Doomsday Clock : On How NOT to follow Alan Moore...

[SUPERECWFAN1]

30+ years ago Alan Moore wrote a series that for years has been revered. Watchmen for all intents and purposes is considered a modern classic in writing and Moore took newly created characters and crafted a masterpiece story. One built on cold war tensions and using super heroes to tell that tale. For years the story was never touched or the whole sequel idea was one that Paul Levitz would never allow.

But as time and DC underwent corporate changes Levitz would leave. DC would undergo changes to the line as the New 52 was approved and Vertigo characters were pulled back. To increase sales and make as much profit as need be publishing wise. Then they saw the Watchmen characters. After Zack Snyder's "Watchmen" really helped increase TPB sales (Watchmen had always sold well in TPB , but DC printed tons of new editions and sold well) , DC & WB realized there was a market for these characters.

This would lead to "Before Watchmen" and the critically panned books done. Many feeling this personally spit on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons legacy of work. Many had hoped after the limited series run of books that DC would never do anything related to Watchmen again.


They just didn't know how desperate DC would get to fix things...AGAIN.





After a huge launch of millions of books sold within a few months of fall 2011 , the DC New 52 reboot of the core universe after 25 years began to go off the rails. Within a year some books were cancelled and DC was struggling to build a new continuity around its characters. But struggles with that led to numerous relaunches , changes etc that can be debated . After the failure of DC You in 2015 as new initiative , DC had to scramble with a new move in 2016 to restore faith from readers back in the line.

In a shock DC Rebirth would come out in May 2016 and reveal that the New 52 Earth was in fact a creation of Dr. Manhattan. That he was responsible for the new universe that no longer knew Wally West , that had removed the Justice Society from existence and more. This was meant to fix EVERYTHING back and restore the legacy of the DC Universe everyone missed.





The run down was Wally was needing to find out who was responsible for the missing years taken from his life and others. Meanwhile Dr. Oz had kidnapped Tim Drake over in Detective Comics. Oz claimed he knew Batman would come eventually and he seemingly was preparing Drake and everyone for what was ahead. Over in Action Comics Oz was revealed to be Jor-El who had due to Manhattan's meddling survived and he was responsible for Krypton's destruction. Batman itself had an event called "The Button" that crossed over with Flash as they discuss this "threat" that may have impacted their lives. An appearance by Jay Garrick seemed to hint the Justice Society would be involved.

The wheels came off pretty quick as NONE OF THIS was at all involved in Doomsday Clock.

In fact the whole 12 issue series that began in January 2018 involved a few elements that were never mentioned at all in the lead up to this event.


- There was a level of distrust planted in people towards its super heroes as people started to protest Batman and others at times. This was never shown at all in any of the books I saw. Least of all Tom King's Batman or Detective. This global level of distrust grew more and more as nations got involved.

- Saturn Girl was involved in this story but no where was it mentioned she would be a character involved in this storyline or the lead up.

- Batman in an issue of Action Comics (Oz Effect epilogue) hints at getting help from Superman to handle this situation before Doomsday Clock begins. Yet the series really seems so behind the ball on things and never has that meeting with Superman to discuss anything.

- Wally West is a non factor and months before this storyline kicked off , the whole reasoning of his missing years and people forgetting him changed. Instead of Doctor Manhattan being involved , it now was shown that his missing years was due to Abra Kadabra which was one of the weirdest changes in power levels done.

- In fact Flash basically sit this one out as even though the Button arc had it seem that Barry Allen would be looking into this situation as well.


The storyline itself was a delayed mess. With Geoff Johns trying to weave a complicated Alan Moore type written story. Johns is not Alan Moore and his talent at writing is basically big epic super hero battles. Not intricate detail stories that examine things that weave complex political themes etc. In creating a shifting metaverse concept it seemed like he was trying to be more Alan Moore and Grant Morrison. And failing in spectacular fashion.

The very issues themselves tried copying Moore's storytelling aspect of Watchmen and failing as well. The typical 9 panel grid aspect seemingly was ripped from Watchmen to make it a companion series.

The end its revealed that Superman means hope repeatedly for the DC Universe and its constant need to evolve and reboot itself as a living creature outside of Manhattan being involved. Superman's way of hope change Dr. Manhattan's views and he allows the universe to reset to the Post Crisis world that was long missing. Clark has his parents alive again , he was Superboy originally , the Justice Society also existed.

I won't spoil anything else since its a gigantic piss all over Moore's work essentially. As we have to hope this ends and no more is done with Watchmen Universe because it could get even worse.



- OVERALL : Just a terrible 12 issue series that clearly was an evolving mess. If they had done this after Rebirth one shot a lot could have been different. So many things were dropped along the way and NONE OF THEM made it into Doomsday Clock. The end result is a mess and makes you question exactly where this series fits now. What is a shame is this was 2+ years of DC building to this huge event that ran over 2+ years and was such a colossal waste.

[charliehustle415]

30+ years ago Alan Moore wrote a series that for years has been revered. Watchmen for all intents and purposes is considered a modern classic in writing and Moore took newly created characters and crafted a masterpiece story. One built on cold war tensions and using super heroes to tell that tale. For years the story was never touched or the whole sequel idea was one that Paul Levitz would never allow.

But as time and DC underwent corporate changes Levitz would leave. DC would undergo changes to the line as the New 52 was approved and Vertigo characters were pulled back. To increase sales and make as much profit as need be publishing wise. Then they saw the Watchmen characters. After Zack Snyder's "Watchmen" really helped increase TPB sales (Watchmen had always sold well in TPB , but DC printed tons of new editions and sold well) , DC & WB realized there was a market for these characters.

This would lead to "Before Watchmen" and the critically panned books done. Many feeling this personally spit on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons legacy of work. Many had hoped after the limited series run of books that DC would never do anything related to Watchmen again.


They just didn't know how desperate DC would get to fix things...AGAIN.





After a huge launch of millions of books sold within a few months of fall 2011 , the DC New 52 reboot of the core universe after 25 years began to go off the rails. Within a year some books were cancelled and DC was struggling to build a new continuity around its characters. But struggles with that led to numerous relaunches , changes etc that can be debated . After the failure of DC You in 2015 as new initiative , DC had to scramble with a new move in 2016 to restore faith from readers back in the line.

In a shock DC Rebirth would come out in May 2016 and reveal that the New 52 Earth was in fact a creation of Dr. Manhattan. That he was responsible for the new universe that no longer knew Wally West , that had removed the Justice Society from existence and more. This was meant to fix EVERYTHING back and restore the legacy of the DC Universe everyone missed.





The run down was Wally was needing to find out who was responsible for the missing years taken from his life and others. Meanwhile Dr. Oz had kidnapped Tim Drake over in Detective Comics. Oz claimed he knew Batman would come eventually and he seemingly was preparing Drake and everyone for what was ahead. Over in Action Comics Oz was revealed to be Jor-El who had due to Manhattan's meddling survived and he was responsible for Krypton's destruction. Batman itself had an event called "The Button" that crossed over with Flash as they discuss this "threat" that may have impacted their lives. An appearance by Jay Garrick seemed to hint the Justice Society would be involved.

The wheels came off pretty quick as NONE OF THIS was at all involved in Doomsday Clock.

In fact the whole 12 issue series that began in January 2018 involved a few elements that were never mentioned at all in the lead up to this event.


- There was a level of distrust planted in people towards its super heroes as people started to protest Batman and others at times. This was never shown at all in any of the books I saw. Least of all Tom King's Batman or Detective. This global level of distrust grew more and more as nations got involved.

- Saturn Girl was involved in this story but no where was it mentioned she would be a character involved in this storyline or the lead up.

- Batman in an issue of Action Comics (Oz Effect epilogue) hints at getting help from Superman to handle this situation before Doomsday Clock begins. Yet the series really seems so behind the ball on things and never has that meeting with Superman to discuss anything.

- Wally West is a non factor and months before this storyline kicked off , the whole reasoning of his missing years and people forgetting him changed. Instead of Doctor Manhattan being involved , it now was shown that his missing years was due to Abra Kadabra which was one of the weirdest changes in power levels done.

- In fact Flash basically sit this one out as even though the Button arc had it seem that Barry Allen would be looking into this situation as well.


The storyline itself was a delayed mess. With Geoff Johns trying to weave a complicated Alan Moore type written story. Johns is not Alan Moore and his talent at writing is basically big epic super hero battles. Not intricate detail stories that examine things that weave complex political themes etc. In creating a shifting metaverse concept it seemed like he was trying to be more Alan Moore and Grant Morrison. And failing in spectacular fashion.

The very issues themselves tried copying Moore's storytelling aspect of Watchmen and failing as well. The typical 9 panel grid aspect seemingly was ripped from Watchmen to make it a companion series.

The end its revealed that Superman means hope repeatedly for the DC Universe and its constant need to evolve and reboot itself as a living creature outside of Manhattan being involved. Superman's way of hope change Dr. Manhattan's views and he allows the universe to reset to the Post Crisis world that was long missing. Clark has his parents alive again , he was Superboy originally , the Justice Society also existed.

I won't spoil anything else since its a gigantic piss all over Moore's work essentially. As we have to hope this ends and no more is done with Watchmen Universe because it could get even worse.



- OVERALL : Just a terrible 12 issue series that clearly was an evolving mess. If they had done this after Rebirth one shot a lot could have been different. So many things were dropped along the way and NONE OF THEM made it into Doomsday Clock. The end result is a mess and makes you question exactly where this series fits now. What is a shame is this was 2+ years of DC building to this huge event that ran over 2+ years and was such a colossal waste.

Which makes it all the more curious as to why Wonder Woman is now the first superhero as opposed to Superman; especially if he is the glue that holds everything together?

Great write-up, this entire thing was FUBARed when the delays hit. Anyone who is a Superman fan got screwed the most; like what the hell was the point of Mr. Oz aka Jor-El? The entire Tomasi & Jurgen's run depended on it; but nothing ever came of it. Luckily they are good enough writers they were able to salvage it.

Nothing ever came about from Tim being kidnapped or all the other machinations.

I am pretty sure this will be forgotten and handwaved away like Spider-Man's Clone Saga or Batman's Robin timeline.

And this is coming from a guy who doesn't care at all about continuity; but when it is this egregious it cannot be ignored.

[Robanker]

Man, you and lemonpeace are about to be great friends.

[caj]

Amazing thread. I didn't even read Doomsday Clock and I see all your points very clearly.

They definitely dropped the ball on this disaster.

[Mr.B]

Really great series.

Now Watchmen tv? Super awful.

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

Oh boy. Let me guess, if it wasn't Geoff Johns who was writing this book, but someone like Grant Morrison, people on this forum would literally be singing its praises. I mean, it would be one thing if Doomsday Clock itself didn't receive very good reviews throughout its run or if #12 itself wasn't only one of two comics to sell over 100,000 copies in December. But it accomplished both of those things. These reviewer I think sum up the series pretty well:

Overall: While it isn’t quite perfect, Doomsday Clock #12 is as good an ending to this story as you could want. It is masterfully written and illustrated, with strong themes that resonate through each and every page. Rather than being a sequel to Watchmen, this is a story about how Superman can and should inspire goodness and hope, and in turn save even a world as “too far gone” as Ozymandias, Rorschach, and Doctor Manhattan’s. This is a series that will inspire no end of debate and discussion, and even if it doesn’t impact the wider DC Universe as much as it could or, frankly, should, it is still a great work of comics art and storytelling that I will gladly return to again and again. At its core, this is a story about hope in the darkness, and at the end of Doomsday Clock, hope shines bright.

Source: https://batman-news.com/2019/12/18/d...ock-12-review/

This issue really should have come sooner. Doomsday Clock will be known for its constant delays and attempts at being a sequel to Watchmen. It should be remembered for being a fantastic story, and this issue hammers that home. It has great action and brings this grand ending to the series. Gary Frank’s art continues to be top form and will get praise for years to come. The problems that the story has are minuscule in comparison to the story as a whole. I highly recommend this conclusion and series for anyone who has been wanting to read this. Pick it up now and see how the DC universe changes for the better.

Source: https://monkeysfightingrobots.co/doo...ock-12-review/

I think they hit the nail on the head. People will judge this unfairly because of the delays, but all in all, it's actually a great story that performed well financially. Its pretty much a love letter to Superman and his role in the DCU.