Doomsday Clock #11 // Review
With over a three-month hiatus, Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, And Brad Anderson return for this penultimate chapter while fans finally remember this title still exists. As the gaps between issues become even larger, the excitement for the once highly anticipated title continues to diminish. While the publisher seems to have placed its importance in the overall universe on the back burner.
Nearly half a year ago, the DC universe finally came face to face with Dr. Manhattan only for him to make quick work of the heroes. With the previous issue focusing on the past and Manhattan’s actions behind the changes within the DCU, this issue picks up back on earth after the events of issue nine. As the world crumbles beneath Black Adam and his host of villains at his side, the heroes still remain back on Mars. After the explosion in Russia, Batman and Superman return back into the fold, each to stop their Watchmen counterparts. Filled to the brim with secrets and revelations and a tiny bit of retconning, this chapter lurches towards its end while one final issue remains.
Gary Frank continues to do right by Dave Gibbons, in all of his beautifully rendered and detailed linework. The nine-panel grid continues to help both writer and artist to fully flesh out the details while packing even more excitement into each page. Never once has any level of quality dropped in all the time of this series and Frank continues to produce his absolute best work with the series. Legendary colorist Brad Anderson continues to layer each page is beautiful colorwork as he brings the overwhelming and manic mood of the chapter into fruition.
With all of the loose ends of the title coming together Geoff Johns finally seems to pick up the pace and get the series moving. As it stands, one final issue is still to come down the line and will be sure to be even more jam-packed than this epic chapter. At times this chapter comes off as rushed, due to the slow burn of the previous ten issues. This chapter, in particular, feels like it’s meant to carry much of the weight of the earlier installments. As well as giving fans what they want after such long delays. Certain moments seem to be an afterthought for Johns such as the fate of Saturn Girl. In what was once an exciting and mysterious aspect of the series now seems to be completely swept under the rug with the approaching Legion of Superheroes title. The revelations of this issue come off as amateurish and underwhelming, to say the least.
After nearly two years and eleven issues, Superman and Dr. Manhattan finally come face to face, only for the chapter to immediately closeout. Stating previously that he didn’t think he would even go through with the title, the seams begin to tear. While Geoff Johns appears to have gotten way over his head. This chapter, while finally fast-paced and tying together plot threads from nearly two years ago, feels to not have enough time for everything Johns wants to cover. As a result, coming off as rushed and as if aspects of the story were changed due to the numerous delays and DC not waiting to bring back the JSA and Legion of Superheroes before this series closed off. While exciting, on the whole, this chapter feels as though changes were made late into the game.
