The 12-part miniseries was published by DC Comics from 1986 to 1987, but it is set in a reality outside of the publishing company’s regular continuity, with Dr. Manhattan serving as a sort of hybrid of Superman and lesser-known DC hero Captain Atom.
Dr. Manhattan is a central character in writer Alan Moore and illustrator Dave Gibbons’ comic book epic Watchmen, and he was portrayed by Billy Crudup in Zack Snyder’s 2009 cinematic adaptation.