They may be the most anticipated superheroes to hit silver screens in 2009, which is saying something since the director of ”Watchmen” thinks his characters are all broken down slackers. But that’s why he likes them.

Director Zack Snyder unveiled scenes from his upcoming adaptation of the popular “Watchmen” comic books late Wednesday in Los Angeles. “Watchmen” were also a big topic at this past summer’s Comic-Con. (That’s a convention attendee near a “Watchmen” banner in the picture above at right.)

“I had a discussion with the studio and with people saying, ‘What is this? What do these guys do?’ and I said, ‘They’re all broken and they don’t do a hell of a lot,’” Snyder told reporters at the Wednesday sneak peak. “But it’s really about who they are, more than anything.”

Snyder is definitely onto something because recent comic book movies have featured characters with flaws, and they’ve scored big at box offices. There is the dark side of Batman, the conflicted Spider-Man, and who could forget the boozing Hancock with a bad attitude.

The “Watchmen” superheroes include Billy Crudup as the nearly omnipotent “Dr. Manhattan” (Billy Crudup), “Silk Spectre” (Carla Gugino) and her daughter, “Silk Spectre II” (Malin Akerman).

When compiled into a graphic novel, the “Watchmen” comic book series was named by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the 100 best novels in the English language since 1923. The story delves deeply into the psychological makeup of its superheroes as much as it does their deeds.

Set in an alternate version of the United States in 1985, the movie shows a world where superheroes are such a part of the social fabric that comic books dwell on the adventures of pirates instead of masked crime fighters, Snyder said. Most of the superheroes in the film are vigilantes.

Amid the scenes from “Watchmen” that Snyder showed was the opening title sequence, set to the 1963 Bob Dylan song “The Times They are A-Changin.’” The sequence flashes through touchstone moments in U.S. history, but with superheroes playing pivotal roles.

Borrowing from a famous Life magazine photo of a sailor kissing a nurse at a World War II victory parade in New York City, the filmmakers recreate the scene but substitute a female superhero. In another scene, former President John F. Kennedy shakes hands with the superhero “Dr. Manhattan.”

Snyder also showed a sequence outlining the personal history of “Dr. Manhattan,” who was created in a tragic lab accident and called into service by the U.S. government.

One scene shows “Dr. Manhattan” standing before conquered North Vietnamese soldiers, who worshipfully bow to him. The film explores what the character’s godlike powers mean for him and the world.

The movie is set for release in March, 2009, and while we know ”Watchmen” has a big base of fans, the question is will they turn out in theaters.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis)