Doomsday Clock #8 (Review): A World On The Verge Of War
Updated: Jan 25, 2020
DOOMSDAY CLOCK #8
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Gary Frank
Colorist: Brad Anderson
Publisher: DC Comics
8.5/10
We’re ramping up towards the finish line of the highly anticipated and controversial maxiseries DOOMSDAY CLOCK, Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's collision of the DCU and the Watchmen worlds. In this issue we focus our attention on the Man of Steel’s perspective of the current state of the DCU. Despite giving a powerful message delivered by Superman, this issue misses a few beats.
Geoff Johns and Gary Frank have proven time and time again that they are one of the strongest creative teams in modern comics; whether it be when they worked on Superman or Batman: Earth One, the constant quality is always there and this is no different in DOOMSDAY CLOCK #8. The issue opens up by taking us away from what the past seven installments have been focusing on and we turn our eyes onto Superman’s view of a DCU on the verge of collapse. Johns and Frank brilliantly use Superman as a way to shed some much-needed light on a series that has been grim from the beginning. Johns and Frank’s jarring switch from a cast of largely Watchmen characters to Superman is recapped through news reports and rumblings around the Daily Planet; this tactic was serviceable to get the reader caught up on what’s been happening prior to this issue but I believe it was such a dramatic shift in tone that it felt like Superman story was separate from the rest of the series.
Johns also brings attention to a character who has been relegated to the background for the majority of the series, Firestorm. Firestorm being brought to the forefront of a series largely comprised of Watchmen characters is refreshing and Johns brings the tragic tale of a hero who doesn’t understand his own power. One of the strong suits of this issue is how Johns and Frank handle Superman and the rest of the DCU; you can tell how much love they have for these characters and how personal of a story this is for them. All of this great story is brought to life by Gary Franks gorgeous pencils. Frank draws the perfect balance between realism and the fantastic side of these characters.
After a long overdue introduction of Superman into the series, Johns and Frank provide a heartfelt and clever look into the DCU while also hinting at many concepts long-time fans want brought back into the universe. There is plenty to look forward to now that were in the latter half of the series; the inevitable confrontation between Superman and Doctor Manhattan, the return of the JSA and Legion, Ozmyandias’ full plan? You’ve got to pick up the next issue to keep up with this stellar series, you don’t want to miss it.