Doomsday clock

Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons's Watchmen series inspires a second spin-off (after 2012's Before Watchmen) in this world-colliding encounter between the Watchmen characters and the DC Universe. Launching from the revelation that DC's 2011 "New 52" Universe was created by the big blue Dr. Manhattan, Johns (the Green Lantern series) leaps ahead to an even more dystopian post-Watchmen world from which Ozymandias, a new Rorschach (and villains the Marionette and the Mime, fundamentally the Joker and Harley Quinn of Earth-Watchmen) leap across universes into the world of Superman and Batman in search of the missing Dr. Manhattan. Frank (the Shazam! series) adeptly mimics Gibbons's original design of mirrored and complementary panels and pages, as well as his well-choreographed sequences, such as when the Owlship bursts through clouds displaying the shadow of the Bat-Signal and crash-lands in an abandoned Gotham City amusement park. With copious violence, gore, and adult language, this series isn't appropriate for younger fans--nor is it aimed at anyone who hasn't already immersed themselves in the Watchmen lore. Notably, it was also created without Moore's involvement or consent. But, despite whether Moore would approve, Johns and Frank treat his legacy with care. This highly entertaining metaphysical mash-up packs a wallop. (Oct.)