Moloch is a former costumed villain who opposes the Minutemen and Dr. Manhattan in his youth. Despite being labeled a villain, Moloch only exists in the story as Edgar Jacobi, a retired old man who lives alone quietly. However, Rorschach attacks him when he believes that Moloch is tied to Edward Blake’s murder. Adrian Veidt murders Moloch and frames Rorschach for his death as a way to get Rorschach arrested and off his trail.
Get the entire Watchmen LitChart as a printable PDF.
Edgar Jacobi (Moloch) Character Timeline in Watchmen
The timeline below shows where the character Edgar Jacobi (Moloch) appears in Watchmen. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2: Absent Friends
...to the ground. Rorschach identifies the man as Edgar Jacobi, also known as the villain Moloch, and demands to know if he had anything to do with the murder. Moloch claims...
(full context)
...sneers at pornographic billboards and prostitutes as he stalks the streets. He thinks about what Moloch told him and wonders if Dr. Manhattan is in danger somehow. Returning to Blake’s grave,...
(full context)
Chapter 3: The Judge of All the Earth
...reporter for Nova Express, lists off many of Jon’s former associates, including Janey Slater and Moloch, who all have terminal cancer, and insinuates that their illness has some connection to him....
(full context)
Chapter 5: Fearful Symmetry
In the middle of the night, Moloch hears someone in his house downstairs. He grabs a pistol and creeps down the stairs....
(full context)
Rorschach leaves, deciding that Moloch is only a pawn in someone else’s plan to discredit Dr. Manhattan and kill the...
(full context)
...suspicions about a “mask-killer” on the loose. He finds a note in his “maildrop” from Moloch claiming that he has “urgent information” and needs to see Rorschach that night. Rorschach fetches...
(full context)
At the appointed time, Rorschach goes back to Moloch’s house to visit him. He finds Moloch sitting upright in a chair in the dark,...
(full context)
Chapter 6: The Abyss Gazes Also
...Department report summarizes Rorschach’s arrest and the apparent murder of Edgar Jacobi, also known as Moloch. It states that several officers were injured during his arrest; the one who was shot...
(full context)
Chapter 7: A Brother to Dragons
...have coffee and watch the news. Dan mentions that he thinks Rorschach’s alleged murder of Moloch seems odd, since one bullet to the head is not as dramatic as Rorschach normally...
(full context)
