- Maybe the darkness you see... Maybe it takes everything you have to save your world. Maybe you make that choice.
- — Superman
Doomsday Clock #12 is an issue of the series Doomsday Clock (Volume 1) with a cover date of February, 2020. It was published on December 18, 2019.
Synopsis for "Discouraged of Man"
As Doctor Manhttan prepares for his first and final encounter with Superman, he reflects over what he believes to be his own false conclusion: "Nothing lasts forever." Jon recalls being trapped in the test chamber in search of Janey's watch, as well as his time with her before his transformation. Jon greets Superman, explaining that in eleven minutes, either he destroys everything, or Superman will destroy him.
The two are then surrounded by both The People's Heroes and Black Adam's Meta-Human Army; with the two factions intending to kill Superman. As Superman battles both groups, Meta-humans from across the world are sent to intervene in the conflict.
As Reggie Long watches a television outside a closed store, he is attacked by the owner who mistook him for an intruder. Regardless, the owner prepares to beat Reggie, until he is dispatched by Alfred, who pleads with Reggie to help Superman by taking on the Rorschach persona once again. Reggie declines once again, claiming Rorschach is a monster and that this world is going to end, just like his own. However, Batman arrives, convincing Reggie that he can change Rorschach, and make people see something else.
As chaos is unleashed on the streets of DC, Superman begs Manhattan for help, but he declines; waiting for the point of revelation to arrive in less than four minutes. Jon recalls having a similar feeling following Ozymandias' massacre in New York.
Back in Metropolis, Lex Luthor tells Lois Lane to write an article informing the world of Manhattan's meddling with history. When Lois ask why, he states that he wants to be credited with the discovery. He leaves with a "vibrational emitter" to meet with a certain individual.
With twelve seconds to go, Manhattan tells Superman that he is the one behind the changes in his life and the loss of certain allies. He then informs him that it is he who killed the Kents many years ago. He ponders once again; will Superman destroy him, or will he defend himself despite his past sins?
Superman charges at Manhattan only to knock back Pozhar, leaving Manhattan confused. Jon asks why he defended him, with Superman asking him a question in return; will Manhattan continue to ponder over whether he or Superman is destroyed due to seeing nothing, or will he make a different choice. Clark asks Jon about the woman in the photographs created by Manhattan, with Jon recalling his transformation. Superman wonders whether the darkness beyond comes from Manhattan using all his power to save his own world.
Manhattan embraces his judgement that everything ends, and remakes the universe.
Krypton explodes, and an infant is sent to Earth in a spacecraft. The Metaverse revolves around this one and only child. Kal-El will always land on Earth throughout all eras of history, and he will always be found by a kindly couple.
On July 16th, 1940, Manhattan moves Alan Scott's Lantern back into place.
On Clark Kent's prom night, Jonathan tells him of the Justice Society of America, and that if Clark feels ready to show himself to the world, it will be ready for him as well. Before Jonathan and Martha are killed in a car accident, they are saved by Clark dressed in his Superboy outfit; inspired by the heroes from the past. Because the Justice Society exists, not only Superboy, but the Legion of Superheroes as well exist again.
Back in the present, the Legionnaire ring and Alan Scott's Lantern flare up. Johnny Thunder is reminded that the thunderbolt was with him all along; he is the Thunderbolt. As both cells explode with power, the future and past are set free, while Ozymandias is left confused.
Just as Superman is surrounded by the rampaging meta-humans, he is greeted by his returned allies; the JSA and the Legion. With Superman leading the heroes against the attackers, Jon is inspired for the first time in his life, viewing the past once more:
On April 18, 1938, Superman reveals himself to Metropolis. Decades later a police scientist is struck by lightning, Superman's timeline shifts forward, and reality divides for the first time; creating the multiverse and the creation of Earth-2. Earth is divided again following the first crisis. The Earth divides again and Earth-1 becomes Earth-1985, one yet unexplored. Jon finally understands why these Earths exist; every time there is a change is the Metaverse, the Multiverse grows in order to preserve every era of Superman, including the one that existed after both Doctor Manhattan's interference and Flashpoint, which preceeded the Rebirth, still remains as Earth 52.
Jon looks beyond, seeing that in the year 2020, Superman's timeline will be bombarded by the reckless energies of the Old Gods, once again warping the Metaverse. On July 2nd, 2025, a crisis known as "Time Masters" will occur, but in its wake Superman will be revitalized, and his greatest allies returned. No matter how many times his existence is attacked, he will survive. On January 6th, 2026, the timeline is restored and Earth 5G is born. On June 17th, 2026, Superman will embark on a quest to find Batman's long-lost daughter in order to save Damian Wayne. On July 10th, 2030, the Secret Crisis will begin, where Superman will brawl across the universe with Thor and be saved by a green behemoth that is stronger than Doomsday.
On April 18th, 2038, Superman will appear for the first time, having landed in 2016. The timeline will shift forward once again, and April 18th, 2038 will be when Jonathan, Martha, and their baby Colin find a child named Kal-El. The timeline will move forward again to 2045, to 2162, to 2965. A rocket arrives, a child is loved, a hero is made. He now understands Superman's true purpose: he will guide humanity and humanity will finally embrace his ways by the end of the 30th century.
Ozymandias is found by Batman and Rorschach, who have succeeded in clearing Superman's name through files left on the Owlship by Veidt himself. Veidt, Bubastis, Rorschach, Marionette, Mime and the Comedian are all summoned by Manhattan to the Washington Memorial. Veidt reveals that he staged Superman and Manhattan's encounter in order to save both worlds, but is shot by the Comedian. Blake is then zapped by Luthor's vibrational emitter, sending him back to his fall. As Veidt bleeds out, Reggie uses the Rorschach mask to cover the wound, in order to preserve his life so that he may be imprisoned for his crimes. Manhattan reveals to Marionette and Mime that they will not be returning to their home universe. Marionette asks for her son, but Jon tells her that they must stay so that their son has an anchor, just as Manhattan did.
Manhattan visits his anchor in the past, Carver Colman, convincing him to not be afraid of his true feelings. This changes the actor's destiny for the better. Colman comes out to the public, preventing his own murder. He eventually becomes an advocate for gay rights and dies in 2005 with his partner of 40 years at his side.
The JSA vows to uncover more about the Supermen Theory. The news about the Supermen program led to a national controversy, and the President is threatened with impeachment. Stein is incarcerated for his role in the program while Ronnie undergoes treatment. Superman and Lois meet up with the now-living Kents, while Batman frames Rorschach's journal, Marionette and Mime prepare for the birth of their second child, and Luthor considers utilizing and improving Veidt's methods for personal gain.
Manhattan arrives in his home universe, preventing nuclear war by destroying all nuclear weaponry before fallout can occur. Reggie visits Byron Lewis' grave, thanking him. Ozymandias is imprisoned in his former headquarters. A young orphan named Cleopatra Pak stands outside Veidts prison, obsessed with his rise and fall. On her sixteenth birthday, she becomes a hero named Nostalgia, taking a fully grown Bubastis at her side.
Jon recalls not killing Marionette and Mime in the past due to their future child bringing great joy to his past lover, Laurie Jupiter. He then discovers that he is the one to take the child away. As Manhattan raises the child, he realizes that he could never be the hero that his world needed because he didn't have what Superman did. Destiny is not without a guiding hand.
Jon imbues Earth and the child with the last of his powers. His final thought wanders to what his life could have been if he had not become Doctor Manhattan: Janey convinces him to not retrieve the clock, so he is not involved in the incident that would have given him his powers; he marries Janey and they start a family together, having two daughters and a son, living a life without any worry of time. Jon smiles one last time, believing it to be a nice daydream to live in, as he fades away from existence.
The child is left at the Hollis residence, where he introduces himself to their daughter as being brought by a friend of her parents. As she invites him in for pancakes, she tells him that her name is Sally, with the child introducing himself as Clark.
Appearing in "Discouraged of Man"
Featured Characters:
- Doctor Manhattan/Jonathan Osterman (Watchmen Universe) (Flashback and main story) (Dies)
- Marionette/Erika Manson (Watchmen Universe) (Flashback and main story)
- Mime/Marcos Maez (Watchmen Universe)
- Rorschach/Reggie Long (Watchmen Universe)
- Superboy/Superman (Clark Kent) (Flashback and main story) (Origin)
Supporting characters:
- Alfred Pennyworth
- Batman (Bruce Wayne)
- Carver Colman (Flashback and main story)
- The Comedian/Edward Blake (Watchmen Universe) (Dies)
- Jonathan Kent (Flashback and main story)
- Justice Society of America (First appearance chronologically) (Flashback and main story)
- Atom Smasher (Al Rothstein) (First appearance; unnamed)
- Cyclone (Maxine Hunkel) (First appearance; unnamed)
- Damage (Grant Emerson) (First appearance; unnamed)
- Doctor Fate (Kent Nelson)
- Doctor Mid-Nite (Beth Chapel) (First appearance; unnamed)
- The Flash (Jay Garrick)
- Green Lantern (Alan Scott)
- Hawkman (Carter Hall)
- Hourman (Rick Tyler) (First appearance; unnamed)
- Jade (First appearance; unnamed)
- Jakeem Thunder (First appearance; unnamed)
- Johnny Thunderbolt
- Liberty Belle
- Mr. Terrific (Michael Holt)
- Obsidian (First appearance)
- Power Girl (Kara Zor-L) (First full appearance)
- The Sandman (Sanderson Hawkins)
- Stargirl
- S.T.R.I.P.E.
- Wildcat (Ted Grant)
- Wildcat (Yolanda Montez) (First appearance; unnamed)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (Post-Rebirth) (First appearance chronologically)
- Blok
- Bouncing Boy
- Brainiac 5
- Chameleon Boy
- Colossal Boy
- Cosmic Boy
- Dream Girl
- Dawnstar
- Element Lad
- Gold Lantern
- Lightning Lad
- Lightning Lass
- Matter-Eater-Lad
- Mon-El
- Monster Boy
- Princess Projectra
- Saturn Girl
- Shadow Lass
- Shrinking Violet
- Soultaker
- Star Boy
- Sun Boy
- Timber Wolf
- Triplicate Girl
- Ultra Boy
- White Witch
- Wildfire
- Lex Luthor
- Lois Lane
- Martha Kent (Flashback and main story)
Antagonists:
- The Doomed
- Black Adam
- Outsiders of Markovia
- Baroness Bedlam (First appearance)
- Geo-Force
- Knightfall (Jean-Paul Valley)
- Terra (Tara Markov)
- Wylde
- Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt (Watchmen Universe)
- People's Heroes
- Black Eagle
- Lady Flash
- Morozko (First appearance)
- Negative Woman (Valentina Vostok)
- Perun (First appearance)
- Pozhar
- Red Star
- Rusalka (First appearance)
- Steel Wolf (First appearance)
- Tundra (First appearance)
- Vikhor (First appearance)
- Vostok-X
Other Characters:
- The Anti-Monitor (Pre-Crisis) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Big Monster Action
- Goraiko
- Hammersuit Zero-X
- Judomaster (Sonia Sato)
- Rising Sun
- Byron Lewis (Watchmen Universe) (Grave) (Cameo)
- Clark Dreiberg (Watchmen Universe) (Real name revealed) (First full appearance) (Flashback and main story)
- Cleopatra Pak (Watchmen Universe) (First appearance) (Cameo)
- Dan Dreiberg (Watchmen Universe)
- Earth-One characters (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth-Two chracters (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth-52 characters (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Batman (Bruce Wayne) (Single appearance)
- Superman (Clark Kent) (Single appearance)
- Wonder Woman (Diana of Themyscira) (Single appearance)
- Earth 5G characters (Single appearance) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Aquaman Family
- Aqualad (Jackson Hyde)
- Aquaman (Arthur Curry)
- Mera
- Batman Family
- Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)
- Batman (Bruce Wayne)
- Batwing
- Nightwing
- Flash Family
- The Flash (Barry Allen)
- The Flash (Jay Garrick)
- The Flash (Wally West)
- Kid Flash (Irey West)
- Turtle (Jai West)
- Green Lantern Corps
- Guy Gardner
- Hal Jordan
- Jessica Cruz
- John Stewart
- Justice Society of America
- Green Lantern (Alan Scott)
- Jakeem Thunder
- Johnny Thunderbolt
- Stargirl
- Legion of Super-Heroes
- Lightning Lad
- Saturn Girl
- Shadow Lass
- Superman Family
- Supergirl
- Superman (Clark Kent)
- Wonder Woman Family
- Wonder Girl (Donna Troy)
- Wonder Woman (Diana of Themyscira)
- Wonder Woman (Nubia)
- Aquaman Family
- Elite Basij
- Great Twenty (Cameo)
- Hayoth
- Dybbuk
- Golem
- Judith
- Pteradon
- Ramban
- Seraph
- Janey Slater (Watchmen Universe) (Flashback only)
- Josef Osterman (Watchmen Universe) (In a vision)
- Justice League Europe
- Laurie Dreiberg (Watchmen Universe)
- Knights Inc.
- Beaumont
- Canterbury Cricket
- Godiva
- The Hood
- Jack O'Lantern
- Knight (Beryl Hutchinson)
- Mrs. Hyde
- Ridge
- Silent Knight
- Sleeping Soldiers
- Argonaut
- Dark Ranger (Johnny Riley)
- Dreamer (Elizabeth Clawman)
- Tasmanian Devil
- Umbaluru
- Sally Dreiberg (Watchmen Universe) (Real name revealed) (First full appearance)
- First Unnamed 2038 Future characters
- Jonathan Kent (Single appearance)
- Martha Kent (Single appearance)
- Superman (Kal-El) (Single appearance)
- Second Unnamed 2038 Future characters
- Colin Kent (Single appearance)
- Jonathan Kent (Single appearance)
- Martha Kent (Single appearance)
- Superman (Kal-El) (Single appearance)
- Unnamed 2162 Future characters
- Clara Kent (Single appearance)
- Jonathan Kent (Single appearance)
- Kal-El (Single appearance)
- Martha Kent (Single appearance)
- Unnamed 2030 Future characters
- Batman (Bruce Wayne) (Mentioned only)
- Bruce Wayne's daughter (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
- Damian Wayne (Mentioned only)
- Doomsday (Deceased) (Mentioned only)
- Superman (Clark Kent) (Mentioned only)
- Unnamed 2045 Future characters
- Jonathan Kent (Mentioned only)
- Kal-El (Mentioned only)
- Martha Kent (Mentioned only)
- Unnamed 2945 Future characters
- Superman (Mentioned only)
- Veidt's Creature (Watchmen Universe) (Unnamed) (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Alternate Watchmen timeline characters
- Janey Slater (Single appearance)
- Dr. Jonathan Osterman (Single appearance)
- Jon's daughters (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
- Jon's son (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
- Amanda Waller (Mentioned only)
- Anita Maez (Mentioned only)
- Anita Maez (Watchmen Universe) (Deceased) (Mentioned only)
- Benjamin Netanyahu (Mentioned only)
- Department of Metahuman Affairs (Mentioned only)
- Doctor Mid-Nite (Pieter Cross) (Mentioned only)
- President Donald Trump (Mentioned only)
- Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond) (Mentioned only)
- Martin Stein (Mentioned only)
- The Flash/Barry Allen (Earth-One) (Mentioned only)
- Fred Coe (Mentioned only)
- Global Guardians (Mentioned only)
- Jonathan Lord (Mentioned only)
- Lana Lang (Mentioned only)
- Dr. Malcolm Long (Watchmen Universe) (Deceased) (Mentioned only)
- Old Gods (Mentioned only)
- Perseus (Mentioned only)
- R.J. Brande (Post-Rebirth) (Mentioned only)
- Rorschach/Walter Kovacs (Watchmen Universe) (Mentioned only)
- Sandra Stanyon (Mentioned only)
- Mrs. Slater (Watchmen Universe) (Unnamed) (Mentioned only)
- Time Masters (Earth 5G) (Mentioned only)
- "Green Behemoth" (Mentioned only)
- Thor (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Hypertime
- Earth-52 (Single appearance) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth-1985 (Single appearance) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Earth 5G (Single appearance) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Post-Rebirth Legion's Future (Cameo)
- 31st Century (Cameo)
- Alternate Earth 0 Future (Superman reveals himself in 2038) (Single appearance) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- 2026
- United States of America
- Smallville
- Kent Farm (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Smallville
- United States of America
- 2038 (Mentioned only)
- 2026
- Alternate Earth 0 Future (Superman arrives on Earth in 2038) (Single appearance) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- 2038
- United States of America
- Smallville
- Kent Farm (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Smallville
- United States of America
- 2038
- Alternate Earth 0 Future (Superman arrives on Earth in 2162) (Single appearance) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- 2162
- United States of America
- Smallville
- Kent Farm (In a vision) (Cameo)
- Smallville
- United States of America
- 2162
- Alternate Watchmen Timeline (Jon Osterman never became Doctor Manhattan) (Single appearance) (Unnamed) (In a vision) (Cameo)
- 1959
- United States of America (In a vision) (Cameo)
- 1959
- Alternate Earth 0 Future (Secret Crisis happens in 2030) (Mentioned only)
- Alternate Earth 0 Future (Superman arrives on Earth in 2045) (Mentioned only)
- 2045 (Mentioned only)
- Alternate Earth 0 Future (Superman reveals himself in 2965) (Mentioned only)
- 2965 (Mentioned only)
- United States of America
- Metropolis (Mentioned only)
- United States of America
- 2965 (Mentioned only)
- Post-Flashpoint Multiverse
- Earth 0/Prime Earth/Metaverse (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision) (First appearance as Metaverse)
- Earth
- Krypton (Destroyed) (In a vision)
- Saturn (In a vision)
- Mars (Mentioned only)
- Speed Force (Flashback only) (Also in a vision) (Behind the scenes)
- Watchmen Universe (Unnamed) (Flashback and main story)
- Earth
- United States of America
- New Jersey (Flashback only)
- New York
- New York City (Flashback and main story)
- United States of America
- Mars
- Earth
- Earth 0/Prime Earth/Metaverse (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision) (First appearance as Metaverse)
- Pre-Crisis Multiverse (Flashback only)
- Earth-One/"Earth-1" (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Earth-Two/"Earth-2" (Flashback only) (Cameo)
Items:
- The Anti-Monitor's Armor (Flashback only) (Cameo)
- Batsuit (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision)
- Utility Belt (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision)
- Bracelets of Submission (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision)
- Cosmic Staff (Also in a vision)
- Doctor Mid-Nite's Goggles (Also in a vision)
- Donna Troy's Lasso (Also in a vision)
- Firestorm Matrix
- Green Lantern Ring
- Helmet of Fate (Flashback and main story)
- Hermes' Helmet (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision)
- Hourman's Hourglass
- Miraclo (Behind the scenes)
- Intrinsic Field Generator (Flashback only) (Also in a vision)
- Janey Slater's Watch (Mentioned only)
- Lasso of Truth (Also in a vision)
- Legion Flight Rings (Also in a vision)
- Manhunter Armor
- Nth Metal
- Rorschach's Journal
- Rorschach's Mask
- Starheart (Flashback and main story) (Also in a vision)
- S.T.R.I.P.E. Armor
- Trick Arrows (Flashback and main story)
- Trident of Poseidon (Also in a vision)
- Wonder Woman's Tiara (Also in a vision)
Vehicles:
- Interceptor
- Kryptonian Rocket (Flashback only) (Also in a vision)
Events:
- The Crises (In a vision)
- The First Crisis (Mentioned only)
- The Flashpoint (Mentioned only)
- Secret Crisis (Mentioned only)
- Time Masters Crisis (Mentioned only)
- The Rebirth (Mentioned only)
- World War II (Mentioned only)
Concepts:
- Anti-Crisis Energy (Unnamed)
- Antimatter (Flashback only)
- The Eternal Return (Behind the scenes)
- Magic
- Time Travel
Notes
- Clark Dreiberg's story is continued in Flashpoint Beyond (Volume 1).
- This story ultimately reveals that Prime Earth is a sentient universe known as the Metaverse which shapes itself around the existence of Superman and these changes, in turn, reshape the Multiverse.
- After years of manipulations, Doctor Manhattan undoes "his experiment" on Prime Earth, rebooting its timeline and restoring the existence of both the Justice Society of America and the Legion of Super-Heroes.
- Doctor Manhattan's last actions before returning to his universe are addressed in Flash Forward #6 and Dark Nights: Death Metal #1.
- Doctor Manhattan's narration of future events, mostly those from Superman's possible futures, teases some possible events, like "5G", which will be eventually changed to DC Future State, and possible future Crises, including a possible Marvel crossover.
- Manhattan states that Earth 0 will be altered in 2020 by the energies of the Old Gods. This came to be true in some ways as the supreme rulers of the Greater Omniverse, The Hands, reshaped Earth 0's history in the aftermath of the unknotting of the timeline and the rebirth of Creation;
- Cleopatra Pak is heralded to become Nostalgia on her sixteenth birthday which is eventually shown in Flashpoint Beyond #6;
- The existence of Earth 5G has actually been averted;[1]
- Doctor Manhattan foreshadows Superman searching for Bruce's "lost daughter" in 2026. In a near, possible future of Earth 0, Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle will actually have a daughter, Helena Wayne,[2] like they previously had in the Pre-Crisis continuity, that is eventually displaced to Prime Earth.[3]
- The revisions to the DC timeline from this story are first reflected in Wonder Woman #750 where Wonder Woman is considered to be the first contemporary superhero, debuting in 1939.
- This aspect was meant to be part of the original Generations plan.
- Some other revisions to the timeline that happened but prior to the comic's release were the Justice Society's return to the DC Universe in Justice League (Volume 4) #30 and the introduction of the Post-Rebirth Legion of Super-Heroes.[4][5]
Trivia
- This story marks the fourth time that Prime Earth is rebooted after the Rebirth, the merge between Prime Earth and New Earth in Superman: Reborn and Flex Mentallo's reboot during Milk Wars.
- The next major reboot of the reality will happen in Dark Nights: Death Metal #7.
- The idea of "everything being shaped around Earth 0" was originally suggested to Batman by Molly the Keeper in Justice League (Volume 3) #25.
- Anita Maez will be already born during the events of Flashpoint Beyond #1 that take place three years after the events of this story.
- Secret Crisis is obviously a nod to Marvel Comics' Secret Wars event.
See Also