Review: Doomsday Clock #1

Quick Summary

Pros: The new characters and story are extremely interesting and will leave readers wanting more. The tone is perfect for what the series is trying to accomplish. Both the artwork and the story are wonderfully detailed.

Cons: Nothing

Overall: This is a fantastic comic and a promising opening to a brand new series. The characters are charming, the world is as intense as promised, and the story is sure to get you hooked from the very beginning. In addition, the level of respect for Watchmen and its themes is clear and should be enough to mollify the worries of any distraught fan. Go out and read (or re-read) Watchmen and then dive right into this experience!

Story

Doomsday Clock #1 may be one of the most highly anticipated comics in recent times. It is an issue with years of setup and decades of history all culminating in one comic book series. The first issue sets the tone for this and would be the first indication on whether this series would be a rousing success or a tremendous disappointment.

It is this setup, anticipation, and planning that makes Doomsday Clock #1 such a mind-blowing comic book. Geoff Johns succeeds in all of his promises and delivers a final product that builds upon the original while simultaneously developing into a brand new entity. Steeped in meaning and symbolism, this is book that is sure to delight fans of the original while captivating and intriguing a new generation of readers. There are new characters, new plot points, and new threats all wrapped around the same anxiety inducing world of Watchmen. This is a comic no one should miss.

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Doomsday Clock picks up right where Watchmen concluded, yet Geoff Johns makes it seem like those decades in between were mere minutes. With Rorschach’s unique cadence providing narration, readers are introduced to a new cast of characters. These new heroes, while based in the old, are clearly their own beings and bring forward a charm specific to this new story. The Mime proved to be a particularly fun character, especially since his unique brand of insanity so easily lends itself to comedy.

Though this introductory issue doesn’t give much away as to what the bulk of the story will be about, it produces an effect that is equal parts nerve-racking and foreboding with every line. It imparts a feeling of dread that is essential in truly experiencing this fictional universe. There is tension from the very onset of the story, as the public has discovered “the great lie” and worldwide peace is more than threatened. This is then built upon as readers hear of missiles approaching and discover the uncertainty of Rorschach’s grasp on the situation. This unease is constantly referred to and keeps the reader in the same state of paranoia that Watchmen imparted.

While Johns creates a feeling of anxiety in the present, he also creates a feeling of excitement for the future. This, while crucial for any first issue, is absolutely vital for a series of this magnitude. Questions like “who is the new Rorschach?”, “where is Nite Owl?”, and “how do Marionette and the Mime play into all this?” are obvious and very satisfying to see started. However, more subtle foreshadowing, like the vulnerability of Ozymandias’ mental state, the foreboding tone of Superman’s language, and the newspaper clippings at the end provide a wealth of information on the future to be dissected and theorized upon. This is a comic where everyone will want to read more.

While reading Doomsday Clock, one cannot avoid addressing what this comic does by continuing the story of Watchmen. Admittedly, I like Watchmen as an independent piece; it is definitive, complete, and nearly perfect. I went into Doomsday Clock expecting this experience to be taken from me, for the exploits of Rorschach and Ozymandias to be diminished somehow. In putting down this first issue I was happy to see this was not the case. Doomsday Clock builds its foundation on the boards Alan Moore laid back in 1988 but immediately begins to differentiate itself. It is still early to make a final judgement on what effect this series will have on the original, but I can say that I left this first issue without any worry about the direction Geoff Johns is heading.

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Art

Stepping into Dave Gibbons shoes and entering the world of Watchmen is no easy task, yet it is one that Gary Frank rises to. He delivers a book that matches Watchmen in style and delivery, while also being distinct and different. The nine-panel grid, Rorschach’s morphing mask, and the general sense of foreboding are all back and in full form. This is a comic clearly for Watchmen fans by a Watchmen fan.

In addition, the artwork, in this issue, is as detailed and packed full of meaning as the story is. Subtle visual clues litter the issue as small details provide constant hints at what is to come. Often times key plot points are indicated pages before they are actually revealed, giving re-reads plenty of viability. Plus, more overt hints like TV broadcasts and the inclusion of Walden Two speak to the core themes of the work; such as nuclear war, civil unrest, free will, and determinism. This is a book where readers get as much from the pictures as they do from the words, and that is really something special.

Continuity

Doomsday Clock #1 is the start of a brand new deluxe series from DC Comics. It directly continues the story of Watchmen. It also continues stories started in DC Universe: Rebirth (Review), The Button, and Superman: The Oz Effect.

The series will continue in Doomsday Clock #2.