Rorschach's "Day Job"

[CaptainGenerica]

As a long time Watchmen fan, one of the things that I never quite felt right about was the fact that Walter Kovacs spends his time carrying a sign around. This is for a number of reasons. When I first read the story, it never seemed like "the guy with the sign" really deserved to be the subject of the second-biggest revelation in the story. And also, it just seems like someone with as many...issues as Rorschach would have something better to do... why carry a fear-mongering sign as Kovacs, when he could really strike fear into people as Rorschach?

One thing I do see and like is the irony that the most feared, mysterious person in the story is on the other hand just a man on the street, a nobody. Maybe this is the answer to my first problem.


In any case I wanted to hear some other people's thoughts on ol' Walter's day job.

The end is nigh.

 

[Space Moose]

It was funny when is was stating that the world was going to end that night, then asked for him reserve the paper for tommorrow.

I always imagined working as an office worker somewhere or something that involves him not having to talk to others.

 

[Comic Book Boy]

His other job was how he found his mask, the clothing store.

As for carrying around the sign, I always saw that as his way of getting close to the populace. He wanted to get the paper and hear the buzz but didn't want to be a prominent figure.

 

[brobdingnag]

His other job was how he found his mask, the clothing store.

As for carrying around the sign, I always saw that as his way of getting close to the populace. He wanted to get the paper and hear the buzz but didn't want to be a prominent figure.

I don't think Walter worked at the dress makers more than a few years and certainly not at the time of Watchmen. I don't think he had any job at all in the "present" of the main story. Comments made by Dan (Niteowl II) seem to indicate that at least before they stopped working together that Dan, as well as some of the other costumed adventurers, were financially supporting him. At the very least Rorschach was feeding himself by breaking into friends and known criminals homes, and its likely he would have seen no problem with taking enough money to pay his rent from the criminals he dealt with. He clearly had problems paying on time based on his description of the usual conversations he had with his landlady. His routine seems to have been to sleep until the middle of the day, walk around the city as "end of the world" guy occasionally checking his message drop off point in front of the Gunga Diner, then putting on his "face" at nightfall and stalking criminals. Spending his time on the streets during the day helped him build streetsmarts he could use as Rorschach at night,

 

[Lobster Charlie]

Just thought of something---isn't it going to be a dead-giveaway during the film that the "End Of The World Guy" is actually Rorschach, given we already know the actor playing him?

 

[Captain Carnage]

Not if he doesn't appear in the film in the guise of an End Is Nigh guy, it won't...

 

[Luchastyle]

I don't think Walter worked at the dress makers more than a few years and certainly not at the time of Watchmen. I don't think he had any job at all in the "present" of the main story. Comments made by Dan (Niteowl II) seem to indicate that at least before they stopped working together that Dan, as well as some of the other costumed adventurers, were financially supporting him. At the very least Rorschach was feeding himself by breaking into friends and known criminals homes, and its likely he would have seen no problem with taking enough money to pay his rent from the criminals he dealt with. He clearly had problems paying on time based on his description of the usual conversations he had with his landlady. His routine seems to have been to sleep until the middle of the day, walk around the city as "end of the world" guy occasionally checking his message drop off point in front of the Gunga Diner, then putting on his "face" at nightfall and stalking criminals. Spending his time on the streets during the day helped him build streetsmarts he could use as Rorschach at night,

well put. i agree.

 

[Comic Book Boy]

I don't think Walter worked at the dress makers more than a few years and certainly not at the time of Watchmen. I don't think he had any job at all in the "present" of the main story. Comments made by Dan (Niteowl II) seem to indicate that at least before they stopped working together that Dan, as well as some of the other costumed adventurers, were financially supporting him. At the very least Rorschach was feeding himself by breaking into friends and known criminals homes, and its likely he would have seen no problem with taking enough money to pay his rent from the criminals he dealt with. He clearly had problems paying on time based on his description of the usual conversations he had with his landlady. His routine seems to have been to sleep until the middle of the day, walk around the city as "end of the world" guy occasionally checking his message drop off point in front of the Gunga Diner, then putting on his "face" at nightfall and stalking criminals. Spending his time on the streets during the day helped him build streetsmarts he could use as Rorschach at night,

That is essentially what I meant, just better written.

 

[Punch]

Just thought of something---isn't it going to be a dead-giveaway during the film that the "End Of The World Guy" is actually Rorschach, given we already know the actor playing him?

Even when reading Watchmen for the first time I thought it was obvious who Rorschach is. I don't think it was such an important reveal.

 

[Sun_Down]

Just thought of something---isn't it going to be a dead-giveaway during the film that the "End Of The World Guy" is actually Rorschach, given we already know the actor playing him?

I think with the low-key cast, people won't notice is much. As long as they don't go, "Jackie Earle Haley as Rorshach", it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

I always saw it as a twisted take on Clark Kent. He does act sort of exacurated as the sign-waving guy, specifically with the newspaper dealer. Akin to Clark acting like a bumbling oaf to protect his duties as Superman, Kovacs made himself into a whacked-out conspiracy theorist to protect his duties as Rorschach.

 

[The Guard]

Not if he doesn't appear in the film in the guise of an End Is Nigh guy, it won't...

In all the scripts so far, Walter Kovacs is depicted wearing a beard. I imagine most people won't recognize Jackie Earle Hayley anyway.

 

[Sandman138]

I always saw it as a twisted take on Clark Kent. He does act sort of exacurated as the sign-waving guy, specifically with the newspaper dealer. Akin to Clark acting like a bumbling oaf to protect his duties as Superman, Kovacs made himself into a whacked-out conspiracy theorist to protect his duties as Rorschach.

Kovacs is a whacked-out conspiracy nut. It has nothing to do with protecting his "duties" as Rorschach who, if anything, is even more of a whacked out conspiracy theorist than his sign wielding counterpart.

 

[Shmoil]

Yeah I never thought it was a surprise reveal anyway. When we first hear the two cops talking about Rorschach, it shows the the Kovacs. Then the next thing we see is Rorschach breaking into Comedian's apartment. That was kind of an obvious giveaway, and I don't think there was supposed to be any shock value to the reveal, other than his ferocity.

 

[Magenta666]

In all the scripts so far, Walter Kovacs is depicted wearing a beard. I imagine most people won't recognize Jackie Earle Hayley anyway.

really? that's kinda weird...i never pictured him to be they type to grow a beard

 

[Gexmeister]

That's probably the reason we've only seen Rorschach in mask in all the pictures and the trailer.

 

[The Denialist]

Haley does appear as Kovacs in the film, and not with a beard. G4 posted a video of their set visit and there's an interview with Haley dressed as Kovacs, as well as a very short clip of the character with the sign at the newsstand.

 

[shapeshifter]

I always figured Kovacs was the other half of his personality. His mind is splintered. He was traumatized by the kidnapping and in reaction is mind made two different personalities. Rorschach is without fear, weakness, lust, pain or compromise. Rorschach does what Kovacs cannot do, but wanted to. Kovacs is weak, sad, confused and broken. The sign is a symbol of his cynicism.
thats just how I saw it.

 

[jackjack924]

really? that's kinda weird...i never pictured him to be they type to grow a beard

From the pics I've seen (somewhere on IMDB) he doesn't seem to have a beard. But he does have red hair!

 

[BatFan1986]

I always figured Kovacs was the other half of his personality. His mind is splintered. He was traumatized by the kidnapping and in reaction is mind made two different personalities. Rorschach is without fear, weakness, lust, pain or compromise. Rorschach does what Kovacs cannot do, but wanted to. Kovacs is weak, sad, confused and broken. The sign is a symbol of his cynicism.
thats just how I saw it.

If it weren't for the fact that I have read The Watchmen over and over...I would have to agree with you, but sadly I can't even make up my mind of who the hell he really is. His psychological traits are unidentifiable due to the fact that when he wears the mask he becomes Rors...It's almost like Batman though, does he ever really take the mask off? I would have to say no, even when he's locked up. Still the same guy.

 

[Dark Victory]

Even when reading Watchmen for the first time I thought it was obvious who Rorschach is. I don't think it was such an important reveal.

Same here.

 

[John Galt]

Same here.

yeah that clicked instantly with me. I don't think it's supposed to be a secret. You see crazy vigilante one panel, crazy sign-wielding dude next one. I went, "Oh, that's Rorschach," laughed hysterically, and said, "That's great. I love this book."