We are, barring any more setbacks, less than a month away from the highly-anticipated finale of Geoff Johns' Doomsday Clock series. The Watchmen-DC Universe crossover event has nearly surpassed two years since the first issue's release, and we're edging closer to the December 18 release of the twelfth and final issue.
Across all that time, including the two months since the release of the 11th issue, there's really been nothing more to do than speculate. The final issue is bound to contain some incredible action and mind-bending twists, and fans have obviously put in their two cents as to what they think will happen. So, with the clock creeping closer to midnight, let's take a look at some of the best fan theories the internet has to offer about the conclusion of Doomsday Clock.
10 Everybody Loses
We might as well start with one of the more predictable theories. The first 11 issues have essentially been a massive buildup to a fight between Superman and Dr. Manhattan. With those two powerhouses going up against one another, there's bound to be some dire consequences looming.
So, some have theorized that the fight between Superman and Manhattan won't be much of a fight at all. In fact, Dr. Manhattan will just do what he usually does and wipe the floor with Superman on his way to killing off the DC heroes. Although it seems unlikely that Johns would incorporate an ending this simple into such a complex storyline, it is plausible to consider that Dr. Manhattan could just destroy the entire universe he's supposedly trying to save.
9 Ozymandius' Fate
Pretty much every Watchmen fan can agree that Adrian Veidt has never truly gotten what he's deserved. Through the many reveals of Doomsday Clock that shows how truly villainous Ozymandius is, we're all hoping that he finally gets what's coming for him. We can only speculate what the twelfth issue holds for Veidt, and many believe that with his plan exposed we might finally see his actual demise. Then again, we've thought Ozymandius to be dead before, but that obviously was revealed to be untrue.
8 Superman Sacrifice
Despite the Man of Steel's immense power, there are some who believe his death lies in the grasp of Dr. Manhattan. Although this may be true, it may not be in the way most think. Superman, regardless of those who no longer trust him around the world, still fights with the purpose of protecting that world.
With his world potentially threatened by Manhattan, there's is certainly a chance that Superman gives his life to save it. It's still pretty unclear how he would be able to do that while also taking down Doctor Manhattan considering we don't really know how their powers will stack up against one another. In any case, it's not exactly crazy to think that Superman would sacrifice himself in order to save his universe.
7 The Final Fight
The main source of speculation coming out of the Doomsday Clock series is entirely centered around the long-awaited clash of Superman and Dr. Manhattan. There are dozens of theories floating around as to how that fight will proceed, and whether or not there will be some monumental fight at all.
Due to Dr. Manhattan's vision, it's nearly confirmed that Superman is set to attack him. However, that doesn't exactly mean that there will be some sort of massive battle. As stated before, no one really knows how effective their powers will be against one another. For all we know, the two could end up having some sort of a discussion that spares the universe of the destruction a physical battle between the two could result in.
6 Jon's Return
No one truly knows exactly the extent of Dr. Manhattan's power. We also have little idea as to where his mind can wander or exactly how much, if any, of Jon Osterman is left. If there is even a shred of humanity left in this glowing blue form, then perhaps there is a chance he could give up his life as Doctor Manhattan.
Some believe that within his vast range of power, Manhattan possesses the ability to revert back to his human form. While this theory certainly solves the problem of Manhattan continuously altering the metaverse, it doesn't exactly fix the damage that's been done.
5 HBO Series Tie-In
This one is definitely a stretch, but would undoubtedly be fascinating to see unfold. If you look closely enough, Doomsday Clock and the Watchmen HBO series have a good deal of similarities. Most importantly, both revolve around Veidt's grand illusion that cost the world millions of lives as well as the resulting events of that tragedy. In order for this to work, issue 12 will have to result in a series cliff hanger that ties into the series. Even though this sounds like an extremely interesting concept, it would be extremely difficult to successfully pull off. However, knowing the genius behind Geoff Johns, Warner Bros., and DC we shouldn't write this one off just yet.
4 The Significance Of Lex Luthor
We've all been seemingly waiting for Lex Luthor to leave his mark on the Doomsday Clock story. Through the 11 issues already released, he has pretty much just been a player behind the scenes. As we all know, though, he is capable of so much more. Whatever that is, in this case, is likely to come to light in the final issue.
Some believe that Luthor could ultimately be the one to take down Manhattan or Superman, and others theorize that he could actually steal the powers of Dr. Manhattan. While those may be too far fetched, it's extremely plausible that he could play a major role in the clash of the two powered beings. Considering his longtime rivalry with Superman, which he stresses heavily on the final pages of issue 11, as well as his connection to Manhattan via the scattered photos, it seems like Lex Luthor is going to play a much larger role in the finale than anyone might expect.
3 Manhattan Thwarts His Creation
Throughout the majority of Doomsday Clock, we've watched Doctor Manhattan play around with a variety of timelines. He's shown that he has the ability to not just see through past, present, and future but also alter past events. With this potentially detrimental power, you have to wonder what the limits of his tampering are.
One of the prevailing theories based around that ability is that Doctor Manhattan could alter his own past. In that scenario, he'd likely thwart his transformation from Jon Osterman into the blue god-like being. What's so interesting about this theory is that it wouldn't just alter the events of everything we've seen in the past 11 issues, but also the universe as it exists without Doctor Manhattan.
2 DC Universe Reset
One of the strongest theories that's been circulating through the anticipation for issue 12 is the idea that the entire DCU could be changed by the end of the last page. It's hard to speculate exactly how this would happen as well as what the nature of this "new" universe would be, but it's certainly imaginable given the powers at play. Who knows what a potential reset could mean for the DCU, and especially those featured characters, but it's exciting to think about just the vast amount of new universes we could see emerge from the finale.
1 A Grand Illusion
We've finally arrived at the most out there, "let's hope not" theory surrounding Doomsday Clock's final issue. It's no secret that Doctor Manhattan likes to run little experiments, regardless of their outcome on the surrounding universe. So, who's to say that his venture into the DC Universe isn't just another experiment?
Obviously, this theory would mean that we've essentially had our time wasted over the past 11 issues. That would drive a good majority of fans into mayhem, calling for Geoff Johns head. That means the DC Universe would reset back to a string of continuity we haven't seen since Flashpoint. Again, this is likely not Geoff Johns plan and we won't have had our time wasted, but what fun is creating theories if you don't consider the most outrageous of them all?