Warning: SPOILERS for Justice League #39
The original plan for DC’s Doomsday Clock was incredibly ambitious: provide not only a sequel to Watchmen, but a glimpse of the future of the entire DC Universe. But after delays made those connections impossible, fans wondered if Doomsday Clock had quietly been removed from current continuity altogether. Now, they have their answer.
It will be hard for comic fans to remember the early days of Doomsday Clock, promised to answer the one great mystery of the DC Rebirth: the role played by Doctor Manhattan in the New 52 reboot. But as the months passed, and Doomsday Clock issues were delayed, the ‘one year ahead’ timeline was quickly overtaken by the ongoing Justice League books. Thankfully Scott Snyder, James Tynion, and Joshua Williamson’s larger Lex Luthor/Batman Who Laughs plots were allowed to chart their own course… but what would it mean for Doomsday Clock’s conclusion? The latest Justice League issue has given an answer – but it’s not as simple as you might think.
It may be one of the few times where competing visions of continuity was based on publishing schedule, and not dueling creative visions, but Scott Snyder admitted making Doomsday Clock canon was part of his job (no matter the challenge). And in the latest Justice League #39, fans finally get a glimpse of the solution. After Perpetua claims victory, and erases the Justice League from reality, the Quintessence – a collection of cosmic DC beings –steps in. According to them, there is more transpiring than the heroes have witnessed. More realities than their own.
While the League fought valiantly against Perpetua, the Quintessence explains that the growing darkness was bigger than they realized. That “the lack of faith Perpetua thrived on and used to win… crept in on many fronts.” That includes events “disconnected” from the main DC reality, demonstrated through a recreation of a key Doomsday Clock finale moment. The conclusion is simple: the events of Doomsday Clock were, according to DC canon, disconnected from the main continuity. But in keeping with Snyder’s unwavering refrain, “still deeply felt and impactful” regardless.
In hindsight the solution arrived at is a simple one. As fans slowly realized there was no way to make Doomsday Clock’s finale ‘matter’ to the main DC continuity, Snyder promised it would. Saying Doomsday Clock’s finale matters despite being removed from DC continuity is either brilliant or a sidestep, depending on your own expectations. But the mission to make all events, storylines, and variations of continuity equally important is exactly how Justice League #39 concludes – and seems to lie at the heart of Snyder and Greg Capullo’s next Wonder Woman-led event. Which means this may not be the last time fans see the events of Doomsday Clock acknowledged as part of DC history.
Justice League #39 is available now from your local comic book shop.
MORE: Was Doomsday Clock’s Ending Really Worth It?
