Doomsday Clock #1: 10 Things Everyone Totally Missed

There's something more to that folder than meets the eye...

Doomsday Clock Rorschach
DC Comics

Doomsday Clock #1 has finally been released, and it's fair to say it's the most eagerly anticipated comic of the whole year.

Amid much speculation and controversy, the story will be a direct sequel to Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' seminal storyline, Watchmen, and sees us return to a dark, broken world that - today at least - feels all too familiar.

More than that though, the world of the Watchmen is set on a collision course with the main DC Universe, with Doctor Manhattan set to go face-to-face with Superman himself.

There are a number of levels of meaning to all sorts of elements of the book, within the context of the story to the very dates of its release. There may even be some which readers have missed, such as errant folders and late night reading material. All of it has a meaning here.

Take a look at just some of the most interesting curiosities to come out of Doomsday Clock #1.

10. Just What President Are We Really Talking About Here?

Doomsday Clock Rorschach
DC Comics

Starting really early on during news broadcasts that help set up the state of the Watchmen's world, we see reports and panel artwork that seem to be alluding to another President entirely, one that is much more 2017 than 1992.

During a hostage crisis at the White House, we are quickly informed where the President is... because he's scored himself a hole in one, beating his personal record. When the President cannot be reached for comment, we see a set of golf clubs sitting on the green.

Add to this mentions of collusion, Russian intelligence and the fact this is a chaotic time in America after roughly two terms of relative peace and growth, and it seems pretty blatant that the comic is actually making reference to current US President Donald Trump.

The original Watchmen was a commentary on the social and political states of the time it was made, it would seem that Doomsday Clock may be just as relevant.

Contributor
Contributor

Joe is a comic book writer out of South Wales, writing LGBTQ+ superhero series The Pride and also co-writing Welsh horror comedy series, Stiffs. He's also a comics reporter and reviewer who works with Bleeding Cool and now WhatCulture too. So he makes comics and talks about comics, but there's more to him too. Somewhere.