While the characters are based on Charlton Comics characters DC had recently acquired (Dr. Manhattan ≈ Captain Atom, Rorschach ≈ The Question, Nite Owl ≈ Blue Beetle, Silk Spectre ≈ Nightshade, and possibly also Quality Comics’ Phantom Lady and DC’s own Black Canary, Ozymandias ≈ Thunderbolt, The Comedian ≈ Peacemaker), Moore’s story is mostly original, inasmuch as stories can be.