Doomsday Clock is a 2017–2019 superhero comic book limited series published by DC Comics, written by Geoff Johns with art by penciller Gary Frank and colorist Brad Anderson. The series concludes a tangential story established in the New 52 and DC Rebirth, and it is a sequel to the 1986–1987 graphic novel Watchmen by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and John Higgins, making it the first official crossover between Watchmen and the mainstream DC Universe.
At the time, DC co-publisher Dan DiDio promoted Doomsday Clock as an official "sequel" to Watchmen. However, series writer and DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns declined to characterize it as such, viewing it as a "standalone" story.
The series's debut issue was published on November 22, 2017, and the final issue was published on December 18, 2019.
Publication history Doomsday Clock is part of the DC Rebirth initiative, and it continues the narrative that was established with the 2016 one-shot DC Universe: Rebirth #1, the 2017 crossover event "The Button" and other related stories. It is a follow-up to the 1986–1987 miniseries Watchmen by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and John Higgins, and it introduces that story's characters into the DC Universe, alongside a few original characters created for the book. Although Dan DiDio (then DC's co-publisher) confirmed that it is a sequel to that miniseries, Johns originally declined to characterize it as such, viewing it as a standalone story, saying, "It is something else. It is Watchmen colliding with the DC Universe."
Doomsday Clock was revealed on May 14, 2017, with a teaser image displaying the Superman logo in the 12 o'clock slot of the clock depicted in Watchmen and the series title in the bold typeface used for Watchmen.
The story includes many characters, but it has a particular focus on Superman and Doctor Manhattan. Johns felt like there was an interesting story to be told in DC Rebirth with Doctor Manhattan; he thought there was an interesting dichotomy between Superman—an alien who embodies and is compassionate for humanity—and Doctor Manhattan—a human who has detached himself from humanity. This idea led to over six months of debates amongst the creative team about whether or not to intersect the Watchmen universe with the DC Universe. He explained that Doomsday Clock was the "most personal and most epic, utterly mind-bending project" that he had worked on in his career.
Johns also explained that Doomsday Clock is a stand-alone story with no tie-in material. However, it "will have an impact on the entire DC Universe. It will affect everything moving forward and everything that has come before. It will touch the thematic and literal essence of DC." So by the time the final issue is released, "the rest of the universe will have caught up to it—and the repercussionsof the event will become known."
Release schedules The first issue of Doomsday Clock was released on November 22, 2017, with a planned run of 12 issues. The series was scheduled to release monthly and end in December 2018, with planned breaks in March and August 2018. However, in January 2018, it was announced that the series would take a break in March and April 2018, before releasing again in May 2018 and switching to a bi-monthly schedule, with the series ending in July 2019. Issue #8 was pushed back from November 28 to December 5, 2018. Issue #9 was pushed back from January 23 to March 6, 2019. Issue #10 was pushed back from March 27 to May 29, 2019. Issue #11 was pushed back from May 22 to September 4, 2019. The twelfth and final issue was published on December 18, 2019.
Two collected editions of six issues each were released in October 2019 and June 2020. A single-volume edition of all 12 issues followed in October 2020. An Absolute Edition collecting the full series and extra bonus material was released in October, 2022.
Setting
Plot Doomsday Clock is the finale of the story that was established in DC Rebirth, officially concluding the storylines that began in the New 52 continuity. The comic features the concept of the Multiverse, where the Watchmen universe exists separately from the DC Universe and each universe's characters treat the other universe's characters as fictional.
In the Watchmen universe, seven years after the massacre in New York City, the details inside Rorschach's journal have been published, exposing Ozymandias's role in the event. Now a fugitive, Ozymandias gathers several others to find Doctor Manhattan and bring him back to save the world. Reggie Long, the new Rorschach, attempts to enlist the help of Batman, while Ozymandias consults Lex Luthor.
Meanwhile, in the DC Universe, during the present day, the Supermen Theory, a conspiracy theory that accuses the federal government of the United States of creating its own metahumans, has created international conflict and led to an arms race, with various governments around the world recruiting metahumans and creating sanctioned superteams.
Dr. Manhattan, who is thought to have deliberately manipulated the post-Flashpoint universe, has a vision of the future in which he believes he and Superman will try to kill each other.
Characters
Doomsday Clock features characters from Watchmen and the DC Universe, and it also introduces some new characters, such as Reggie Long, the son of Malcolm Long, who becomes the new Rorschach; Mime and Marionette, a married couple of criminals searching for their missing son; and Bubastis II, a clone of the original Bubastis.
Other returning characters include the Comedian, Doctor Manhattan, Mothman, and Ozymandias, alongside Alfred Pennyworth, Batman, Black Adam, Firestorm, Johnny Thunder, Joker, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, Pozhar, Saturn Girl, Superman and Wonder Woman.
Issues Issue Title Written by Drawn by Coloured by Publication date Critic rating Critic reviews Ref. #1 "That Annihilated Place" Geoff Johns Gary Frank Brad Anderson November 22, 20178.6/1056 On November 22, 1992, seven years after the massacre in New York City, Adrian Veidt's plan for world peace has failed after the details of Walter Kovacs' journal were published. Consequently, Veidt becomes a fugitive as the U.S. stands on the brink of war with Russia. As preparations for nuclear war begin, a new Rorschach breaks into prison to retrieve Marcos Maez and Erika Manson. Rorschach takes them to his partner Veidt, who is dying of a terminal disease. Veidt offers the couple the location of their son and $200 million if they help him locate his former colleague Doctor Manhattan. Meanwhile, in another universe, Clark Kent has a nightmare about the night Jonathan and Martha Kent were killed in a car crash. Clark's wife Lois wakes him, as she cannot remember the last time Clark had a nightmare. Clark then tells Lois that he does not think he has ever had one before.
Seven years ago, the New Frontiersman revealed details about Veidt's main role in the New York massacre, but it was ignored. Over time, Robert Redford ordered reopening the case after he became President of the United States. #2 "Places We Have Never Known" Geoff Johns Gary Frank Brad Anderson December 27, 20178.6/1040 Marionette joins Mime, Rorschach and Veidt aboard the Owlship. Just as nuclear war between countries commences, Veidt activates a machine that transports the Owlship to the most recent location of Manhattan's electron particles. After crashing into an abandoned fairground and cuffing Marionette and Mime, Veidt and Rorschach explore Gotham City, noting the differences between the universes. After conducting research at a local library, Veidt discovers that this Earth is going through its own political crisis due to the Supermen Theory, which has put the United States at odds with Russia and Markovia. This has been brought up by Helga Jace, Lady Clayface, Man-Bat, and Metamorpho. Additionally, public opinion has turned against Batman while Wayne Enterprises is under threat of a takeover from LexCorp. Looking for allies in their search for Manhattan, Rorschach confronts Batman in the Batcave while Veidt confronts Lex Luthor. Veidt and Luthor are then attacked by a seemingly-resurrected Edward Blake, while Mime and Marionette escape in the Owlship.
Various media mention the Supermen Theory and how it accuses the U. S. government of creating its own metahumans in order to expand its dominion around the world. #3 "Not Victory nor Defeat" Geoff Johns Gary Frank Brad Anderson January 24, 20188.5/1035 In a flashback, it is revealed that Manhattan intervened in Veidt's murder of the Comedian by saving him from the fall and transported the latter to Metropolis. In the present, Veidt has a brief fight with the Comedian and is badly injured while escaping. Meanwhile, Rorschach tries to convince Batman to help locate Manhattan by presenting him with Kovacs' journal. Batman tells Rorschach to make himself at home while he reads. In a retirement home, the elderly Johnny Thunder stares out the window during a thunderstorm while waiting for his family to take him out to dinner, but they never arrive. Elsewhere, Marionette and Mime explore Gotham City and stumble into a bar in the Joker's territory, killing several of his men. After drinking a toast to finding their son, they decide to go in search of Joker. Rorschach has a nightmare of Veidt's monster attacking New York. When he awakens, Batman tells him that he has tracked a temporal anomaly to Arkham Asylum. However, Rorschach discovers that Batman has tricked him when he is locked up in Arkham, being told by Batman that he belongs there.
Old newspapers report the murder of Carver Colman, a noir film actor who played the character "Nathaniel Dusk". #4 "Walk on Water" Geoff Johns Gary Frank Brad Anderson March 28, 20188.5/1038 While incarcerated at Arkham and after being protected from inmates by Vortex, Rorschach recalls his past as Reggie Long, the son of Malcolm Long. Shortly after the New York massacre, he met Byron Lewis in an asylum, who taught Reggie some fighting moves. Shortly after Veidt's crimes were exposed, Reggie escaped the asylum which Byron set on fire and traveled to Veidt's retreat in Antarctica to exact revenge. However, Reggie decided to spare Veidt when he showed remorse. In the present, Reggie is evaluated by Batman under the disguise of a therapist which he discusses with Alfred Pennyworth. Imra Ardeen frees Reggie and they escape Arkham.
Prior to committing suicide, Byron wrote letters to his sister who died in the New York massacre caused by Ozymandias. #5 "There Is No God" Geoff Johns Gary Frank Brad Anderson May 30, 20188.5/1040 Lois and Clark agree that someone is behind the Supermen Theory, which has triggered an international metahuman arms race leading the United Kingdom, France, Markovia, Russia, Israel, India, and China to establish their own superhero teams. Killer Frost claims that Firestorm, Captain Atom, Firehawk, Moonbow, and Typhoon were products of the government as Firestorm claims that the Supermen Theory is a hoax. Hawk and Dove are arrested in Russia by the Rocket Red Brigade while Sam Lane pulls his troops out of Qurac. Veidt escapes from the hospital and returns to the Owlship where he is confronted by Batman. As they flee the Gotham police, the two argue over how their respective heroes treated their worlds, with Veidt believing Manhattan came to the DC Universe because of its heroes' simplistic "pulp hero" morality. Batman falls out of the Owlship and into a rioting mob. Lois confronts Lex who denies being behind the Supermen Theory. He claims that a metahuman and former member of the Justice League created metahumans for the government. With the Comedian hot on their trail, Mime and Marionette locate Joker who has a beaten Batman delivered to him. After escaping from his retirement home, Johnny Thunder travels to Pittsburgh to locate Alan Scott's Green Lantern at a ruined steel factory. He is saved from thugs by Saturn Girl and Rorschach, who are searching for Manhattan.