Motivated by a traumatic childhood and an unwavering sense of right and wrong, Walter Kovacs became the costumed hero Rorschach, wearing a trench coat, a fedora, and a mask with a shifting, mirrored pattern of blackshapes on a white background. Highly skilled in physical combat and able to turn almost anything to hand into amakeshift weapon,Rorschach worked as a team with the second Nite Owl until costumed vigilantes were outlawed. Nite Owl retired, but Rorschach refused to follow suit, operating illegally and becoming increasinglyparanoid. His journal is the regular record of all of his activities and his increasingly misanthropic musings.