I feel bad for rating this issue this low. But honestly, that's just how I feel about it. Maybe its because it comes after SUCH a great issue, but this one was rather slow to get through, a slog...Just the pessimism too, it just gets so overwhelming, although this is probably the first issue to were they try and break this constant stream of just overwhelming despair with some happy moments, which bumped it up a little IMO. The pirate sections this issue were underwhelming to say the least, while they weren't my favorite part of the story, its clear then and even now they are tryna tell something through its plot to us readers, and also I just love the Bernie and the Bernard, they rarely interact but man they jus chill with one another. This issue however? It just felt like way too much, like way too much of these two characters and this pirate story, like I understand its important for the Universe but it didn't engage me that much and immerse me compared to the previous issue. Also, the constant formatting of the nine panels felt VERY repetitive this issue compared to the previous ones, this habit is a bad one which I hope doesn't persist in future issues. The final critique I have is the structure, compared to the previous issue, we got to connect with Dr. Manhattan, this issue? We don't really get to connect with...Anyone, we just see the plot move forward, and while that is nice to happen, directly after such an emotionally gripping story like the last one, it just feels like too sharp of a contrast to be that good of a follow up. Other than that, my usual praises remain the same, but I will say though the Art in this issue was the best the Art has been this entire series, so I feel like that gives this issue a couple more points than before. Other than that, good comic but worst watchmen issue thus-far. more

Though the story being told is good only the ending drive’s anything forward for plot purposes. The rest of the book has not aged well for this issue. Though this is a fictional world the 1985 as told here mirrors 1985 sentiment among a faction of adults that were highly anti Reagen. If read back then the pessimism in this would have maybe hit home more but with time and actual history it has made this part seem rather pointless. It’s trying to say something but in hindsight was completely off base and wrong about everything. It doesn’t ruin the story it just dates it, which cuts the impact.