Some thoughts about Doomsday Clock #10

Who is the center of the Multiverse?

Doctor Manhattan arrived to an universe less complicated from the one he came from and by doing so, he decided to play God in a different manner.

Finally this book has returned and does it in a grandiose way.

Geoff Johns offers a new installment where he tells the story from the perspective of Doctor Manhattan and explores the true nature of the DC Universe. One has to love the references to the original Watchmen story just from the beginning in which Johns interpretes one of Jon's final lines "I'm leaving this galaxy for one less complicated" as that he was going to arrive to the main DCU which in context makes a lot of sense due to how in the Watchmen universe the lines between right and wrong were pretty blurry and the DCU is a more typical superhero one.

The focus of the story is about how Jon is witness of how the DCU keeps changing because of the different crisis or even by himself. This explains how the Justice Society of America stopped existing in this universe but most importantly, how all of this is related to Superman.

Yes, Superman's role in the story is finally revealed and is much more important than anyone thought early on. Jon appropriately realizes that Clark is pretty much the center of the universe and the changes in his particular story not only affects his world but the whole Multiverse as well. This showcases many relevants points of Superman's history like how he was initially created in 1938 to fight alongside the JSA, only for them to not remember him after it due that his history changed once again due that he was supposed to first appear in 1956, and later in 1986 and so on and so on. This are clear references to Superman's eras, especifically the Golden Age, the Silver Age, the John Byrne's Man of Steel reboot, the Mark Waid's Birthright new origin and Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's Secret Origin, the latter being adequate considering that the same creators are involved here now.

All of this takes us to the New 52 where is explained that Jon was the one who changed Clark's origin, killing his parents because he wanted Clark to feel as disconnected of humanity as he was and this is a pretty good take on that whole era of the character. One has to appreciate Johns' expertise to connect history in a way that makes sense.

The story is also devoted to a man named Carver Colman who Jon uses as a way to see how the universe changes around him and really, Carver had his own story himself and I believe is far from over. This also reveals that the main DCU is known as the Metaverse, meaning that everything in the Multiverse revolves around it which explains how the changes of the main DCU affects the rest. Again, perfect interpretation.

Gary Frank remains in art duties and his work is still outstanding thanks to his expressive characters and masterful storytelling.

Fantastic issue, the best so far if you ask me.