Doomsday Clock #1 Review

Writer: Geoff Johns / Artist: Gary Frank / DC Comics One of the most undisputed statements is that Allan Moore’s The Watchmen is one of the best limited runs or graphic novels in history. Outside of the prequels that weren’t all that great and one of the most polarizing comics adaptations to a movie ever created, most of what folks know of The Watchmen is that it was a masterpiece. Both tapping into a uniqueness in its themes and storytelling, it is one of the cornerstones that comic book fans hold dear with an edged loyalty. When the lead-ins to DC’s Rebirth culminated with Batman discovering the infamous Button, it signaled a return to The Watchmen in some shape or form.

While the original Watchmen series took place in an alternate world from any other heroes, the challenge is how they will fit within the DC universe and what their re-introduction triggers for our existing heroes. How this will work is only briefly hinted upon in the first issue of Doomsday Clock #1, where a few old heroes from the vigilante Watchmen take center stage. The world is falling into chaos. Johns and Frank build a palpable end-of-world scenario, part based upon the natural progression of worst case society scenarios. Some the result of what the revelations of the Watchmen have left in their wake. Johns has spoken about how this was a more personal story for him and Frank and it shows. There is a lot of political commentary, though scattered and unfocused with intention. Politics As Unusual As ch…