grace
sent its rays
bustling
heartless
gloom
meander
profound
foreboding
stark contrast
havens
haunting
incessant
ascension to power
invites the pretense of justice
treachery
sweeping view
emblazoned
insignia
strode
a sense of wonder
learned their trade
a wicked smile spread across his lips
crept along the side
slipped in the alley
sped off
they took care not to
paid them no heed
strewn with stones
...permeated the air
smile spread wide
when the whispers ripple out
they streamed out
weapons waving menacingly
rummaging
pulling his stare from the spectacle
involuntary shudder
botched
the word prompted a jumble of emotions

"What place is this that is my world; what dark coil has my spirit embodied?"

"Look at his eyes," Vierna whispered to Maya as they examined the newest member of house Do'Urden.....
..."What do you see that the rest of us cannot?"

"How long will I survive?"
"How long until this madness that is my existence consumes me?"
-
Forever dark. Seeing in the infrared spectrum, glows and weak candlelight. Every one is evil. But a single one who happens to be phenomenal with his swords.

An analogous world. And escapist in that the hero is a phenomenal fighter. But also in that the characters are 2D. Either clearly good or bad. A very few later go beyond this although still in a somewhat simplified way. The 2Dness is also a sort of escape to where life is at least more straightforward. Good is good and bad is bad. Along with it being a world where a sword can solve problems.

The last and first quotes above: neither is actually made by the hero although they are basically his thoughts. He never utters anything as straightforward as that. Why?

In The Watchmen: Rorschach, The Comedian and Dr. Manhattan are all fragments of the same idea.