At the very beginning of the DC Rebirth initiative, writer Geoff Johns teased the first ever crossover between the DC Universe and characters from Alan Moore and David Gibbons‘ classic Watchmen. This November, Johns will reunite with artist Gary Frank for Doomsday Clock, a 12-issue miniseries that brings Superman into the orbit of Doctor Manhattan, Watchmen‘s godlike being who may be responsible for changing the lives and history of every DC hero and villain. Now, we’ve got our first glimpse at the covers for the first issue.
The first official look at Doomsday Clock #1, with two covers by Frank as well as a lenticular cover that uses preexisting art by Gibbons. Frank’s main cover is a surprising choice because it doesn’t feature any heroes at all. Instead, it’s simply a look at some very scared and desperate people who believe “the end is here.” That’s the same foreboding mindset that ran throughout the original Watchmen miniseries.
Frank’s second cover features both Superman and Doctor Manhattan, which also incorporates the watch/clock imagery from Watchmen. Perhaps it is also a visual representation for how easily Doctor Manhattan could destroy Superman…if he chooses to do so.
Finally and fittingly, the lenticular cover is essentially a Rorschach test with the familiar icons of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman.
DC hasn’t revealed the Doomsday Clock story details yet, but we do know that the miniseries takes place one year into the future of the DC Universe. By the time that Doomsday Clock #12 is released next year, the rest of the DCU will catch up to the events of this tale.
