The Back-Matter
Again,
Moore offers something different in this chapter’s back-matter. This time we see corporate correspondence and
promotional material for some of Adrian Veidt’s products and interests.
The
initial letter from Leo Winston, the President of Marketing and Development, is
intriguing for the very believable corporate tone it evokes. This is fascinating when one considers Alan
Moore’s stance regarding “corporate” comics and his animosity toward DC Comics,
in particular. Also, when viewed from a
place where “Before Watchmen” is now a reality, it carries even more weight
than it might have before.
Veidt’s
response to Winston’s letter is interesting – vis-à-vis substituting an army of
terrorists for the costumed adventurers suggested – in that it reminds the
audience of the reality of superheroes in this alternate world.
Perhaps
the document most pertinent to the main narrative, though, is Veidt’s letter to
Angela Neuberg, Director of Veidt Cosmetics & Toiletries. His suggestion that the very popular and
profitable Nostalgia line be scrapped for the new Millennium line, which looks
to the future, sounds somewhat reasonable in the way he frames the
argument. Nuclear conflict seems imminent,
at this time, and Veidt is planning for that future – if there even is a
future.
This
is yet another clue pointing to Veidt as the mastermind behind the mask
killings. He has a plan to save the
world, and this letter asking for the new Millennium line foreshadows the
forward-looking, optimistic outlook that will become evident once we reach the
culmination of this narrative.
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