Watchmen did not have a graphic, prolonged rape scene in the same way as Dr Light's rape of Sue Dibney was prolonged - Dave
I respect your opinion.
However...
1) The Watchmen rape scene was around eleven panels (from set-up to Hooded Justice finding them). Sue Dibney's rape scene was eight panels (from set-up to Flash finding them). Sue's was an integral part of the plot. The Watchmen one was merely to show us what a sick fuck the Comedian had been. Therefore, I disagree with your above point.
2) Sue Dibney's rape was the motive for their "mind-wiping" plot, and, therefore, was the believed motive for Dr. Light's revenge against Sue. I don't find it at all offensive towards women in general, as this is a somewhat complex murder mystery, and motives for actions and reactions must be examined.
3) The fact that 90% of the superhero characters are male generally leads to the conclusion that, if a villian is going to strike them by hurting/killing one of their loved ones, that loved one is going to be a female. That is, until DC gets off its conservative trip and allows homosexual characters in the same light as Midnighter and Apollo. Then, striking loved ones can be raping their life-partner (i.e. Authority...which I agree, was censored, and therefore can only generally be implied in hindsight...same with Killing Joke).
4) I believe that, while comics are indeed an escapist medium, this is merely a push to expand that envelope and use comic books, and superheroes, as a medium to express ideas, stories, and sophisticated drama. It's not like IC is happening in the Teen Titans or JLA mainstream titles. It is its own series.
5) Methinks, given past rants on your part, that rape may be a sensitive issue with you, personally. If so, then all the facts in the world aren't going to persuade you. And, even still, we all have our personal sensitivities, so, it's understandable.
