Absent Friends (1986)

Absent Friends Review

Absent Friends is the second issue in the twelve-issue series Watchmen, written by Alan Moore and drawn by Dave Gibbons.

The second issue continues the story from the first one, but it is actually quite different from it in terms of tone and approach. While the first functioned more as a detective mystery with a great hook, this one is more of a drama period piece that is littered with flashbacks that help us meet the Comedian better.

Apparently, he was a horrible human being who beat up women, killed children etc. He was pretty much hated by most, but he was still considered a hero due to his heroic actions in wars. This made for a fascinating character study and a great take on the idea of a superhero and whether or not superheroic deeds can compensate for the person’s horrible actions outside the battleground.

Dr. Manhattan continues to be an intriguing presence. It is hinted that he has humanity in him, but he doesn’t show it yet, which makes him fascinating and mysterious. Laurie got a much meatier role here and she was quite memorable, but it is her mother Sally that received a terrific backstory through fantastic flashbacks. The flashback structure is definitely overwhelming in this issue, but it’s so superbly done that ultimately I’d come to really appreciate it.

There is this one moment where it’s examined how enemies visit our graves while as friends we fight while we are alive due to our self-destructive human nature. That was such a powerful, rather truthful statement that left a big emotional effect on me. The highlight of this issue is the cinematic quality behind it all as the flashbacks are seamlessly incorporated and there is an epic feel to the story so swiftly going into the past and coming back to make one point or another. The illustrations truly continue to shine and that final literary supplement was once again insightful, here going through the beginning of the first iteration of this superhero team in the late thirties.