Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a hugely popular actor among fans of sci-fi, fantasy, and comic book adaptations. He’s best known for iconic roles like John Winchester in Supernatural, Thomas Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Clay in The Losers. More recently, he’s continued to thrive in the genre, playing the villain Joe Kessler in The Boys and providing the voice for the intimidating Conquest in the animated series Invincible.
Morgan’s work has earned him a permanent place at comic conventions worldwide. While he’s best known for playing Negan in The Walking Universe, including the upcoming third season of Dead City, his career goes even further back. His portrayal of the complex villain-turned-antihero has become legendary and will likely define his career. But seven years before wielding Lucille, he made a memorable impact as a compelling villain in a critically acclaimed comic book movie – a performance that many consider to be his best work.
Watchmen Was Considered ‘Unfilmable’ Until Zack Snyder Came Along
Most comic book readers are already familiar with Watchmen. Created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, this 1986-87 series is a groundbreaking 12-issue story that redefined the superhero genre. It offers a unique take on American history during the Cold War and showcases incredible artistic skill within the comic book format.
Over time, this comic surpassed typical expectations and gained recognition as genuine literature. It even appeared on TIME magazine’s list of the 100 best novels in English and is now celebrated as a groundbreaking work that fundamentally changed the comics industry.
Despite being highly regarded, the comic book Watchmen was long thought impossible to adapt into a movie that would truly capture the original work by Moore and Gibbons. The story follows a team of former superheroes who, in an alternate 1985, reunite to solve a murder, uncovering a much larger and dangerous conspiracy along the way.
Facing global nuclear war, a group of aging and flawed heroes are forced to confront their past traumas, personal shortcomings, and relevance in today’s world – all while questioning what it truly means to be a hero when everything around them feels broken and corrupt. The comic is complex and layered, packed with plot details and deeper themes. It features many characters and jumps around in time, making it a challenging but rewarding read.
For years, many filmmakers attempted to adapt Watchmen into a two-hour movie, but none succeeded. Directors like Terry Gilliam (12 Monkeys), Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), and Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Supremacy) all tried and ultimately abandoned the project.
Following the big success of the film 300, Warner Bros. chose Zack Snyder to direct Watchmen. In 2009, he finally adapted the graphic novel for the big screen, something many filmmakers had tried and failed to do. The visually impressive movie featured Billy Crudup as Doctor Manhattan, a powerful blue character, Patrick Wilson as Nite Owl, and Malin Akerman as Silk Spectre II.
Morgan Was Chilling as the Sadistic Edward Blake/The Comedian
Despite generally positive reviews, the movie didn’t perform well in theaters, especially considering how much it cost to make. It also seemed to confuse many viewers. Later, people suggested audiences weren’t prepared for its dark and complex take on superheroes, as they hadn’t seen enough classic superhero films to fully appreciate what the movie was trying to say.
Critics of Zack Snyder’s Watchmen often pointed to its excessive violence, arguing it sacrificed the depth and complexity of the original comic book. Adding to the controversy, the comic’s creator, Alan Moore, publicly disowned the film – and all Hollywood adaptations of his work – which further fueled the debate surrounding it.
Over the past 17 years, the movie has gained a dedicated fanbase who appreciate it for what it is, and a major reason is Jack Morgan’s portrayal of Edward Blake, also known as The Comedian. This is remarkable considering Blake is killed at the very beginning of the film, and only appears through memories of his past as both a masked hero and a ruthless secret agent.
Fans of comic books will immediately see that this character – a darkly cynical antihero who kills without remorse and views life as meaningless – is a parody of characters who rose to prominence in comics during the 1970s and 80s. At first glance, most readers see him simply as a cruel villain, and other heroes understandably despise him.
Despite limited screen time, Morgan makes the most of every moment, captivating audiences in each of his scenes. He flawlessly portrays Blake at different ages – as a man in his sixties who dies early on, a skilled mercenary in his prime, and even a young version of the character in a ridiculously bright 1940s superhero outfit. His performance is so compelling that it draws viewers in, then makes them cringe – in the best way possible.
Jack Morgan’s good looks and charisma are perfect for the role of The Comedian, making it believable that someone like Sally Jupiter would be drawn to him. But the film quickly reveals a disturbing side beneath his pleasant exterior, showing that his charm is just a facade. Morgan convincingly portrays some truly awful behavior, which explains why he became known in Hollywood for playing charming villains.
His Performance Should Have Led to a Bigger Career as a Leading Man
What makes Morgan’s portrayal of Blake so impressive isn’t simply that he convincingly plays a ruthless killer – someone capable of horrific acts. You’d expect scenes depicting such brutality to make the audience completely despise Blake, flinching whenever he appears. However, Morgan skillfully reveals a hidden humanity within Blake, and in a few powerful moments, these glimpses of vulnerability are genuinely touching.
In a surprising and vulnerable moment, Blake, overwhelmed with grief, seeks out Moloch, a former enemy, late at night. While sitting beside the frightened ex-villain’s bed, Blake, distraught and intoxicated, confesses that Moloch is the closest thing he has to a friend after years spent as a superhero and working for the government. This scene powerfully exposes The Comedian’s underlying sadness and loneliness, revealing a deeply vulnerable side to his character.
It’s deeply sad that he’s forced to confide in the very person he hates most. This really haunts him. Blake is clearly filled with regret, and he admits to doing awful things. This honesty suggests he’s more insightful than people realize, and it reveals the fundamental falsehood at the core of his life.
Blake isn’t heartless or someone who believes life is meaningless; he’s a deeply troubled killer who got lost in his monstrous persona. By the time he wished he’d made different choices, it was too late, and he’d irrevocably damaged his own soul. In this moment, Morgan reveals the person behind the Comedian’s mask, quickly creating a complex and fully realized character.
It’s rare for an actor to make you feel sorry for a villain, but Morgan had the skill to do just that, and it seemed like he was destined for stardom. While he’s found work, particularly on TV, it’s hard not to think about what might have happened if he’d chosen more substantial roles after Watchmen instead of lower-budget horror films like The Resident and The Possession.
Look, I get why Battlefield Earth is so… talked about. But you know what? John Travolta, or Morgan as I’ll call him, actually seems genuinely proud of it. He told Variety a few years back that he thinks the film was just way ahead of its time, and that’s a bold claim! He even confessed to stumbling across the back half of it on TV one night and really enjoying it. He seems convinced it’s a movie people will still be discovering and loving for years to come, and honestly, it’s kinda endearing to see him feel that way.
Found an error? Send it so it can be corrected.
Read More
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Mark Ruffalo Finally Confirms Whether The Hulk Is In Avengers: Doomsday
- Indiana Jones Franchise Future Revealed As Kathleen Kennedy Speaks Out
- Stephen King Is Dominating Streaming, And It Won’t Be The Last Time In 2026
- RIVER Coin’s 1,200% Surge: A Tale of Hype and Hope 🚀💸
- Beyond Agent Alignment: Governing AI’s Collective Behavior
- Netflix’s Altered Carbon Season 2 Failure, Explained
- Best-Selling Batman & TMNT Writer Expands New Horror Movie Deal
- Arc Raiders Eyes On The Prize Quest Guide
- What time is Idol I Episode 9 & 10 on Netflix? K-drama release schedule
2026-01-22 03:10