Posted in: Comics, DC Comics, Review | Tagged: Alan Moore, Batman, brad anderson, comedian, Dave Gibbons, dc comics, Doomsday Clock, gary frank, geoff johns, joker, justice league, marionette, sci-fi, superheroes, the mime, Watchmen

Doomsday Clock #6 Review: The Best Issue So Far

Doomsday Clock is back, and this issue finds Marionette and the Mime being taken hostage by the Joker, whom also has an unconscious Batman in a wheelchair, and forcibly escorted through the sewers beneath Gotham City. He leads the duo, as well as a retinue of his own thugs, to a grand meeting between many of the world's superhumans being led by the Riddler. Nigma and the rogues are trying to come up with a plan to deal with the increased pressure brought on by the "Superman Theory," but, before they can get very far, the Comedian arrives and begins gunning down everyone in sight.

I can say with confidence that Doomsday Clock #6 is the best issue of the series thus far. It's fun, gleefully dark, and weaves a compelling narrative through both the backstory of Marionette and the Mime and their present predicament.

It's not as slow as prior issues too. Yes, Watchmen was a slow boil by design, but Doomsday Clock doesn't have enough gas in the tank to pull that off.

But, we're being positive here, and we're not going to talk about how Doomsday Clock has yet to deliver any meaningful satire of real-world political structures no matter how many times that fact struck me while reading this issue.

Again, to this issue's credit, it comes close with Marionette's backstory and the criminal and systematic exploitation of an impoverished and desperate man from a different nation.

The ultraviolence in the back half is effectively both shocking and unnerving, so, again, this issue garnered an emotional reaction out of me. It was just all-around solid and engaging.

Gary Frank does some excellent work once again with this comic; his artwork was already the most consistently good thing about this comic series. He can craft very effecting looks of fear on characters' faces, and that shines through in this comic. I also like that the Riddler is in his old green spandex in this comic. Brad Anderson's color work is moody, grim, and graded well. There are a few larger panels for the artwork to breath in this issue too. This book also looks better than previous issues as a result.

Doomsday Clock #6 is the most impactful and stable comic of this maxiseries. It's fun, decently paced, and even emotionally effecting in spots. The artwork continues to be a joy, and the overall comic earns a recommendation. Feel free to give it a read.

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