Following a laboratory accident, atomic physicist Jon Osterman develops the ability to observe and manipulate matter at the subatomic level. He is later given the tongue-in-cheek moniker Doctor Manhattan by the United States government, due to his limitless destructive potential. As he explores the extent of his powers, Jon grows increasingly distant in his personal life, as well as his understanding of the human experience. Jon's de-humanization as a function of his newfound omnipotence has led many to liken him to a post-human god. Media analysts consider his characterization within the novel to be a key exploration of the tension between absolute power and the morality of its usage, and a commentary on American exceptionalism on the world stage in the late 20th century.