Close Menu
NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Subscribe
    NERDBOT
    • News
      • Reviews
    • Movies & TV
    • Comics
    • Gaming
    • Collectibles
    • Science & Tech
    • Culture
    • Nerd Voices
    • About Us
      • Join the Team at Nerdbot
    NERDBOT
    Home»Comics»Nerdbot Comic Review: DC’s Doomsday Clock – Issue #4
    Comics

    Nerdbot Comic Review: DC’s Doomsday Clock – Issue #4

    Adam ChmielewskiBy Adam ChmielewskiApril 1, 20186 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

    Welcome back to Nerdbot’s continuing coverage of DC’s epic Watchmen crossover event Doomsday Clock!!

    It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance write about this, believe me, the whole bi-monthly format thing really sucks. Just when the series starts to get off the ground, we find out we’ve got to wait even longer to see what happens next. Makes you wonder… why didn’t they just release the first issue in January? Wouldn’t a better solution be to simply delay issue one for the sake of making you deadline on time?

    Unfortunately I don’t work at DC, nor do I have any experience in the comic book business but know I’m a big fan of what Geoff Johns and company are doing here. Huge fan, who like most us, are victims of the modern instant gratification society, where waiting for anything totally blows!

    So before we begin today’s article I have to ask… was issue #4 of Doomsday Clock worth the wait? Honestly, I’m a little undecided at the moment. For what Walk On Water lacks in the wow factor, it completely delivers on exposition. Almost like that one episode per season of a TV show where it’s set in the past with the main goal of providing insight into the plot’s unanswered questions. Definitely what we have going on here. I would say this installment is more on the side of reveals than crazy ass twists. However, the direction this arc goes is unexpected, featuring some of the best storytelling we’ve seen in the run so far.

    Are you ready? Let’s do it!

    Best way to start off is by letting you know Rorschach, or Reggie Long, son of Gloria and Dr. Malcom Long (Walter Kovacs’ psychiatrist) is the center focus of the issue. That’s right! Internet fan theory confirmed. When you look at it retrospectively I guess it’s pretty obvious, but now we know for sure. Issue #4 is all him, for the first time a real bridge between the original Watchmen and Doomsday Clock has been built. I know we got a brief “fill in the gaps” thing with the Comedian, but now there’s a more depth and knowledge about the world before us.

    Walk On Water contains two main threads; 1) Reggie Rorschach in the present time, and 2) flashbacks of his life leading up to the start of Doomsday Clock.

    Let’s begin with the former… our protagonist is right where we left him, in Arkham Asylum. As expected, things aren’t going so well. Fellow inmates attack him, the food is god awful, and he is subjected to psychological evaluation by Dr. Matthew Mason, who shows a keen interest in Rorschach’s connection to Batman. Why is that? Because it’s revealed at the end, Dr. Mason was actually the Dark Knight rocking a new kind of mask. Bruce Wayne’s mission only teases a bigger secret as his final words are “He knows too much, and we don’t know enough”. Whatever the cliffhanger sets up I’m confident will be reason we’re still reading.

    This thread is not as eventful as the other. More like glue holding the issue together. However there’s an interesting Mr. Freeze cameo, it’s not much be we see him. The payoff comes in the form of a character named Jane Doe. She appears at Reggie’s cell to say she’s been inside his mind the last few days, then opens the door setting him free. Could it be the work of Dr. Manhattan? A flash of blue light might indicate another appearance sooner than later.

    Now on to the good stuff… the parts that are set in the past make this installment worth the trip to the comic book shop. We take a stroll through Reggie’s early years, youth, college, even the night Ozymandias staged an alien invasion killing millions of innocent lives. He was there, and the authorities found him in his car, then shipped him to a mental institute. Among the deceased were Reggie’s parents and images of that fatal evening haunt his dreams.

    Reggie eventually meets Byron the “Mothman” (an original Minuteman), and they become friends. Here is when the transformation to the modern Rorschach begins. Reggie’s non confrontational persona dissolves into a stone cold agent of doom. Now he fights back, now he brings the pain. One night, Byron drops off a package containing some of Dr. Long’s files from Walter Kovacs’ case including his journal. As Reggie becomes more familiar with what happened, the pieces slowly come together and a desire for revenge consumes him.

    Finally it’s 1992, Byron torches the institute, leaving Reggie a ticket for a boat that will take him to Antarctica. After walking miles in the cold, he reaches the lair of Ozymandias. Knife drawn, Reggie prepares to face the one responsible for his parents death, but he can’t go through with it. During the scene Ozy discusses his brain cancer and from the dialogue, expresses remorse for the horrific actions he took to save humanity. When it’s all said and done, the smartest man on Earth finds a way to recruit a new partner.

    As far as Rorschach is concerned, we’re now brought up to speed. A major gap between Watchmen and Doomsday Clock has been filled. Like I said, I’m a little undecided on this issue, and it’s my fault. I got too wrapped up in seeing the characters to realize what made the Watchmen so groundbreaking was its ability to brilliantly define them. I can say that this chapter was the closest thing we’ve seen to the original series. If Alan Moore liked anything I believe he would almost be proud.

    I can only imagine what he has to say about Doomsday Clock…

    We got eight more issues to go and the next couple months I’m hoping fly by fast AF. Also because it will be summer here in Cleveland and for those of you waiting for winter to end, I feel ya.

    Nerdbot Rating: 7 out of 10.

    By Adam Chmielewski

    @PolishKaiju

    Photo Credits- DC Comics

    Where do you think Doomsday Clock is going? Let Nerdbot know in the comments!!

    Do You Want to Know More?

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleTop 2018 Anime I’m Excited to Start Watching (At A First Glance)
    Next Article Where The New Persona 5 Anime Will Be Streaming
    Adam Chmielewski
    • Facebook
    • X (Twitter)
    • Instagram

    Adam Chmielewski is the latest Mid-Western transplant to take up residence in the City Of Angels. Aside from contributing to Nerdbot, he’s writing screenplays for film and television. Just like everyone else in Los Angeles.

    Related Posts

    “The Twilight Zone” Returns in September in Comic Form

    June 12, 2025

    Don’t Forget- Free Comic Book Day 2025 is THIS WEEKEND!

    May 1, 2025

    BLACK SALT: THE LAST HEROES LEFT Issue #5 Kickstarter Pre-Launch Campaign

    April 28, 2025

    Wise Acre Comics Unleashes Duos Magnus Jakuta # 5, Veve #1

    April 3, 2025
    "Batman Superman World's Finest" issue #37

    Batman, Superman Team up with Guy Fieri to Save Flavortown

    March 18, 2025
    "X-Men '97" comic issue 1

    The High Cost of Comic Books: Assemble a Collection Wisely 

    February 4, 2025
    • Latest
    • News
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Reviews

    원활한 배팅을 위한 최고의 고속 토토 사이트토토사이트 출금 빠른 곳

    June 21, 2025

    Dubai Property Moves: Why Timing, Trust, and Trends Matter

    June 21, 2025

    Keeping the Whole Family Healthy: A Guide for Parents in Dubai

    June 21, 2025

    Identity Verification That Helps You Onboard Faster and Stay Compliant

    June 21, 2025

    The Daily Jaws Announces 50th Anniversary Interview Series

    June 20, 2025

    Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Leaving Estate to His 100+ Kids

    June 20, 2025

    High-Tech Diagnostic Imaging Solutions at Adventist Health

    June 18, 2025

    10 Tips for Choosing a Personal Injury Attorney

    June 18, 2025

    Russell Crowe to Co-Star With Henry Cavill “Highlander”

    June 20, 2025
    Billy the puppet "Saw"

    Blumhouse Nabs “Saw” Franchise Rights

    June 18, 2025
    "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre," 1974

    “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” Returns to Theaters for One Night Only

    June 18, 2025

    “Death Stranding” is ALSO Getting an Animated Film?!

    June 18, 2025

    Netflix, Legendary Want to Remake “Land of the Lost”

    June 17, 2025

    “King of the Hill” Revival Gets Father’s Day Clip

    June 15, 2025

    What is BFDI (Battle for Dream Island)? An Interview With My Kid

    June 15, 2025

    Temuera Morrison Wants to Play Live-Action Captain Rex

    June 14, 2025

    Official My Little Pony Coffee UNICORN POWERS Will Have You Feeling Magical!

    June 16, 2025

    Halfway Through 2025: These Are The Best Films (So Far)

    June 15, 2025

    Car Branding Solutions: Do’s & Don’ts to Promote Business

    June 13, 2025

    APPLEJACK’S Caramel Apple by JOYGROUND COFFEE is a Sweet Treat All Year-Round

    June 12, 2025
    Check Out Our Latest
      • Product Reviews
      • Reviews
      • SDCC 2021
      • SDCC 2022
    Related Posts

    None found

    NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Nerdbot is owned and operated by Nerds! If you have an idea for a story or a cool project send us a holler on [email protected]

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.