The Comedian is a militant, violent, take-no-prisoners costumed vigilante. Unlike most of his fellow heroes, he makes extensive use of firearms and explosives, and has no compunction about killing.

The Comedian's career spans both generations of costumed adventurers in the Watchmen universe. He started fighting crime in 1939 and was still active in 1985 when he was thrown from his apartment to his death. The death of Edward Blake triggers the events of Watchmen.

The Comedian was the youngest member of the Minutemen. He was later invited to join the Crimebusters by Captain Metropolis, but he rejected the offer, believing that crimefighting had changed materially and that "super-groups" were no longer effective.

After the Keene Act was passed in 1977, The Comedian registered with the US government and became a legal and officially sanctioned government agent.

The Comedian has a strained relationship with other heroes, because of his sexual assault on Sally Jupiter during the early days of the Minutemen.

• The character of The Comedian is based loosely on comic-book superheroes Nick Fury and Peacemaker.
  
  
• The blood-splattered smiley face logo that appears throughout Watchmen is a button worn by the Comedian – the last vestige of his original clown-like appearance.