Over the last couple of years, there's been a lot of tap dancing around Doomsday Clock in terms of the quality of the series, it's impact on the DC Universe and it's very reason for existing.
As a sequel to the legendary Watchmen series by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, Doomsday Clock would seem to be regarded by some fans as tantamount to sacrilegious. a defiling of a sacred text or something.
Yes, Watchmen is a great work in comics. It deserves all the lauding praise this seminal work as received over the decades. It is very much a complete work with a beginning, middle and end. It does not need a sequel.
It is, however, not a sacred work.
If someone thinks there are more stories that can be drawn from Watchmen's well, then fine. If these stories are good, then readers have gained something. If these stories are not good, Watchmen still stands unsullied by such efforts.
Damon Lindelof's HBO series shows something new and good can come out of the Watchmen world.
In the case of Doomsday Clock, writer Geoff Johns I think has made a good case of his take in the Watchmen universe. The story Johns tells is as much a story about the enduring and endearing power of what we know as the DC Universe as it is a sequel to Watchmen.
Watchmen posited a world fraught with realpolitik problems along with super heroes. How would one affect the other? What Alan Moore presented was a world that was dark and conflicted.
What would happen if that darkness and conflict affected the DC Universe the same way?
Well, it would be different and the reason for that difference is Superman.
Dr. Manhattan is bemused by Superman and his affect on the Earth of this particular universe. Using his reality bending powers, Manhattan travels through time, making changes subtly here and there in history. For example, a simple move of a certain magic lantern by mere inches results in Alan Scott dying, not becoming Green Lantern and ending an inspiration for the Justice Society of America.
Other changes make this world darker. Superman still comes into being and serves as a beacon of hope. Manhattan keeps changing things, resulting in a version of the DC Universe we readers came to know as the New 52. It's a colder place, devoid of relationships that have made the heroes of the DC Universe a more effective force.
Whatever Manhattan does to change this world, Superman still prevails. This universe is a metaverse that bends and molds itself to whatever changes affect the legend and history of Superman.
Which is a problem for Dr. Manhattan. He's seen the future. Superman confronts him and then all his darkness. Dr. Manhattan cannot see beyond that moment. He reasons there are two alternatives:
Superman kills him.
Or Dr. Manhattan destroys everything.
In Doomsday Clock#12, the long foreseen confrontation arrives. And Superman gives Dr. Manhattan a third alternative.
For all his powers, the main strength of Superman is his ability to inspire us to a better nature, to a better path. And this is what Superman does for Dr. Manhattan.
After the confrontation that isn't, the DC Universe begins to open and expand as Superman remembers the Justice Society of America from the past and the Legion of Super Heroes of the future.
Then Johns describes future events in the DC Universe where the universe may be rebooted again but Superman is always there, at the center of it.
And Superman's Earth is not the only one changed.
As we saw at the start of the Doomsday Clock series, the world of Watchmen was not in good shape as Ozymandias' scheme to trick the world into uniting to face an alleged alien threat has been exposed. The world is spiraling towards destruction.
Inspired by Superman, Dr. Manhattan returns to help save the day. Doomsday Clock#12 ends on that world in a bright and hopeful future with a young man with super powers named Clark.
Is Doomsday Clock a worthy successor to Watchmen? That may be open to debate. But I will say as it's own thing,
Doomsday Clock is a very well put together series. Geoff Johns is clearly inspired to elevate his game as a writer, seeking to emulate the complex plotting that Alan Moore employed in Watchmen.
And the artwork of Gary Franks paired with colorist Brad Anderson is simply a wonder to look at it. While freed from the panel grid constructions of Dave Gibbons work on Watchman, Franks is follows patterns of layout and design to tell a rich and complex story.
This series features appearances by almost every hero and villain in the DC Universe and Franks draws all of them with precision and style.
The downside for Doomsday Clock is how long it has taken to get here. As impactful as the ending might be to the DC Universe going forward, that impact is dulled a bit by the two years it took to get here. I'm concern that many fans gave up waiting for this to come out and won't be as moved by what Geoff and Gary deliver here.
Which is a shame because ultimately, Doomsday Clock is a very good comic book.
Watchmen good? Your mileage may vary.
Doomsday Clock is Doomsday Clock good.
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Coming up tomorrow:
It's Hanukkah Time!
And a post on Superman#18 and the secret revealed.
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