Reggie Long (Watchmen)
Reggie Long is a male comic character who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Reginald Long was the son of Dr. Malcolm Long, a psychiatrist who examined Walter Kovacs, the original Rorschach. It is revealed that Reggie's parents were killed when Veidt's monster was teleported to New York, resulting in Reggie going insane from the trauma inflicted by said monster. Reggie ends up at the same Maine mental institution as the former Minuteman Byron Lewis, who becomes his friend and teaches him self-defense techniques, allowing Reggie to learn and ultimately master the fighting techniques of every member of the Minutemen. Byron briefly escapes the institution to fly to New York and retrieve Dr. Long's personal effects to smuggle back to Reggie. Included in these items are Long's case notes on Kovacs, leading Reggie to eventually adopt Kovacs' moniker and mannerisms. Meanwhile, Veidt's intended utopia crumbles and the world once again stands on the brink of nuclear war when the contents of Kovacs' journal are publicized. Reggie escapes the institution and begrudgingly teams up with Veidt to seek out Doctor Manhattan and convince him to save their world. To this end, Rorschach II breaks two costumed criminals, Erika Manson, a.k.a. The Marionette, and Marcos Maez, a.k.a. The Mime, out of prison. (Doomsday Clock v1 #1)
When Ozymandias unleashed his creation on New York, Reggie Long was caught in the shockwave and his parents, Malcolm and Gloria Long, were killed. He was taken to Fitzgerald Mental Home where he slowly descended into madness, seeing the people killed by the monster. The staff and the other patients treated him inhumanely, which led to him attempting suicide by jumping off a roof. He was stopped by Byron Lewis, the former hero known as Mothman who had also gone insane. Reggie was caught and returned to his cell but was able to watch as Byron flew off the roof. Over the years, Lewis would fly away and bring back contraband to the mental home. One night, he brought all of Malcolm Long's things relating to Rorschach and Lewis began to teach Reggie the fighting styles of the Minutemen. Reggie became more vicious and eventually became inspired by Rorschach. On October 11th, 1992, Reggie and Byron saw on television that Veidt was behind the monster. Byron told Reggie that the government was transferring anyone who survived Veidt's monster to a private facility to obtain information about Veidt, and Reggie decided to escape. He set fire to the mental home and escaped, but Byron returned inside to kill himself. He left Reggie a letter and tickets to Antarctica, as well as Rorschach's mask. Reggie used the ticket to go to Veidt's Karnak base, where he found Ozymandias grieving over his mistake. Reggie, now the new Rorschach, pulled a knife out and held it to Veidt's throat, drawing blood, until Veidt showed remorse and regret in his eyes, and Rorschach dropped his knife. Veidt recruited the new Rorschach, and they left Karnak. (Doomsday Clock v1 #4)
After the revelation by Doctor Manhattan that Veidt did not have cancer as well as the resulting revelation by Veidt that he lied while pretending to be overcome by regret and remorse as he needed Rorschach II's help and that Walter Kovacs was not a friend of Malcolm Long but broke him down, Rorschach II violently reacts and repeatedly punches Veidt and then the Joker before proclaiming that "Rorschach is dead" and throwing his mask on the ground. Earlier, Rorschach II was going to kill Veidt, but he did not as he thought that Veidt had changed while dying from cancer. Rorschach II also previously believed that Walter Kovacs and Malcolm Long were friends.
Overview
Personality and attributes
As Rorschach II, Reggie shares many of his predecessor's mannerisms, to the point that Marionette is at first certain that they are one and the same. However, Adrian Veidt notes that Reggie does not share Kovacs's uncompromising nature and is much more unpredictable. Rorschach II also demonstrates a great reverence for not only the original Rorschach, but his friends and partners. He also is quite knowledgeable about their exploits, knowing for example that the Owlship is called Archie. He also shares Kovacs's dislike of Ozymandias, only allying himself with the former hero as no other option remains. This is due to the fact that his parents died in the New York City Massacre. Pancakes are a personal favorite meal of his. Reggie grew up in New York City, where his mother and father apparently lived. He is shown to have a great appreciation for family and home, as it was what convinced him to spring Mime, and what drives his need for revenge on Ozymandias.
Powers and abilities
Reggie is a very capable fighter, having been trained by Byron Lewis in the different fighting styles of the Minutemen; making him a "one-man minutemen". Reggie did not feel that these skills were enough and went on to also adapt the extreme brutality of the original Rorschach.
Notes
- The Reggie Long Rorschach was created by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank where he made his first appearance in Doomsday Clock v1 #1 (November, 2017).
Appearances
- Doomsday Clock v1: (2017)
External Links
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