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| “ | Rorschach's Journal. October 12, 1985: Dog carcass in alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach. This city is afraid of me. I have seen its true face. The streets are extended gutters and the gutters are full of blood and when the drains finally scab over, all the vermin will drown. The accumulated filth of all their sex and murder will foam up about their waists and all the whores and politicians will look up and shout "Save us!"... and I'll whisper "no". | „ |
| ~ Rorschach |
Walter Joseph Kovacs, also known as Rorschach, is the main protagonist of the Watchmen franchise.
He is a ruthless vigilante who seeks to enforce justice at any and all costs and spends the duration of the story investigating the murder of fellow crime fighter, the Comedian.
His mask displays a constantly morphing inkblot that is based on the ambiguous designs used in Rorschach inkblot tests. Rorschach was named the 16th Greatest Comic Book Character by Empire magazine, 6th Greatest Comic Book Character of All Time by Wizard magazine, and 16th on Top 100 Comic Book Heroes by IGN.
Following his debut in the comics, he has appeared in numerous media. He was portrayed by Jackie Earle Haley in the 2009 film adaptation, and voiced by Tom Stechschulte in the motion comic adaptation and Titus Welliver in the 2024 and 2025 animated films.
He was created by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons.
Biography[]
Childhood[]
Walter was born on March 21st, 1940 to Sylvia Kovacs and "Charlie", whom left two months after he was born. Though not knowing his father, Walter believed that he was a good man, whom was either an aide to Harry S. Truman or fought in the second world war. At a young age, Walter was abused by his mother and exposed to the prostitute lifestyle she did to survive. When Walter interfered with her business, she would abuse him, and in one incident, recalled how she should have listened to everyone and had him aborted.
After fighting bullies who called him whore-son, Walter's home life was investigated, and he was sent to Charlton Home for Problem Children away from his mother's abuse. There, he proved to be stable and intelligent, excelling in literature and religious education. In addition, he also showed impressive feats in gymnastics and boxing, and discussions with others, but was shy and withdrawn, especially towards girls.
Walter suffered from the nightmare of his mother choking on raw dough, but returned to see her and a man joined together. In 1956, his mother was killed by her pimp, and Walter responded with one word from the news, "good."
Becoming Rorschach[]
At an older age, Walter would live in a low-rent apartment and worked at a garment factory, but he found the job unpleasant due to having to handle female clothing. When asked by Kitty Genovese to make a dress in a new Doctor Manhattan fabric, she told Walter that the dress was ugly. Walter didn't believe so, and returned it and had it cut, but believed that it had no use, and put it away. When he learned that Genovese had been tortured and rape while neighbors watched, he lost faith in humanity (believing that all people were behind evasion and deception). Taking the fabric, he created a mask that looked similar to a Rorschach test paint and stated that it was his new face.
Kovacs took the name Rorschach from Herman Rorschach, and became a costumed adventurer who was a master acrobat, and crime fighter. Rorschach would meet Dan Dreiberg, who was the second Nite Owl, and a fellow vigilante and the two became partners. With his technical skills, Dan created a grappling hook gun for Rorschach, and the two would become successful heroes by defeating Underboss and Big Figure. When asked to join the Crimbusters by Captain Metropolis, he felt hesitant due to working only with Nite Owl. Rorschach would admire the Comedian for his forceful nature, as he watched the latter interrogate tied men.
As a crime fighter, Walter looked back at himself as "soft", as he allowed criminals to live, but this all changed when Gerald Anthony Grice kidnapped Blair Roche. Rorschach promised her parents to return her "unharmed", but realized that Grice had butchered her and fed her body to his dogs due to her family not being wealthy. Killing the first dog with a meat cleaver, he stated that Walter Kovacs had died, and killed the second dog. Rorschach waited till Grice returned home, and handcuff him, and burned down his home and watched. In the film, Rorschach fought Grice and handcuffed him, then killed him with a meat cleaver, stating that "men get arrested, dogs get put down."
After the incident, Rorschach quit his job, became more of a loner, and slowly went crazy as the 1970s were rolling in. During this time, the Keene Act was passed, outlawing costumed heroes and vigilantes, something Kovacs defied by killing rapist Harvey Furniss, and leaving his corpse in front of a police station, with a note pinned stating "never!". Rorschach lived a recluse life, living in a slum ran owned by Dolores Shairp, and not having an income to live off of, but continued to fight crime and defy the law. During the day, Rorschach would dress as a vagrant, holding a sign that said, "The End is Nigh."
Events of Watchmen[]
| “ | Never compromise. Not even at the face of Armageddon. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach |
After Edward Blake's murder, Rorschach went to his home to investigate, and learned that he was the Comedian. He theorized that someone was going around murdering former costumed heroes, and felt obliged to tell his former allies of the threat. He first went to Dan's by breaking into his home, and eating cold cans of beans, and gave the latter the Comedian's badge that had a bloodstain on it. Rorschach then went to Adrian Veidt, who gave his own personal opinion on the mask killer theory. He then broke into the Rockefeller Military Research Center to inform Doctor Manhattan and Silk Spectre. Osterman states that he has no care for humanity, as Laurie expresses her hatred for the Comedian, and Rorschach returned home and wrote in his journal.
Rorschach appeared at Blake's funeral (outside the cemetery), he noticed Edgar Jacobi there, who was once a villain named Moloch. Rorschach broke into his home and interrogated him on why he was there, but it was revealed that Blake went to his home and discussed many things with him (with the film stating him discussing about a real practical joke). Seeing that he doesn't know anything, he left to pay respects to Blake after inspecting Jacobi's bottle of illegal pills.
When Doctor Manhattan disappears, Rorschach returns to Dan and informed him that his mask killer theory was becoming more true, as the second masked hero was taken out. Returning to Jacobi, the plot is unraveled, and Rorschach continues to write more journals about the events. On October 21, Rorschach is at a diner and learns that there was attempted assassination on Veidt, proving his theory is true. Getting a message from Jacobi, Rorschach returns to Jacobi's apartment but sees that the former has been murdered, and he is being framed for it. Despite his best efforts to escape, he is captured, and his mask is ripped off his face, revealing himself to be Walter Kovacs.
Despite not saying anything in court, Rorschach is sent to Sing Sing Prison where he constantly threatened by inmates. One noticeable is Otis, whom he burns with cooking fat, and puts him into nursing. Dr. Malcolm Long then interviews Kovacs, who tells him of childhood and how he became Rorschach. The doctor is disturbed by the information, and slowly sees the darkness in all of humanity. Otis is put into critical condition, and since he could die, there will be a riot. Rorschach is confronted in his cell by Big Figure, and his henchman, Lawrence and Michael. After Lawrence and Michael's death, Rorschach kills Big Figure and escapes from Sing Sing with Nite Owl and Silk Spectre.
Returning to the apartment, Dr. Manhattan returns and takes Laurie so she can convince him to care for humanity. Rorschach and Nite Owl investigate after the former apologizes to Dan, and states that he is a "good friend". Going to Happy Harry's, they learn that Adrian's attempted murderer, Roy Chess was a by Pyramid Deliveries, and learn that Hollis Mason has been killed. The two then go to Veidt's office, they learn that Veidt owns both Pyramid Deliveries and Dimensional Developments. Seeing that he is behind all this, Rorschach mails his journal and joins Dan to confront Veidt in Antarctica.
Death and Legacy[]
Making it the resort despite Archie being shut down, the two are easily beaten by Veidt, and learn that he has used his genetically engineered Alien monster to destroy Manhattan. In the film, Dr. Manhattan teleporting to Manhattan cause the destruction, making him a threat. Dr. Manhattan and Silk Spectre come and try to aid Nite Owl and Rorschach to stop Veidt, but learn that humanity has called off the war since there is a greater force to handle. Except for Rorschach, everyone agrees to keep this a secret that the world can become greater. Disgusted and enraged, he attempts to leave and tell the world the truth, but Doctor Manhattan stops him. Knowing that Veidt's world will be protected over his life, he takes off his mask and orders Doctor Manhattan to disintegrate him. Initially hesitant, Osterman finally follows through with his bidding, whereupon Walter Kovacs explodes into a bloody pulp, marking the snow below red. In the film Dan, present at his friend's death, screams in despair and falls to his knees, mourning his fallen partner. Afterwards, Dan retaliates after Rorschach's death, telling Veidt that his legacy is that he "deformed and mutilated mankind".
Despite this, Rorschach left his journal in a mailbox to New Frontiersman, where Seymour's finding threatens Veidt's new utopia and possibly reveals the truth to the world. Rorschach's journal was published to the world but was ignored until President Robert Redford ordered an investigation in 1992. Despite the investigation, Redford did this so he could win reelection, and Seymour was killed and the journal was stolen. By this time, Reggie Long, son of Dr. Malcolm Long, collected Rorschach's mask and took the mantle as the second Rorschach, even having his mannerism down to the bone. Reggie would save the world from nuclear annihilation by finding Doctor Manhattan, and had Ozymandias imprisoned for life for his actions.
Personality[]
| “ | God didn't kill that little girl. Fate didn't butcher her. Destiny didn't feed her to those dogs. If God saw what any of us did that night, he didn't seem to mind. From then on I knew; God doesn't make the world this way, we do. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach on God and destiny. |
In his younger days, he was described as brilliant in multiple subjects, which is shown in his later years as well. Rorschach is also portrayed as a moral absolutist who sees the world as black and white to the point he refuses to keep quiet on Ozymandias and his plans despite the likelihood of a nuclear war breaking should it be revealed to the public. As could be expected due to his complete hatred of anything he finds evil or immoral, he is brutal and often lethal. He is unpredictable and will improvise any and all of his surroundings into his fighting style in order to get the upper hand.
Presumably due to his upbringing by a cruel and abusive mother, he seems to be uncomfortable around women especially when they are naked. He is often described as mentally ill by other characters and is paranoid overall. Rorschach even goes as far as to refer to his mask as his true "face" and claims the other is the "mask" and only removes the mask when it's absolutely necessary or out of his control. Due to all his experiences in life Rorschach is somewhat cynical and even borderline if not somewhat nihilistic in his views that society is falling down around itself, his near to complete lack of fear of physical harm and even death.
Abilities[]
- Intelligence: Despite his mental instability, he is highly intelligent and has impressed others with his observation and investigation skills.
- Intimidation: Due to his ruthless tactics, Rorschach is one of the most dreaded costumed vigilantes in the comics.
- Investigation: As a self-declared investigator, he is capable of discovering items that others couldn't, such as finding the Comedian's costume when the police couldn't during the start of their investigation.
- Master Combatant: Noted as an excellent boxer during his time in the orphanage, Kovacs relies on his fighting skills and resourcefulness when forced to deal with opponents head on.
- Resourcefulness: He is masterfully resourceful, and is well known to be capable of improvising anything into a weapon. He's also a skilled in lock-picking, allowing him to break into homes such as Nite Owl's.
Relationships[]
- Sylvia Kovacs: Walter suffered from great abuse by his mother, who saw him as nothing but a worthless child. As a child, Walter would witness his mother bring numerous men to support their payment, but was scolded when he intervened with one customer. After a fight with bullies, his home life was investigated, and he was sent to an orphanage where he showed himself to be stable and highly intelligent. Despite this, he suffered from a nightmare that affected him physically, something he would tell Dr. Malcolm Lang. When he was informed that his mother was killed by her pimp, he simply replied "good", and continued on with his life. The abuse and exposure to a prostitute lifestyle caused Rorschach to have a negative view of women, such as the original Silk Spectre. In addition, he was originally shy and withdrawn with women in his youth, as noted when he stayed in the Charlton Home.
- "Charlie": Despite not knowing his father, Walter would go on to believe that his father was a good man, and believed that he fought in the second world war and was killed by the Nazis. He would later write an essay on his family, but only referenced his father, and talked about how he greatly admired his father.
- Nite Owl II (Daniel Dreiberg): Rorschach had a great friendship with Dan Dreiberg, calling him his only "good friend" and recalls their partnership as the best time of his life. When Dan retired from being a costumed hero, Kovacs became bitter of the choice, but still considered him his only friend, and went to him during his investigations during Watchmen. Rorschach possibly felt betrayed by Dan when he agreed with making the Manhattan massacre be an accident, but left and attempted to tell the truth to the world. In the film after Kovacs' death, Dan attacked Veidt instead of accepting safety at the fortress. Stating that Veidt has deformed and mutilated mankind, he states that will be his legacy and departs the fortress with Laurie.
- The Comedian (Edward Blake): Rorschach deeply respected the Comedian, probably because he worked during Keene Act, and fought for his country (according to Kovacs). Rorschach always defended his actions, even when the Comedian sexually assaulted the first Silk Spectre, and went to his funeral, and later visited his grave. Despite this, the Comedian disliked Rorschach, calling him insane due to the Blaire Roche incident.
- Silk Spectre II (Laurie Juspeczyk): Rorschach and Silk Spectre greatly disliked each other, also including the original Silk Spectre. Kovacs' dislike stems from the abuse he suffered from his mother, and his misogynist and asexual tendencies. For Silk Spectre II, her dislike came from Rorschach defending the Comedian for sexually assaulting her mother, and probably for his ruthless nature and being insane. Despite this, however, the two were willing to work to together, and Laurie was willing to rescue him from Sing Sing with Nite Owl. In addition, he also respected (or condoned) her departure from being a costumed superhero.
- Ozymandias (Adrian Veidt): Rorschach disliked Veidt, probably due to the latter willingly retiring and going a business route, and the two having two different ideologies. Veidt returned the dislike, at points calling him and the Comedian Nazis for the views, nature, and going against the Keene Act. However, Kovacs did have some respect for Veidt, as he warned him of the costumed hero murder, and at one point called him a better class person. When Rorschach learned that he was framed by Adrian, who also killed the Comedian, he and Nite Owl went to confront him for his actions.
- Doctor Manhattan (Jon Osterman): The two had few interactions, but Rorschach did criticize him for his indifference to the Comedian's murder, and for not stopping Adrian Veidt's plans, and agreeing to hide the truth of the Alien Monster. However, the two were similar to humanity, as the two didn't care for humanity.
- Captain Metropolis (Nelson Gardner): Rorschach and Captain Metropolis' relationship is never mentioned or shown, but the latter did want the former to join the Crimebusters.
- Dr. Malcolm Long: Dr. Malcolm Long originally looked at Kovacs as a mentally unstable individual, but this changed after his interview with Kovacs, where he learned of his childhood, and why he became nihilistic. Long would see darkness in humanity until his and his wife's death in Manhattan.
- Rorschach II (Reggie Long): Though Kovacs didn't interact with his successor due to his death, Reggie respected him, and continued his legacy by taking the mantle. Reggie became very close to his predecessor, having his mannerisms down, but was considered unpredictable by Veidt. In addition, Reggie had a compromising nature and greatly revered his friends and comrades. Like Kovacs, Reggie greatly disliked Adrian Veidt, and his hatred is personal due to his parents being killed in the Manhattan massacre but did work with him when he had to.
Portrayals[]
Films[]
- In Zack Snyder's 2009 adaptation and Watchmen: The End is Nigh, he was portrayed by Jackie Earle Haley and Eli Snyder young.
- In Watchmen Chapter 1 and Watchmen Chapter 2, he is voiced by Titus Welliver.
Motion Comic[]
- In Watchmen: Motion Comic, he was voiced by Tom Stechschulte.
Quotes[]
| “ | Never compromise. Not even at the face of Armageddon. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach's philosophy. |
| “ | Soon there will be war. Millions will burn. Millions will perish in sickness and misery. Why does one death matter against so many? Because there is good and there is evil, and evil must be punished. Even in the face of Armageddon I shall not compromise in this. But there are so many deserving of retribution ... and there is so little time. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach speaking of the Comedian's death. |
| “ | He stood up for his country, Veidt. He never let anybody retire him. Never cashed in on his reputation. Never set up a company selling posters and diet books and toy soldiers based on himself. Never became a prostitute. If that makes him a Nazi, you might as well call me a Nazi, too. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach defending the Comedian's actions while criticising Veidt, also indirectly expressing his continuing hatred of his mother. |
| “ | Men get arrested. Dogs get put down. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach to Gerald Anthony Grice's corpse in the film. |
| “ | My face! Give me back my face! | „ |
| ~ Rorschach after losing the mask, and his identity being revealed. |
| “ | None of you seem to understand. I'm not locked in here with you... you're locked in here with me! | „ |
| ~ Rorschach to his fellow inmates. |
| “ | Your hands, my pleasure. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach breaking Lawrence's fingers. |
| “ | One-nothing. Your move. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach to Big Figure after Lawrence's death. |
| “ | Never disposed of sewage with a toilet before. Obvious, really. Two-nothing. Your move. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach to a frightened Big Figure after Michael's death. |
| “ | Your turn, doctor. Tell me! What do YOU see? | „ |
| ~ Rorschach to Dr. Malcolm Long. |
| “ | Daniel... you are... a good friend. I know that. I am sorry... that it is sometimes difficult. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach apologizing to Nite Owl. |
| “ | Suddenly you discover humanity. Convenient. If you had cared from the start, none of this would have happened. | „ |
| ~ Rorschach to Doctor Manhattan in Antarctica. |
| “ | DO IT! | „ |
| ~ Rorschach's final words before his death. |
Gallery[]
Comics[]
Film[]
.jpg "F5d8dcf8a8c0fb7b1697e0cebf927713ed2a61f9 (1).jpg (45 KB)")
Animated[]
The End is Nigh[]
Merchandise[]
Trivia[]
- The character is partly based on The Question from DC comics.
- Despite his discomfort of women, what greatly caused his moral lapse, and loss of faith was the murder of two girls: Kitty Genovese and Blair Roche.
- His mother's abuse and lifestyle also affected him for years.
- Though somewhat faithful to the comic, the film's Rorschach differs from him.
- He is 35 during the events of the film instead of 45.
- He kills Grice with a meat cleaver.
- He disapproves of Laurie's affair with Dan.
- Dan is present at his death.
- Daniel Craig, John Hurt, David Bowie, the Robin Williams, Doug Hutchison, Simon Pegg, Sean Penn, and Glen Hansard were all considered for the role of Rorschach before Jackie Earle Haley was cast.
- Jackie Earle Haley was the only one of the main actors who were already familiar with the comic book. He actively campaigned for the part of Rorschach.
- Although Jackie Earle Haley has a black belt in American Kenpō, he chose not to draw on those skills in his fight scenes, as he felt that Rorschach would have fought in a scrappier, less disciplined style.
External Links[]
- Rorschach on the Villains Wiki.
- Rorschach on the Watchmen Wiki.
- Rorschach on the DC Comics Database.