Like the rest of the series,
Doomsday Clock #10 was plagued with delays but it finally arrived in comic book stores today and, as was the case for issue #9, it's packed full of massive new reveals.
As the worlds of the Watchmen and DC Universe collide, we learn some shocking truths about why the latter's timeline continues changing and what Superman had to do with that. Wally West's return is also finally explained, while the stage is set for a confrontation that will change everything.
It's clear that Geoff Johns has big plans for the DC Universe's future and much of that starts to take shape here as Manhattan's arrival is addressed as are his ties to the world of these heroes.
So, to check out
Doomsday Clock #10's biggest reveals, hit the "View List" button below!
The Truth About Carver Colman
Right from the start,
Doomsday Clock has featured a pretty peculiar subplot in which we've followed actor Carver Colman in a movie called
The Adjournment. Well, this issue sheds some light on his story as we learn about his past and the fact Dr. Manhattan used him as an anchor of sorts to acclimate himself with the DC Universe.
Each year, he told Carter what would happen to him during the next 365 days and watched as his mother and partner bludgeoned the Oscar-winner to death when he refused to pay blackmail money.
Carter was nothing more than a tool for Manhattan and he used him for his own means. However, there's another reason the actor is so important and it ties into the former Minutemen member's arrival...
Dr. Manhattan's Arrival
After leaving his own universe, Dr. Manhattan finds himself drawn to "Superman's Universe" and is confused to find himself in 1938 rather than the 1980s (which is the period
Watchmen was set in).
It's then that he learns of the Man of Steel's existence but before he can meet The Superman, history changes. Watching the Justice League of Society assemble, we learn that they're waiting for Superman to join their ranks but history changes yet again and they've suddenly never heard of the hero.
So, what exactly is going on and how is Superman involved?
Superman's History
Manhattan jumps through time and witnesses each of Superman's origin stories from 1938 to 1956 to 1986 and even the events of Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu's
Birthright and
Superman: Secret Origin (which was also from the creative team of Geoff Johns and Gary Frank).
Despite initially being confused, Manhattan realises that the likes of the Anti-Monitor and Extant are responsible for why Superman's timeline keeps changing but also becomes aware of the fact that the Man of Steel is key to all of this (even with the Legion of Superheroes in the 31st Century).
The Watchmen character then makes the decision to once again change Superman's history.
The Metaverse
Before we get to that, though, another startling revelation is made within the pages of
Doomsday Clock #10. The DC Universe isn't just part of the Multiverse; it's the reality in the centre of everything and Manhattan dubs it the Metaverse as a result. Everything that happens in this universe changes those around it and that includes the Dark Multiverse and every other alternate reality we've seen.
The New 52
Deciding that he now wants to reshape the Metaverse to see how it affects Superman, Manhattan kills Alan Scott and brings a halt to the creation of both the Justice Society of America and Legion of Superheroes. As his take on this universe starts to form, we learn that he's actually the one responsible for "The New 52" reboot and it seems as if he's become addicted to this particular feeling.
Describing the process of changing Superman as "intoxicating," Manhattan also feels closer to this version of the Man of Steel as the death of his parents meant he grew distant from humanity.
However, the Metaverse fights back against these changes and that is what led to the return of Wally West from the pre-New 52 timeline. The
Watchmen character seem unfazed by that and is more concerned with the future and the fact that Superman is coming for him...
The End Of Everything
Back on Mars, Jon has frozen the heroes who attacked him for reasons he claims will soon become clear. Multiplying himself, he disables the likes of Green Lantern and The Flash and is preoccupied with the fact that when he looks into the future, all he sees is an enraged Superman running towards him before everything turns black after the iconic DC Comics superhero lands his punch.
He previously talked about not knowing what this meant but now speculates that either Superman destroys him...or he destroys the Metaverse (which really will be the end of everything).
Superman Wakes Up
After being left comatose, Superman wakes up at the very end of the issue and is now presumably coming to Mars to take down Manhattan. With any luck, that means that after ten issues, we're finally going to see the battle we've been waiting for, especially after Jon made such short work of the rest of the heroes who came after him (something which really disappointed comic book fans).
What Comes Next?
More delays?
In all seriousness, there's a lot left for this series to address. Are Metahumans really the creation of the government in the timeline created by Manhattan? Are Mime and Marionette the parents of The Joker? What will become of Ozymandias and the new Rorschach?
Whatever the answers may be to those questions, it feels like we may be getting a new DC Universe which incorporates all of the DC Universe's history but whether fans will embrace yet another reboot remains to be see. Regardless, the ramifications of this series promise to be huge.
For a recap of everything that happened in Doomsday Clock #9, continue reading below!
Dr. Manhattan Wiped The Legion Of Superheroes From History
In a past issue of Doomsday Clock, we learned that Dr. Manhattan moved the Lantern out of Alan Scott's reach and stopped the Justice Society of America from ever being formed.
Now, it's revealed that the ramifications of that decision mean that the Legion of Superheroes is never created and the universe (which would have been saved by one of its members in 3019) is "in darkness" as soon as 2030. WhatDr. Manhattan isn't sure of, though, is whether he's the one responsible for destroying everything or if he's destroyed by Superman.
Superman Is In A Coma
Following that explosion in Moscow (which has been traced back to Mars by several teams of heroes, including various iterations of the Justice League and the Green Lantern Corps), Superman has been left comatose while Batman is also badly injured.
He's being kept in the Hall of Justice which is surrounded by protesters who have completely turned on metahumans. The President, meanwhile (who appears to be a take on Donald Trump), has disowned the Man of Steel and Tweets out a message that he's done more for the planet anyway.
Dr. Manhattan Vs. The DC Universe
Pretty much every major superhero you can think of from Batgirl to Martian Manhunter and John Constantine have assembled on Mars and it doesn't take long for a battle to ensue between them andDr. Manhattan.
It seems like the Watchmen villain wants to discredit or kill Superman before he can destroy him but after a single blow from Guy Gardner seemingly kills Dr. Manhattan, he quickly resurrects himself and destroys Guy's ring before admitting that he finds it "difficult" to affect that particular energy.
Magic Isn't Magic
When Justice League Dark heroes like Constantine and Zatanna take aim atDr. Manhattan, he makes it clear that none of them are actually wielding magic.
Instead, the power they use is actually "the scraps of creation," energy which has been forgotten before being wielded by the likes of Deadman andDr. Fate. Dr. Manhattan finds the whole concept of magic to be laughable and ends up using it against the heroes as he points out that it feels good to still be able to learn a new trick or two.
Lex Luthor Has A Plan
After confronting Lois Lane in the Hall of Justice, Lex Luthor reveals that he was the one who sent The Daily Planet reporter that footage of the Justice Society of America and notes that he believes there's a force out there undermining not only Superman but reality itself. He notes that Wally West was one of Dr. Manhattan's "victims" and it seems as if that speedster will now get involved.
The Shocking Truth About Firestorm
Back on Mars, Dr. Manhattan takes Ronnie Raymond to the past and shows him that Dr. Martin Stein may be more villainous than any of us ever could have guessed.
Ronnie sees his mentor talking about how a bigger accident frequently leads to better results and he tells someone on the phone that he's managed to manipulate Ronnie by being the father figure he desperately needed. Confirming that the "accident" that bonded these two will make them "one," Stein says he hopes to learn about metahumans from the inside.
In other words, the Superman Theory about man-made metahumans appears to be true.
Dr. Manhattan's Weakness
As the battle on Mars continues, Dr. Manhattan's one weakness may have been revealed: radiation. Firestorm manages to hurt the villain, while Captain Atom is actually able to destroy him!
However, the God-like being reforms himself and as a helpless Batman (who has just woken up back on Earth) fails to get a message to the heroes, a blue explosion rings out across the Red Planet.
Black Adam Makes A Move
As Wonder Woman addresses the United Nation to ask for peace, the building is attacked and Black Adam - who has learned that the world's heroes are absent - makes a move and seemingly confirms that he's looking to take over Earth with the metahumans who have fled to his home country.
This is a big cliffhanger and we don't know for sure what Black Adam has planned but it definitely appears as if he's the villain of this story back on Earth which should shake things up massively.
Everyone Is Dead
As we return to Mars, Dr. Manhattan walks away from the carnage his explosion caused and we see a number of DC heroes bloodied and seemingly dead at his feet. It could just be that they're unconscious or badly wounded but things are looking bleak and it now appears as if Superman is the only one left who will be able to go head to head with the classic Watchmen villain. We'll have to wait and see!