Doomsday Clock Reading Guide

Overview:

Doomsday Clock is a twelve-issue comic book series published by DC Comics starting in late 2017. The event is written by Geoff Johns, with artwork primarily by Gary Frank. It is a sequel to Alan Moore’s Watchmen, integrating its characters into the broader DC Universe. The main plot centers around the arrival of Dr. Manhattan, who is revealed to be manipulating events in the DC Universe, leading to tensions that threaten the fabric of reality itself.

Key protagonists include Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, who aim to confront this existential threat. On the other side, Ozymandias and other characters from the Watchmen universe play significant antagonistic roles. The series receives mixed to positive reviews, with many praising its art and ambition while critiquing some narrative choices. Fans appreciate the deeper exploration of characters and the blend of two iconic comic worlds.

Overall, Doomsday Clock aims to explore themes of power, morality, and the consequences of heroism while paying homage to the legacy of both the DC Universe and Watchmen.

Best Way To Read:

Main Collection

• Absolute Doomsday Clock
  • Collects: Doomsday Clock #1–12

Alternative Collections

Main Story

• Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection
  • Collects: Doomsday Clock #1–12
• Doomsday Clock: Part 1
  • Collects: Doomsday Clock #1–6
• Doomsday Clock: Part 2
  • Collects: Doomsday Clock #7–12

For crossover and significant events, I typically only read the main story the first time I encounter it. Trying to read all of the tie-ins with the story tends to make them increasingly convoluted and are not crucial to the main narrative. However, I think they are important to read, as many series-shifting plotlines can happen.

For the tie-in issues, I only read them as they come up in the reading guide that I am working through. This can become problematic because the tie-in issues are not always included in collected editions of the event. So you may need to hunt for them.

Reading Order:

Title	Importance	Collected
Doomsday Clock #1	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 1
Doomsday Clock #2	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 1
Doomsday Clock #3	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 1
Doomsday Clock #4	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 1
Doomsday Clock #5	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 1
Doomsday Clock #6	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 1
Doomsday Clock #7	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 2
Doomsday Clock #8	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 2
Doomsday Clock #9	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 2
Doomsday Clock #10	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 2
Doomsday Clock #11	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 2
Doomsday Clock #12	Main Story	Absolute Doomsday Clock Doomsday Clock: The Complete Collection Doomsday Clock: Part 2

Publications Impact

Doomsday Clock integrates the Watchmen universe into the DC Universe, and you see the events of Doomsday Clock frequently referenced in future stories.

References:

• Wikipedia
• Comic Book Herald

Feature Image from Doomsday Clock #1 cover art by Brad Anderson & Gary Frank