Certain notes are true for each issue. Each one is written by Alan Moore, drawn and lettered by Dave Gibbons, and colored by John Higgins.

Moreover, each issue has a continuing motif, a reoccuring object or pattern that is seen on the cover, the first and last page (usually), and throughout the issue. This issue's motif is the blood-spattered smiley-face button.

Another trend is the title, which is always an excerpt from an apropos quote shown in its entirety in the last panel.

The clock appearing on the covers counts the minutes to midnight, similar to the clock in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which is an estimate of the world's closeness to nuclear war. The clock stands at 11 minutes to midnight, and advances by one minute per issue.

Watchmen is a trademark of DC Comics Inc., © 1999. These annotations © 1995 by Doug Atkinson. They may be freely copied and distributed, provided the text is not altered. The annotations are maintained at this location by R.J. White.