory margin up to that point. However, a

series of scandals (beginning with the revelation of a break-in to

Democratic campaign headquarters in the Washington, DC

Watergate Hotel on 6/17/72) led to his resignation on 8/9/74.

In their world, Nixon involved Dr. Manhattan in domestic and

foreign affairs, enlisting his aid in winning the Vietnam War and

bringing about economic prosperity. This led to great popularity on

Nixon's part; in 1975 his administration sponsored a repeal of the

22nd amendment that would have limited him to 2 terms in office.

He was re-elected in 1976, 1980, and 1984.

MILK: Milk is still available in glass bottles in their world;

it's more commonly found in cardboard cartons or plastic jugs in

ours. (2:20:7).

DRUGS: A popular street drug is KT-28, which doesn't exist in

our world (at least as such).

THE NEW YORK TIMES/GAZETTE: Between 1945 and 1966, the major

New York newspaper, the Times, has changed its name to the

Gazette. (There can be no doubt that it's the same paper, though; the

name is in the same typeface, and the first page header layout is

similar. The appearance of a Times in #1 can probably be

regarded as a fluke.)

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Blimps/dirigibles are not a common form of

transport in our world, but they are in theirs. They've replaced

other forms of mass transportation; nowhere in the series does a

bus appear, and subways are only referred to in the past tense.

Taxis are the only form of public transportation common to both worlds.

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