Stillanerd Reviews: Doomsday Clock No. 9 review

It’s the Justice League and the rest of DC’s pantheon of heroes vs. Dr. Manhattan; and as this is the third act of Doomsday Clock, it’s about dang time.

Doomsday Clock No. 9

“Crisis”

Writer: Geoff Johns

Illustrator: Gary Frank

Colorist: Brad Anderson

Back-Matter Design: Amie Brockway-Metcalf

Covers: Gary Frank and Brad Anderson

Readers of Doomsday Clock knew a confrontation between the heroes of the DC Universe and Dr. Manhattan was coming. They knew it was coming even before there was a Doomsday Clock. One might even argue that since DC Universe Rebirth No. 1 revealed that the blue-skinned, omnipotent, emotionally-detached Jon Osterman was the “architect” behind “The New 52” era, it started percolating since the end of “Flashpoint.”

It’s also something which was supposed to have happened much earlier. By now, readers are also well aware that Doomsday Clock has been plagued by delays, more delays, even more delays. What should have concluded last year now seems as though it will wrap up sometime in the summer of 2019. Even series creators, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, make a joke of this in the current issue, Doomsday Clock No. 8, featuring several pages of silent panels depicting DC heroes until one of them finally asks, “How much longer?” At least the creators can find some humor in this.  

Credit: Gary Frank and Brad Anderson (DC Comics); from Doomsday Clock No. 9

…the promised battle between DCU’s heroes and Dr. Manhattan finally transpires And, to no one’s surprise, it’s an utter rout. What else would you expect when you have a bunch of mortals, albeit very powerful ones, going up against someone who’s practically a god?

But at long last, the promised battle between the DCU’s heroes and Dr. Manhattan finally transpires And, to no one’s surprise, it’s an utter rout. What else would you expect when you have a bunch of mortals, albeit very powerful ones, going up against someone who’s practically a god? Moreover, there’s a growing sense throughout this comic that another possible reboot of the DCU is coming. Taking the very last panel at face value, there has to be.

Within the context of this one-sided battle, Johns also provides a deeper look inside Dr. Manhattan’s thought process and motivations. While he’s still as almost emotionless and indifferent as ever, he paradoxically finds himself curious for the first time in decades. Maybe this curiosity comes from how he cannot see beyond the sight of Superman about to punch him in the face. Or it’s because an upcoming and ominous “detonation” on Earth prevents him from seeing the “immediate past and future. It could even be how the DCU actually offers him the chance to learn new things, such as how Green Lantern rings and magic works.

Credit: Gary Frank and Brad Anderson (DC Comics); from Doomsday Clock No. 9

[Doomsday Clock No. 9] looks visually fantastic….Yet amongst this spectacle, artist Gary Frank doesn’t forego illustrating the minor details.

It looks visually fantastic, too, as you’d expect a superhero battle would be. Yet amongst this spectacle, artist Gary Frank doesn’t forego illustrating the minor details. When Green Lantern Guy Gardner punches Dr. Manhattan, and we see it’s hard enough to seemingly snap and break his neck, it feels even more powerful. Likewise, the scene with Dr. Manhattan gathering up all the magic from Justice League Dark, smiling with almost childlike fascination before he unleashes it back, further underscores just how outclassed these heroes really are.

Of course, there’s more going on than just the DC Heroes and Dr. Manhattan fighting on the surface of the planet Mars. Tensions increase on Earth, as public opinion turns against Superman for his actions last issue, even as he lies in a coma. Batman, having just recovered from his injuries, frantically tries reaching the heroes heading to Mars, knowing full well they’re being set up. Lois Lane learns the identity of the person who sent her the newsreel of the JSA, and the mastermind behind the “Superman Theory” is also revealed.

Credit: Gary Frank and Brad Anderson (DC Comics); from Doomsday Clock No. 9

…Doomsday Clock No. 9  should be a welcome enough read. It ought to be after three years of build up and a hype which has been in danger of becoming extinguished.

All of these events are conveyed by Johns and Frank through frequent cross-cutting, often with just a panel in the middle of another scene. While this does cause some initial confusion, it also has the effect of accelerating the pace and tightening the screws. Even though you know the heroes will lose to Dr. Manhattan, that Batman will fail to get his message through, and that Ozymandias is pulling the strings, you cannot help up turn the page to read and see the impending disaster unfold.

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There is, however, one significant flaw, one which threatens to undermine the entire comic. Since the heroes believe Dr. Manhattan is responsible for the destruction of Moscow in issue No. 8, all of them, save Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, leave Earth for Mars. By doing this, they also leave Earth vulnerable, which is precisely Ozymandias’ plan. Only there’s no reason for all the heroes to go. Surely some of them could’ve stayed behind. It’s a glaring creative misstep from Johns in which he forces characters to conform to the plot, not the other way around. Also, rather coincidental that only DC’s Trinity is left, isn’t it?

Even so, for those who’ve been frustrated by the delays, both in overall story and the release dates for its installments, Doomsday Clock No. 9  will prove a welcome enough read. It ought to be after three years of build-up and a hype that has been in danger of becoming extinguished.

Stillanerd’s Score: 4 out of 5

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks

Credit: Gary Frank and Brad Anderson (DC Comics); from Doomsday Clock No. 9

• In case you’re wondering, the Legion ring Dr. Manhattan holds before it winks out of existence belongs to Ferro Lad, who sacrificed himself to stop a space cloud dubbed the Sun-Eater.
• You know, I would think the Legion of Super Heroes no longer existing thanks to Dr. Manhattan’s butterfly effect would suggest the destruction of the universe, not Superman killing Dr. Manhattan. Why, then, would Dr. Manhattan still wonder about which one it might be?
• Also…wow! Only a week left until the apocalypse and Superman about to punch Dr. Manhattan’s face? Time sure does fly by in this comic, despite it’s slow as molasses release schedule.
• Okay, so at some point in the comics, Donna Troy dons her original “Wonder Girl” costume and (possibly) joins Justice League Odyssey; Green Arrow and Black Canary are back together, as are Aquaman and Mera; Firehawk joins the Justice League; John Constantine rejoins Justice League Dark; Batgirl changes costumes again; and the original Charlton Comics heroes (The Question, Ted Kord/Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, and Nightsahde) team up. But will all of this actually happen?
• If the entire Justice League has left Earth, then who’s keeping guard over Superman and the Hall of Justice from the mass of protesters outside? Oh that’s right–nobody! How else could Lois Lane and Lex Luthor just waltz inside?
• I’m surprised we didn’t get a “bigleague” reference from the President in this issue, too.
• “I didn’t see it.” You think, Bruce? It’s still inconceivable how the World’s Greatest Detective, given that he knows about the multiverse first hand, dismissed Rorschach II’s claims as he did.
• Guy Gardner calling Dr. Manhattan “Blue Man Group” and saying “Let’s put some underwear on this guy” before he punches? Take that, Hal Jordan! Guy really is the best Green Lantern ever.
• Yes, John Constantine does have a British cockney accent, but it’s not so cockney that you need subtitles just to read it.
• “Have you ever heard of Wally West?” Okay, since we know Tom King’s Heroes in Crisis chronologically takes place before this, shouldn’t Lois now remember Wally since Superman told her about Sanctuary and who was brought there?
• Oh, there you are Wonder Woman. Took you long enough to show up.
• Okay, so the “Superman Theory” was true, after all. And Firestorm was a part of it…one half of him, anyway. Though how would Professor Stein know that he and Ronnie would survive the nuclear power plant “accident?”
• Ironic that’s it Captain Atom who temporally disintegrates Dr. Manhattan, considering how Alan Moore created Dr. Manhattan as an expy for Captain Atom.

What are you’re thoughts about this issue of Doomsday Clock? Was the fight with Dr. Manhattan worth the wait or too little, too late? Is this issue really setting up another Crisis-style reboot of the DC Universe? Also, what do you think about the “Superman Theory” being true, and do you think it’s a direct result of the JSA not coming into existence? And how could Superman even stop Dr. Manhattan anyway?