Watchmen Profile: Ozymandias

Mathew Goode plays Ozymandias, known to the world as Adrian Veidt, in 'Watchmen,' based on the classic graphic novel

Credit: Warner Bros.

Over the next week we'll be profiling the key characters in Zack Snyder's upcoming big screen adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon's classic graphic novel "Watchmen." And with a nod to another comic publication that debuted in the same era, "The Official Handbook" of that other comic book company, we proudly continue with the only member of the group to have ever revealed his identity to the public, Adrian Veidt, better known as Ozymandias.

OZYMANDIAS

Real Name: Adrian Veidt

Born: 1939

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Captain of industry, former masked crimefighter

Group Membership: Crimebusters, aka Watchmen (disbanded)

Enemies: Unknown

Known Relatives: none

Aliases: none

Base of Operations: Veidt Industries headquarters in New York, Karnack

Powers/Abilities:  Veidt has no superhuman abilities, but he has mastered certain types of genetic manipulation, and along with the extreme physical conditioning he puts himself through, that has made him as close to a "superhero" as any one is able to be.  He is lethal in a fight not just for his physical abilities, but also for his ability to out-think an opponent based on their own moves.

History:  Adrian Veidt was born to German immigrant parents and was identified as an above-average intelligence during childhood.  When his parents died, leaving him a substantial fortune, Veidt decided to emulate his idol, Alexander the Great.  He donated his entire inheritance to charity, then set out on a trip that took him along Alexander's famous route through the old world.  Upon returning to the United States, he created his Ozymandias alter-ego (inspired after ingesting some Turkish hasish) and joined the Crimebusters.

When Veidt saw the public opinion turning against masked heroes, he chose to reveal his identity.  Two years later, the Keene Act was passed, making it illegal to wear a mask and fight crime.  Because he was already well-known, Veidt was able to market toys and other merchandise with his likeness and the likenesses of his crime-fighting partners, and using that money, he began research into ways he might stop the nuclear arms race from eventually destroying the world, as well as alternate forms of energy.

Let's check out Ozymandias in action:

Everywhere at Once
Here's Dan and Adrian discussing the murder of the Comedian, and Rorschach's theories on the matter:

Save the World
And here's the first attempted meeting of the new Crimebusters, which leads Adrian to consider alternate ways to accomplish his goals of world peace:

[Ozymandias is portrayed in the film version of "Watchmen" by Matthew Goode, best known for Woody Allen's "Match Point" and Scott Frank's "The Lookout."  Goode hasn't broken through yet, due in part to the way he vanishes into each role, appearing completely different from film to film.  This past year, he also appeared in "Brideshead Revisited," and he is set to star opposite Amy Adams in the comedy "Leap Year," about a woman who travels to Ireland for February 29th, when women are allowed to propose to their boyfriends.]

Look for more "Watchmen" profiles all this week on HitFix:

Saturday: Silk Spectre II
Monday: Nite Owl II
Tuesday: The Comedian
Wednesday: Rorschach
Thursday: Dr. Manhattan

Read Drew McWeeny's Motion/Captured review of "Watchmen" here.

Find out more about the DVD "Watchmen: Tales of the Black Freighter."
Find out more about the DVD "Watchmen: Motion Comics."
Find out more about the "Watchmen" Movie Soundtrack.

Enter for a chance to win 3 Exclusive "Watchmen" Books here.

"Watchmen" opens nationwide and on IMAX on March 6.

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