Doomsday Clock #1 - Our thoughts....

The wait is finally over, Doomsday Clock #1 is finally here!

It's fair to say that Watchmen's influence and prestige in the Comic community is beyond reproach at this point.  The result of Alan Moore's writing and Dave Gibbon's artwork, Watchmen was and remains a phenomenon.  It is actually number 17 on Time Magazine's all time greatest novels list.  That's not Graphic Novels, simply novels.  It is the only comic related entry on that list.

So, when this title was first announced, it appeared to split the comic community straight down the middle.

On one side was the thought that DC should just leave the Watchmen property in the past.  They tried to tell more stories in this universe a few years ago with the prequel series 'Before Watchmen', which gave each iconic character their own title.  Sales were not as high as expected and reviews were not glowing either (though in my opinion there were some superb tales - Silk Spectre and Ozymandias being the two standouts).

The other side would argue that this just wasn't a Watchmen sequel, this was a Watchmen sequel written by the one and only Geoff Johns, arguably DC's best writer (though for me Scott Snyder just edges it).  Gary Frank would be on art duties, and he has easily been one of the best and most consistent artists on DC's roster for quite some time (check out Batman Earth One for just how good he can be.  A title also written by Geoff Johns).

So what's the verdict?  Worth the wait, or another blight on Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon's original masterpiece?

For this reviewer, it is my exceptionally happy duty to report that it is firmly in the 'Worth the Wait' column.  I must admit, when it arrived in, I was cautious.  I was excited to read it but well aware that it could potentially be a letdown.  It's not often I feel like this over a comic.  Sure, certain titles will have a lot of depth and are worth discussing.  But by in large they are stories designed to entertain and a lot of the joy and awe is in the artwork.  But every so often something comes along and elevates the artform.  We've already seen a great example of that this year with Dark Nights Metal (and all it's assorted tie-ins).  It just feels like you are reading something special.  Something that has been put together with the utmost of care and will stand up to repeated readings.

Every page of Doomsday Clock feels special.  It is respectful to the original source material, while finding it's own unique voice and place within the Watchmen universe.  Characters return and sound a little different, but there's a reason for that.  It's explained in an exciting way rather than just trying to pass off a different authorial voice as the same.  Let's be clear, as amazing as Geoff Johns is, no-one sounds like Alan Moore, for better or for worse.  But rather than just try to do an impression of Moore here, he finds his own voice.

I'll  keep spoilers to a minimum, but the basic outline is that this is set 7 years after the events of the original Watchmen.  The world has found out about Adrian Veidt's plan, and he is on the run.  Rorschach is still about (didn't he die?).  New characters are introduced (The Mime might just be the best original character in comics this year, despite only being on about 5 pages).  And many questions are asked and scenarios setup for moving forward.

Superman appears in the last few pages of the issue, but it feels organic to the story.   It doesn't feel like you've left the Watchmen Universe and joined the DC one, it all feels connected, and that in itself is a triumph.

There is even a case file at the back of the issue with more background materials on characters, adding depth to the tale.  Again, another respectful nod to the original Watchmen series.

The biggest compliment that I can give the issue is that as soon as I was finished reading it, I flicked right back to the start and just read through it again.  For an opening issue there is so much to take in and enjoy.  This world is so interesting that is being set up, and I fully believe we will get answers to many burning questions that have been littered throughout DC Comics for the last year or two.  How did the Comedian's button end up in the Batcave?  What did Geoff Johns mean when he introduced the idea of three Jokers into the DC Universe (issue 5 preview Variant cover has The Joker on it).  Where are Nite Owl and Silk Spectre?  How does Batman factor into this story? (Another great preview image has Batman reading Rorschach's diary in the Batcave)

Issue 1 has already been ordered to a second printing, so the audience has clearly responded to the quality of this title.

I personally cannot wait to find out more.  Settle in folks, this is going to be a great ride.

Until next time....