You Won’t Believe Who DC’s Most Underrated Legacy Hero Really Is

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In DC Comics stories, there’s a recurring theme that emphasizes the importance of legacy. For decades, DC heroes have been handing over their roles to new generations in order to preserve their values like freedom, equality, and justice for all time. Many characters aspire to uphold these legacies due to being inspired by their predecessors’ deeds. However, there’s one overlooked hero who dares to challenge the norms surrounding legacy and hero worship – Reggie Long, also known as the second Rorschach, who made his appearance in “Doomsday Clock”, a follow-up comic series to the renowned work “Watchmen”. This character warrants more recognition for his unique take on legacy and hero idealization.

Reggie isn’t as popular or recognized as other well-known superheroes like Barry Allen or Hal Jordan, mainly due to two factors. Firstly, Reggie has appeared in significantly fewer comic books – only 12 issues – which means that not many people are familiar with him because there isn’t much material showcasing his adventures. Secondly, some fans resisted the idea of a Watchmen sequel and unfairly thought that Reggie was an attempt to cash in on the Rorschach character’s legacy by replacing him. However, these assumptions are incorrect.

Reggie’s story serves as a warning about blindly trusting the wrong role models and allowing admiration to slip into unhealthy fixation. Moreover, his experience demonstrates the necessity of distancing oneself from past mistakes in order to construct something fresh and improved.

Who Was the Original Rorschach?

In the acclaimed comic series ‘Watchmen’ by Alan Moore, the enigmatic character Rorschach, originally named Walter Kovacs, stands out as one of the most renowned figures. His distinctive trademark is the mask adorned with an ever-evolving inkblot design. Similar to the other characters in ‘Watchmen’, Rorschach represents a subversion of the typical superhero archetype. He was never intended to serve as a model for emulation, and instead, leaves many surprised by his influence on future heroes. Rorschach is portrayed as a misogynist, homophobe, aggressive, sociopathic vigilante whose ethical compass is both rigid and capricious. Alongside the Watchmen, Rorschach attempted but failed to thwart their previous comrade, Adrian Veidt, also known as Ozymandias, from executing his sinister plan. The scheme involved releasing a fictional alien, a colossal genetically engineered squid monster into New York City, resulting in the death of over three million people. Veidt presumed that if humanity believed an alien had invaded Earth, warring nations would put aside their conflicts and unite against a common adversary. Remarkably, his theory held true, and the enduring Cold War came to an end peacefully. To maintain global harmony, all Watchmen decided to stay silent, except for Rorschach, who refused to accept the loss of so many lives without justice. In order to prevent Rorschach from revealing the truth, the omnipotent Dr. Manhattan killed him. However, just before his demise, Rorschach had sent his journal containing all his notes to a newspaper with the intention of exposing Veidt’s misdeeds.

The storyline of “Doomsday Clock” unfolds shortly after the publication of Kovacs’ journal, when the world uncovered the truth. With Veidt’s deception exposed, tensions during the Cold War escalated again. As Earth teetered on the edge of nuclear disaster, Veidt collected a group to embark with him across various universes in search of Dr. Manhattan, who had moved to the DC Universe. One of the travelers was Reggie Long, who inherited Kovac’s legacy and took on the mantle of Rorschach.

A Traumatized Man Seeking Purpose

Reggie Long, a regular kid, lost his parents during the catastrophic event caused by a monstrous squid in New York City, an incident orchestrated by the villain Veidt. The tragedy left Reggie with severe mental trauma and feeling hopeless due to losing everyone he cared about. However, things changed for him when he met Byron Lewis, also known as Mothman, a former hero who took Reggie under his wing, teaching him combat skills and showing him kindness during his darkest hours. Byron also gave Reggie half of Reggie’s father’s notes on Kovac, a vigilante imprisoned for murder, which sparked Reggie’s interest in his father’s patient. Malcom, Reggie’s father, considered Kovac a friend and believed he could help the vigilante find hope again. After learning that Veidt was responsible for his parents’ deaths, Reggie found purpose and escaped the asylum to seek revenge on the villain when his plans were exposed.

In this rephrased version, the narrative goes as follows:

Initially, Reggie held the belief that Kovacs and his father were friends. Fuelled by a desire to connect with his late father and channel his emotional turmoil, Reggie adopted the Rorschach persona, which he wore like an ever-evolving mask. As Rorschach, he became increasingly aggressive and emotionally volatile while striving to mirror Kovacs’ demeanor and principles of justice.

However, Reggie’s transformation into Rorschach was unlike any other portrayal of a legacy hero in comics. His actions were marked by extreme violence and emotional instability. Yet, when faced with the antagonist, Veidt, Reggie underwent a significant change. Instead of seeing a ruthless villain, he perceived a man burdened by regret for his past actions.

This shift in perception led Reggie to alter his intentions. Rather than killing Veidt, he chose to assist him in locating Dr. Manhattan, hoping that this action could prevent World War III and save their world. This story demonstrates an intriguing dynamic between a legacy hero adopting a mantle and the transformation it brings about.

Reggie Challenges the Idea of Hero Worship

he wasn’t friends with Kovacs as people believed, but instead, his twisted mind had corroded the optimistic outlook of Kovacs (Malcom). While Malcom once saw beauty in the world, the horrific tales from Kovacs’ vigilante days shattered his perspective and left him empty.

Things deteriorated further as Malcom’s obsession with understanding Kovacs strained his marriage to the breaking point, causing his wife to leave him. Tragically, Malcom’s parents passed away alone during Veidt’s attack, contrary to what Reggie believed about their death.

Furthermore, Malcom documented his emotional decline in the second half of his journal, which Reggie’s mentor kept hidden from him so that he wouldn’t lose faith in both his parents and superheroes. The truth about Rorschach’s impact on his parents’ lives left a profound impression on Reggie, leading him to declare that Rorschach was no more.

One intriguing aspect about this progression is its uncommon take on the narrative for established superheroes from legacy series. Typically, when legacy heroes look up to their predecessors, their beliefs about them remain untarnished. For instance, in DC Comics, Barry Allen would never grow disillusioned with the original Flash, Jay Garrick, because the inspiring figures behind the generational superhero roles are generally admirable and selfless individuals with no hidden dark secrets. However, in the universe of Watchmen, characters like Kovacs do not fit this mold. This new direction allows the story to delve into the concept of a shattered pedestal, shedding light on how many respected public figures have their reputations and legacies tarnished when their unethical beliefs or actions are made public. When such secrets emerge, people who once admired them must rightfully turn against them as their idols’ images were revealed to be based on lies and wishful thinking. This idea is what fueled the popular phrase “never meet your heroes.” It’s astonishing, innovative, and deserves acknowledgment to see DC Comics, a company centered around themes of idealism and legacy, tackle such a complex and real-world issue.

How Reggie Reinvents Rorschach’s Legacy

Many DC Comics characters take over from their predecessors, continuing the legacies of righteousness and justice. However, after learning about his “hero’s” true nature, Reggie no longer wanted any part of Kovacs’ legacy due to its corruption and hatred. The universe was headed towards self-destruction, much like in the Watchmen series, thanks to Dr. Manhattan’s influence. Reggie fell into despair but found a new purpose when Batman and Alfred encouraged him. They revealed that Kovacs was indeed evil, but the Rorschach mask and mantle bore this dark history. Batman suggested that Reggie could reform the mantle and use it to inspire hope instead of darkness. Like a real Rorschach test, Reggie can help people see something positive when they look at the mask, offering them hope. However, this requires standing up for what’s right and refusing to succumb to despair.

As a dedicated movie buff, hearing Batman’s words resonated deeply with me. When Superman miraculously persuaded Dr. Manhattan to protect both worlds using his divine powers, I found myself face-to-face with Veidt. But then, unexpectedly, the resurrected Watchmen member, the Comedian, burst onto the scene and shot Veidt in the stomach. With Veidt bleeding out, it appeared that my quest for vengeance over my parents’ deaths was about to be fulfilled. However, unlike Kovacs who would have allowed Veidt to perish to satisfy his twisted craving for vigilante justice, I chose not to let my anger dictate my actions.

In a poignant demonstration of the Rorschach mantle’s transformation, I removed the mask and used it to stem Veidt’s bleeding, saving his life. I no longer sought vengeance; instead, I aimed for justice that would see Veidt stand trial for his crimes. Once upon a time, the mantle of Rorschach controlled my life and identity, but now, I reclaimed it as my own to shape in any way I saw fit. It’s never been the mask that made the hero; rather, it’s always been the person who wore it and the choices they made while donning it.

As a movie enthusiast, I find myself captivated by Reggie’s reinterpretation of the anti-hero Rorschach’s legacy in his latest work. Instead of merely mimicking a righteous hero, Reggie chose to confront the flaws of his predecessor and reshape the mantle into a beacon of true heroism and hope.

By infusing his own values of hope and justice, Reggie not only distinguished himself from Kovacs’ dark ideology but also offered a refreshing perspective on what it means to carry on a legacy. His character journey serves as a reminder that acknowledging past mistakes is crucial in paving the way for a brighter future.

Reggie’s reinvention of Rorschach’s legacy will surely leave an indelible mark in the world of storytelling, inspiring us all to question, learn, and grow from our experiences.

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2025-08-31 21:11