Doomsday Clock #9: Crisis

Doomsday Clock

by Geoff Johns, Brad Anderson (Illustrator), Gary Frank (Illustrator)

The critically acclaimed series by master storytellers Geoff Johns and Gary Frank reaches its most shocking chapter yet when the DC Universe collides with its greatest threat: Dr. Manhattan. But nothing is hidden from Manhattan, and the secrets of the past, present and future will rock the very foundation of the DC Universe.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

38 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 6, 2019

About the author

Geoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and JSA (co-written with David S. Goyer) for DC Comics. He worked with Richard Donner for four years, leaving the company to pursue writing full-time.

His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid. Geoff received the Wizard Fan Award for Breakout Talent of 2002 and Writer of the Year for 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as the CBG Writer of the Year 2003 thru 2005, 2007 and CBG Best Comic Book Series for JSA 2001 thru 2005. Geoff also developed BLADE: THE SERIES with David S. Goyer, as well as penned the acclaimed “Legion” episode of SMALLVILLE. He also served as staff writer for the fourth season of ROBOT CHICKEN.

Geoff recently became a New York Times Bestselling author with the graphic novel Superman: Brainiac with art by Gary Frank.

Reviews

[Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

DC Heroes V. Dr. Manhattan!


This is the comic book issue #9, of the event “Doomsday Clock” that it will be a maxiseries of 12 issues.


Creative Team:

Writer: Geoff Johns

Illustrator: Gary Frank


MARS OR BUST

Many of the most powerful super-hero teams of DC (Justice League, Titans, Doom Patrol, Metal Men, Justice League Dark, Shazam Family, along with several non-affiliated powehouses) go to Mars since they pointed out that the incident at Russia wasn’t fault of Firestorm but from another totally different kind of energy signature and that leads them to the red planet…

…where someboy quite blue is waiting for them!

The world is losing hope in Superman since populace’s opinion think that he took a side in the metahuman turmoil.

Meanwhile Superman is in coma, recovering his health, inside of the Hall of Justice, where Lois Lane is watching over him, and she gets a quite unexpected visit.

Showdown between the DC heroes and Dr. Manhattan will be more than Ron Raymond can handle when Dr. Manhattan will reveal him a very dark secret about the origin of his powers as Firestorm.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a awesome fucking issue.

So for 8 issues everything is building up. Last issue ended with a BOOM and a ton of people paid the price for it. Similar to what happened to Dr. Manhattan now happens to Superman. The news reports are coming in saying Superman didn't stop Firestorm from hurting everyone but Batman knows better. Batman knows the truth.

The justice league, justice league dark, titans, green lanterns, and just about any other hero you can think of decide to head into space to face off against Dr. Manhattan. The meeting goes okay at first, with them trying to be peaceful about it. However, when they get a reading of why Dr. Manhattan is doing what he's doing they all attack. With some successful attacks they think they can take Dr. Manhattan on but we know better, don't we?

Good: The art remains fantastic. Deep emotional moments are on display here, but the fights...oh man so good. Also, the story moves so quick in this volume despite Dr. Manhattan being a wordy motherfucker at times. Every time he says something or makes a point you feel on edge. Watching the heroes fight a force that's nearly impossible to stop is both scary and super entertaining.

Bad: Nothing.

This is a excellent issue. This series keeps ramping up every issue. I can't wait to see how it ends. A 5 out of 5.

[Etienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes that was good! Dr. Manhattan sure is powerful as hell!! Looking forward the conclusion of this massive and epic series!

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride! I love how all the super heroes are in this! And, of course, Dr. Manhattan has the best comments. 👌 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good issue! The Justice League try to take on Dr Manhattan and it goes as well as the Avengers fighting Thanos at the end of Infinity War did...

[RG · Rating 3 out of 5]

At least this has a little more direction than Heroes in Crisis. I feel like both DCs big events from last year have been a little disappointing. Its like they make it big in scope without providing a plot.

[Rogerio Lopes · Rating 4 out of 5]

O que temos aqui basicamente é um interlúdio para demonstrar um ponto, o que se estabelece aqui é o lugar do Dr Manhattan nesse novo universo unificado. E para isso estabelece-se o confronto com todos os outros heróis disponíveis. É condizente com o que foi mostrado em Watchmen e com o que foi construído até aqui, mas é um tanto estranho o Dr Manhattan ser confirmado como um deus e ao mesmo tempo ser tão ignorante do que de fato está acontecendo, a ver como isso será solucionado.

[Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's it?
I need more bloody hell!!
This issue was probably the best one so far!
All of DC universe heroes came together to help Superman and defeat the one who hurt him, only to find that it's freaking Dr. Manhattan who's basically indestructible.
I loved the face off, I loved Dr. Manhattan's reactions to basically everything and most importantly everyone's reactions to his reactions; those were priceless.

All in all: I. NEED. MORE.
TAKE BRUCE TO MARS BLOODY HELL!

[Aron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, great issue! All the DC heroes head to Mars and confront Dr. Manhattan. This has been a great series, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank have put together a very worthy sequel, great writing and fantastic artwork. In my opinion, this is one of the best things DC's done in the last 20yrs. Highly recommend!

[Siona Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved loved loved seeing the Question in this issue, and the Doom Patrol (wish Q would get a new on going and DP would get one with a team that wouldn’t let it flop after two arcs and lots of delays), and overall the cohesiveness of the DC universe presented in this issue, but I’m beginning to question how much of a good idea it is to actually have the Watchmen characters in the DC universe. Idk, I’m starting to think this is undoing all the good Rebirth did (man, now that Geoff Johns is doing the TV show rounds DC comics editorial is starting to suffer).

[David Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is getting better and better. Just wish it could be completed on a timely basis. How many actual months has it been? Seems like a long time between issues. Okay, I just checked and the first issue came on sale on Nov 22, 2017. 16 months and nine issues. Still, only 3 more issues left. Maybe be done by fall or early in 2020? Maybe issue #12 will be an extra long affair.....

[Cristhian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Manhattan is too OP.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series is living up to it's full potential. It's a Nerd's dream. Being a huge Dr. Manhattan fan, it's fantastic to see him with all the DC heavy hitters. The writing is solid as well. I'm loving this series.

[Prof. Cue · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars

One of the better issues I guess. Although I felt there wasn't much original writing for Doctor Manhattan and that they just pulled a lot of callbacks from Watchmen.

[Paul Dinger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series is okay, but it really isn't that good. Geoff Johns used to be the DC fireman, he could take worn out titles like Flash, Green Lantern, Teen Titans, Aquaman, and Justice Society, bring a realism too grounded in the original characters. His Watchmen title is really just a rip off, with characters not even as interesting as they are in the original series. So far this is a real disappointment.

[Mert · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars (%97/100)

I'm speechless. This was also a great issue. The heroes of the world confront Dr. Manhattan while he is learning new stuff each second. In the Watchmen universe, time is immutable and Dr. Manhattan himself said that he is merely a puppet who can see his strings. However, in this universe, time is changeable and Manhattan is experimenting with the tachyons. Brilliant work!

[Evelyn Blackwater · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm starting to realize what a colossal disappointment this is all turning into.
The issue is basically a "LET'S ALL FIGHT THANOS" bit from Infinity Gauntlet.
Starts off with some decent tension and for my money, completely derailed when the Green Lantern Corp begin to talk. There is an exchange between two of the Lanterns that reeks of a centrist intended joke appealing to both sides of the political spectrum only to fall flat on its face and please absolutely no one.
I don't want to be venomous. None of this is criminally bad. I'm just starting to realize what a terrible concept this all is as a foundation. As a sequel to Watchmen it's remarkably tedious. The whole arc seems predicated on one of the most overrated comic nerd tropes, "Who would win in a fight, Superman or Goku?"
If that's the big theme we're aiming for here, Superman and Dr Manhattan punching each other in the face, I'm gonna be pretty bummed. Hell, it could be Supes and the Doctor chit chatting and it would still be a letdown. Cause nothing this could end on would be narratively satisfying. Even if Manhattan dies, or kills Superman or whatever... so what?
All the quotes at the end are just this pretentious salt cherry sprinkled over its remains. Geoff Johns is a good writer but this is not the best way to continue a story like this. A story shouldn't feel like it's trying this hard to be profoundly poignant. I'm not even saying it's bad. As its own story it's... fine?
It just misses its mark because the arrow it used was the wrong arrow.

Being negative on anyone's work is not me forte.
The artwork, again, is off the charts. (There is some art of Big Barda that I would frame if I could).
Seeing it paired with this story just makes me sigh. I don't want to be that person that says "was this necessary?" But I'm being left in the cold by a story I intended as a warm me up.
It feels shocking more as a product than as a piece of its own expression. The idea of using Dr Manhattan to string along a brand of heroes feels more calculated than natural.
There's interesting ideas at play for sure. Rorschach as a black man, Ozymandias meeting Lex Luthor, etc. I'd go so far as to say the stuff with Lex and Lois in this issue is actually pretty interesting.
I sometimes wonder if I'm burned out on super heroes. And for my money, I'm not. But the types of stories I expect to impress me in a superhero comic have changed.
It's not so much to string along and end with big fights. Things like the Tom King run of Mister Miracle may have altered my idea of what the hero genre ought to be in this day and age. It felt matured and evolved- like the logical progression of the medium.

Doomsday Clock feels like it's trying to be a game changer and it doesn't quite cash the check. That it tries this hard and for all to see makes it feel worse than it actually is.
I'm committed to finishing the remaining chapters. But I make it apparent now that it's going to feel like work. That I want to forget about it this badly makes me sad. I don't wanna be hard on anyone's work. It's a hodgepodge of good ideas assembled in the wrong order.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the last two issues provided the climax to many of the subplots of the series, tbis issue seems to offer the climax to those climaxes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this issue, but I do have to say that whatever grounding or tone the series seemed to try to set earlier, this issue seems to be where it (gloriously) jumps the shark. We're immediately greeted with fleets of all the manor hero teama flying through space, like we suddenly found ourselves in the penultimate issue of a Crisis book (not unintentional, given the title) with everything turned up to 11, except we're also in one of those 90's crossover specials.

And I kind of wish that was all this was. It isn't a great or worthy Watchmen followup to this point amd probably won't come anywherrle close to it by the end, and the time framing device of this being 5 years in the future seems clunky at best. The nods to events that were (at the time) to come now seems (having read them when they have since happened) like largely wasted panels, filler content that takes away from the larger story.

As an elseworlds, no-impact mega-crossover, though? It's becoming a lot of fun.

[Dain O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This issue was a significant improvement over the rest of the event series so far. Some meaningful events happened. However, with only 3 issues left, I wonder how impactful and meaningful the ending will be. I have loved almost everything I've read from Geoff Johns, but Doomday Clock really has me questioning him. I understand and appreciate the meta narrative of how since the 80s comics have been trending towards more grim, serious, and weighty stories (spearheaded by the original Watchmen and TDKR) and how DC Rebirth was supposed to represent a course correction from that trend, but so far this book has done much more of the former, I'm hoping that is part of the twist Johns has planned in the conclusion, because otherwise he's undoing his own work from DC Rebirth's inaugural issue.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story goes into high gear.
Once again DC’s heroes are all needed for a crisis for the fifth time in the last year or so...

The book is gorgeous to look at, but pales in comparison to its source material.
I wasn’t expecting it to come close to The Watchmen and so far my expectation hasn’t been wrong.
The one hope I had stemmed from The Marionette and Mime (who are very interesting) and they haven’t been seen in too long.

[Derek Neveu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that Johns has embraced the question that everyone originally asked when Watchman was first created by Moore and Gibbons,”How would Superman and The Justice League fair against Dr. Manhattan?” However, just as Dr. Manhattan asked the heroes at the end of this book, I can’t help but ask Johns, “What are you hoping to accomplish” with this story?

[Utsob Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You all believe you're wielding magic.
... I must perform a deeper analysis but I see this power you harness is in reality the scraps of creation. Like the random errors in computer code, discraded and forgotten, left to be cpiked up and used by those who also find themselves discarded and forgotten... 'magic'..." - Dr. Manhattan.

[Benja Calderon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luego del descontrol de Firestorm, los héroes del mundo deciden ir a Marte y enfrentar a quien parece que está moviendo los hilos

¿Pero podrán subyugar al Dr Manhattan?

Por otro lado, Lex Luthor promete a Louis Lane la noticia más importante de su carrera, mientras Diana trata de calmar los ánimos en las Naciones Unidas, el protector de Kanhdaq decide aprovechar mientras los héroes están fuera

[Matthew Manchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read one of the issues in this series, I don't think it will be good. Yet, it is always good if not great. This issue was WONDERFUL. Possibly the best issue yet. I'm getting excited for the final showdown between Dr Manhattan and Superman. Three issues left.

[bernard juozapaitis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great build up to an anticipated end

This is one of the better crossovers in recent years.It,s similar to Marvel,s Korvac saga in the omnipotence of his power with a hint of the beyonder,s nativity but an excellent read in all

[Amir · Rating 5 out of 5]

صحنه رویارویی تمام ابرقهرمانان با دکتر منهتن جذاب بود و پر فداکاری و اخرین پانل هم که من رو به شدت برای قسمت های بعدی هیجان زده کرد ولی واقعا صحنه احساسی ای بود پانل اخر که تمام ابرقهرمانان کشته شدند😭

[Richard Gonzales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heading into the endgame we now start too see the true madness of Dr. Manhattan. Superman in a coma inside the justice league with Louis keeping guard the hero’s other than wonder women head to mars to face against Dr. Manhattan and soon realize his full power

[Luiz Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crítica | Doomsday Clock #9: Crise -- https://www.planocritico.com/critica-...

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crisis

[Rhys Causon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first decent instalment for months.