For the band, see Dr Manhattan (band). For the album, see Dr Manhattan (album).
Comics character
Doctor Manhattan
Art by Dave Gibbons
Publication information
Publisher
DC Comics
First appearance
Watchmen #1 (September 1986)
Created by
Alan Moore
Dave Gibbons
In-story information
Alter ego
Dr. Jonathan "Jon" Osterman Calvin "Cal" Abar (né Jelani)
Team affiliations
United States Department of Defense
Partnerships
Romantic partners: Janey Slater Laurie Juspeczyk Angela AbarChildren: Christopher "Topher" Abar Unnamed daughters Clark Osterman
Abilities
See list
Omnipotence
Omniscience
Omnipresence
Reality warping
Disintegration
Time manipulation
Time Travel
Cosmic awareness
Science manipulation
Telepathy
Telekinesis
Energy manipulation
Atomic manipulation
Density manipulation
Retrocognition
Precognition
Clairvoyance
Subatomic perception and control
Size manipulation
Intangibility
Immortality
Resurrection
Superstrength
Flight
Levitation
Phasing
Extrasensory perception
Elemental transmutation
Elemental manipulation
Energy construct creation
Energy projection
Photokinesis
Power distribution
Teleportation
Superhuman intelligence
Invulnerability
Perfect memory
Dimensional travel
Electricity manipulation
Self-duplication
Self-sustenance
History manipulation
Doctor Manhattan (Dr. Jonathan "Jon" Osterman) is a fictional DC Comics character created by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons. He debuted in the limited series graphic novel, Watchmen.
Following a laboratory accident, atomic physicist Jon Osterman develops the ability to observe and manipulate matter at the subatomic level. He is later given the tongue-in-cheek moniker Doctor Manhattan by the United States government, due to his limitless destructive potential. As he explores the extent of his powers, Jon grows increasingly distant in his personal life, as well as his understanding of the human experience. Jon's de-humanization as a function of his newfound omnipotence has led many to liken him to a post-human god. Media analysts consider his characterization within the novel to be a key exploration of the tension between absolute power and the morality of its usage, and a commentary on American exceptionalism on the world stage in the late 20th century.[1]
Doctor Manhattan later appeared in the Before Watchmen comic book prequel. In 2016, as part of DC Comics' Rebirth relaunch, Manhattan became a major character in the DC Universe. It was revealed that he was responsible for the Flashpoint event, creating The New 52 timeline/universe in the process, a factor that removed 10 years of DC characters' history.[2] That led him to become one of the main characters in the Doomsday Clock miniseries, published from 2017 to 2019.[3]
Doctor Manhattan made his first live-action debut in the 2009 film Watchmen, played by Billy Crudup. He also appeared in the 2019 limited television series Watchmen, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, with his original form played by Darrell Snedeger.
^Risko, Guy Andre (2018). Burger, Alissa (ed.). Teaching Graphic Novels in the English Classroom: Pedagogical Possibilities of Multimodal Literacy Engagement(PDF). Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. pp. 104–116. ISBN 9783319634586.
^Arrant, Chris (July 20, 2017). "OFFICIAL: DR. MANHATTAN Behind DC REBIRTH's Stolen Time". Newsarama.com. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
^Moore, Rose (September 22, 2017). "Geoff Johns' Doomsday Clock Trailer". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 29, 2019.
DoctorManhattan (Dr. Jonathan "Jon" Osterman) is a fictional DC Comics character created by writer Alan Moore and artist Dave Gibbons. He debuted in the...
cover, better revealing the outstretched hand of DoctorManhattan in the top right corner. DoctorManhattan later appeared in the 2017 four-part DC miniseries...
1986 and 1987. Watchmen focuses on six main characters: the Comedian, DoctorManhattan, the Nite Owl, Ozymandias, Rorschach, and the Silk Spectre. These characters...
their arrival at his retreat. When DoctorManhattan and Silk Spectre confront Veidt, he attempts to disintegrate Manhattan in the intrinsic field subtractor...
slightly altered powers. Captain Atom was the character inspiration for DoctorManhattan, who was featured in the miniseries (and later live-action film adaptation)...
of the Minutemen and the Crimebusters whose death was prevented by DoctorManhattan. He then began his revenge crusade against Ozymandias for attempting...
undermining creation, like what DoctorManhattan did with Wally West and the Justice Society of America. When DoctorManhattan altered the multiverse and created...
with thirty-something DoctorManhattan, something her mother did not approve of, likening Laurie's relationship with Manhattan to being the equivalent...
"Daleks in Manhattan" is the fourth episode of the third series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on BBC...
Clock, the Batman Who Laughs is among the villains who are analyzed by DoctorManhattan when Guy Gardner uses his power ring to show the constructs of villains...
"The Angels Take Manhattan" is the fifth episode of the seventh series of the revived British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first...
Garrick, Doctor Fate, Hawkman, Hourman, Sandman, and Spectre. Lois did not know about the Justice Society until now. When DoctorManhattan first arrived...
the 2017-2019 Doomsday Clock event, Prime Earth Alan is unerased by DoctorManhattan, and is merged back into Earth Prime during the 2020-2021 Dark Nights:...
entangled with the second Silk Spectre, Laurie Juspeczyk, after she left DoctorManhattan. He returned to vigilantism along with her following the murder of...
2019. The finale sees the two competing plots within Tulsa to kidnap DoctorManhattan come to a head, while Adrian Veidt prepares to finally escape his exile...
Snyder in Vancouver, British Columbia. He portrayed the superhero DoctorManhattan. He portrayed former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner...
Owlship as Rorschach and Ozymandias use the lantern to find DoctorManhattan. After DoctorManhattan refuses to go back and Rorschach abandons Ozymandias, Ozymandias...
Earth's other superheroes confront and fight DoctorManhattan. Blue Beetle rams the Bug into DoctorManhattan. Then, Captain Atom tells the Question to get...
crime-fighting career, and his first unnerving encounters with The Comedian and DoctorManhattan—the latter of which prompted him to build his Antarctic fortress of...
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