Silk Spectre
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Silk Spectre is the name shared by a mother and daughter fictional superhero pair who are central characters in the classic comic book series Watchmen by Alan Moore, and published by DC Comics. They are modified versions of the character Nightshade from Charlton Comics.
Silk Spectre I
The first Silk Spectre was former waitress and burlesque dancer Sally Jupiter (her real last name was Juspeczyk; she wished to hide her Polish heritage), who entered action sometime around 1938. She was soon invited by Captain Metropolis to join the Minutemen, a group of costumed heroes. On October 2nd, 1940, after a meeting of the Minutemen, Edward Blake, alias The Comedian, sexually assaulted Silk Spectre. He was stopped by fellow Minuteman Hooded Justice, but the event would have a profound impact on Sally's life. In 1947 Sally retired from crimefighting and married her agent, Laurence Schexnayder. In 1949 she gave birth to her daughter Laurel Jane, commonly known as Laurie. It was known to both parents that Laurie was not Laurence's child, and this led to conflict in the family, leading the couple to divorce in 1956.
Silk Spectre II
Sally pushed her daughter into the "family business" of crimefighting. Laurie Juspeczyk never held much interest in becoming her mother's successor, but went along with Sally's wishes anyway. Driven by the memories of her own experience, Sally tried to keep Laurie from knowing some of the harsher realities of the crimefighting life; for example, she didn't allow her to read Hollis Mason (Nite Owl I)'s autobiography Under the Hood (which included the Comedian's assault on Sally, something Laurie knew nothing of). Sally acted like an agent for her daughter, bringing her to the meeting of the ill-fated "Crimebusters" in a limousine and waiting outside for her to finish. After the meeting broke up, Laurie met the Comedian outside, but their conversation was broken up quickly by an angry Sally Jupiter. The following car ride home was when Sally told her daughter of her history with the Comedian. Laurie never forgave the Comedian for his actions, though it seems that as time passed, and in a complicated way, Sally was able to come to terms with it. Shortly after the meeting of the Crimebusters, Laurie met and became involved with Dr. Manhattan.
Events of Watchmen
Their relationship became strained, however, owing to Manhattan's growing disconnection with humanity. Laurie soon left Dr. Manhattan and began living with Dan Dreiberg, AKA the second Nite Owl, and the two soon became romantically involved. On a whim, emboldened by the imminent nuclear war, Dreiberg and Laurie decided to don their old costumes and take Dreiberg's airship Archie out. During their flight, they found a building on fire and rescued the inhabitants. Soon after, Laurie was brought to Mars by Dr. Manhattan, where she attempted to convince him to save humanity from impending nuclear war. During their conversation, Laurie finally came to the realization that her father was really the Comedian. Moved the sheer unlikelihood of Sally and the Comedian producing a child, and the child being Laurie, Dr. Manhattan realized the miracle and value of human life and agreed to save the planet. The pair returned to earth, only to find half of New York City destroyed by Ozymandias' creature. They then transported to Ozymandias' lair in Antarctica, where Laurie attempted to shoot Ozymandias, only to be thwarted by Ozymandias' newfound, and untried, ability to catch bullets. After realizing that Ozymandias' plan had worked, and that, despite the loss of several million lives, nuclear war had been averted, the heroes (with the exception of Rorschach) decided that Ozymandias' plan should be kept secret to serve the greater good.
Shortly after these events, Laurie and Dan Drieberg adopted new appearances and identities, now calling themselves Sam and Sandra Hollis. They visited Sally Jupiter and Laurie told her mother that she had realized the truth about her father. The issue was put to rest for Laurie, who accepted that the situation between her mother and the Comedian was too complicated, and forgave her. "Sam and Sandra" left soon afterwards, and indicated that they would continue to adventure, although Laurie expressed the wish for a better superhero identity, and a firearm (insinuating she wanted to pick up her father's identity as the Comedian.)