Comic Review: Doomsday Clock (2017-) #9

Doomsday Clock (2017-) #9

DC Comics

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Gary Frank

I guess this is the part where I’m supposed to make a joke about the delays on this book.  It is pretty impressive how long we have to wait in-between each issue.  But honestly, this book is really worth the wait.  I’ve been a fan of Doomsday Clock from the start, and I want Johns and Frank to take their time with this story.  And it’s issues like this where that waiting really pays off.  As far as I’m concerned, Doomsday Clock #9 might be the best issue of this series so far.

We’re nine issues in now and I don’t think this book really knows what it is yet.  On the one hand, it feels like a sequel to Watchmen but on the other hand, it feels like a Watchmen/DC Universe crossover.  And although I think Johns’ new Watchmen creations are interesting, I’m far more interested in a DC event where the Justice League faces Doctor Manhattan.  And that’s what Doomsday Clock #9 is all about.

The majority of this issue takes place on Mars.  Earth’s superheroes race to Mars to apprehend Doctor Manhattan, the supposed perpetrator of the Moscow massacre.  There’s plenty of cameos from characters all around the DC universe in this issue.  We get some great banter between the Green Lanterns, Zatanna and the Justice League Dark show up, and we even get to see Captain Atom face off against Doctor Manhattan.  Seeing all these characters come together really makes the book feel important to the overall DC universe, something I feel the book lacked earlier on.

This book also juggles plenty of subplots.  While previous issues felt largely disconnected because they only focused on one event, Doomsday Clock #9 has a lot happening all at once.  We get a little more insight into Lex Luthor’s message to Lois Lane, Black Adam and his refugees make a move on the UN, and we finally start to get some answers about the Superman Theory.

But after nine issues, we still don’t know why Doctor Manhattan messed with the DC universe.  I know we will get the answer to this question eventually, but with such long gaps between issues, it feels somewhat dragged out.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved the interactions between Manhattan and the heroes in this issue, but I don’t feel like the plot moves forward fast enough in this series.

If there’s one good thing to come out of these delays, it’s Gary Frank’s art.  Every panel in this book is packed full of detail.  From his character designs to his facial expressions, Frank knows how to draw.  I think Johns was right when he said he wouldn’t have done this book if he couldn’t get Gary Frank on art.  Even if you are against the idea of a Watchmen sequel, this book is worth picking up for the art alone.

Even though this story does have its issues, I think it sets the standard for excellent modern comics.  While it’s fair to compare this book to Watchmen, it will never be anywhere close to as important or outstanding as its predecessor.  But this book is everything I want from a modern comic.  Johns and Frank make the DC universe feel connected in a way that few others can.  This creative team truly understands the characters they write.  And by putting them on such a large stage, the stakes feel real (something that can’t be said for many other books on the stands).  Doomsday Clock is no Watchmen, but what it is is fantastic in its own right.