Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Doomsday Clock #4

By Hervé St-Louis
March 29, 2018 - 12:40

This issue is the origin of the second Rorschach. We learn much about his past and why he appears mentally unstable. But his visit in Gotham reveals more about who put him at Arkham Asylum and who helped him escape his first mental hospital.

When reading Doomsday Clock, one has to be careful and consider carefully every element on the page. This issue, I could read Rorschach everywhere. The Moth, the golden age minute man who trained he second Rorschach was also represented as a ladybug attracted by a blue light. The meanings and layers do become a chore after a while. Instead of being nuggets that are just appreciated when they appear, they force the reader to play deuce instead of just enjoying the comic. This could be a problem if Geoff Johns continues to want to match Alan Moore’s writing.

I really like the origin provided to the second Rorschach although following it at first read was often confusing. The flashbacks and the present were often difficult to differentiate. Nevertheless, I like the liberties taken with Alan Moore’s work and have to say that this series is a great sequel that has the same magnitude while keeping close to the original themes. The one factor that has changed, is of course, the involvement of the DC Comics universe in the Watchmen’s world. Here the connections and verisimilitude between the two are acknowledged.

Gary Frank’s work is perfect. It’s much better and grittier than Dave Gibbons’ but not so different. And it works well for this comic. I will comment that the Comic Sans lettering seems to have been kept intact for this comic. The nine-panel grid at this point is more of an homage than something that helps the story move along, unfortunately. It has become a useless fetish.

Regardless of my minor criticisms, this comic continues to impress.

Rating: 9.5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12