While investigating the murder of government agent Edward Blake, Rorschach discovers that Blake was the Comedian, and theorizes that someone may be attempting to eliminate former costumed heroes. He warns his retired comradesâ€"Daniel Dreiberg (Nite Owl II), Dr. Manhattan, and the latter's lover, also a former heroine Laurie Jupiter (Silk Spectre II). Dr. Manhattan ignores Rorschach, and Dreiberg is skeptical, but relays this information to vigilante-turned-billionaire Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias), who also dismisses it. Dr. Manhattan is at a press conference, a reporter proposes that Manhattan himself is giving people close to him cancer. As Manhattans ex-girlfriend enters the conference she reveals that she also has cancer. This outrages the conference and they surround Dr. Manhattan.