Howard "Howie" McNulty is the main protagonist of Fogdancing.
Biography[]
Fogdancing[]
As the main character of the book Fogdancing, Howie McNulty's journey from a patriotic soldier to a disillusioned and guilt-ridden man forms the crux of the narrative. McNulty becomes part of an elite group known as Fogdancers, special government operatives and super-soldiers tasked with executing covert operations involving morally questionable actions, referred to as “the ghastly wet-work that greases the wheels of the American machine.”
McNulty's life takes a drastic turn following a horrific accident during one of his missions. Severely injured and haunted by the atrocities he has committed, he is discharged from service and given a hush-money pension check to ensure his silence. This incident marks the beginning of his downward spiral into guilt and self-destruction.
Upon his return from the war, McNulty grapples with overwhelming guilt and trauma. To cope, he becomes dependent on Shut-Eye, an experimental anesthesia initially designed for trauma surgeries. His addiction to the drug serves as both an escape from his past and a chain that binds him to it. During this turbulent period, McNulty meets Greta, a nurse who shares his dependency on Shut-Eye. Together, they form a bond based on their mutual need for the drug and their shared experiences of pain and disillusionment. Greta becomes a pivotal figure in McNulty's life, influencing his thoughts and actions.
Motivated by his desire to atone for his past and fueled by his growing disillusionment with the government, McNulty hatches a radical plan to destroy the very weapons he believes are responsible for the expansion of the American empire. His mission transforms from one of personal redemption to a larger crusade against the corrupt system that manipulated him.
As McNulty delves deeper into his quest, he uncovers a disturbing truth: his entire life and actions have been orchestrated by a wealthy and influential individual pulling the strings from behind the scenes. This revelation shatters whatever remains of McNulty's faith in the system and drives him to confront the real enemy manipulating events from the shadows.
Trivia[]
- Howie McNulty draws inspiration from both the Comedian and to a lesser extent, Doctor Manhattan. Like the Comedian, McNulty undergoes a transformation from a loyal soldier to a disillusioned man burdened by guilt, mirroring their shared involvement in morally questionable government operations and eventual reckoning with the futility of their actions. McNulty’s realization that powerful forces have manipulated him parallels Doctor Manhattan’s sense of detachment and his disillusionment with being used as a tool by those in authority. Overall, McNulty’s story reflects the central Watchmen themes of moral ambiguity, trauma, and exploitation by those in power.