While both stayed incredibly true to its original DC Comics source material, here are 5 reasons why Doomsday Clock is the perfect sequel and 5 reasons why HBO's continuation of Watchmen is actually far superior. Changing the comic book industry forever, writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins satirized the whole superhero premise while changing the narrative through unconventional nonlinear techniques. The moral and personal struggles of costumed vigilantes are examined when a government-sponsored war hero is found murdered. Hidden secrets and dark truths are suddenly brought to light as the countdown to a nuclear apocalypse seems inevitably close.
Created by Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers), HBO's Watchmen explores what happens when Rorschach's own words are twisted and idolized by a white supremacist group called the Seventh Kavalry. Due to the rise of hate crimes, the police now have to wear masks to protect themselves from domestic terrorists. Created by writer Geoff Johns, artist Gary Frank, and colorist Brad Anderson, Doomsday Clock imagines the all-powerful Doctor Manhattan being brought into the DC Universe, destined to meet and fight to the death against the Man of Steel himself, known as Superman.
10 Doomsday Clock: Superman Theory
A major conspiracy is forming within the DC Universe, which has pitted public opinion against superheroes. The Superman Theory accuses the government of secretly creating their own metahumans, in order to control their superpowers and weaponize them. If the United States has created their own powerful Superman, then Russia has the right to construct its own Man of Steel. In order to create sanctioned super-teams, various nations are recruiting their own metahumans to serve their purposes. Paranoia, distrust with the government, and anarchy were major themes within the original narrative of Watchmen.
9 HBO's Watchmen: Sister Night
Regina King has been phenomenal at playing both the crime-fighting Sister Night and the revenge-driven detective Angela Abar. Because the Seventh Kavalry have started a war by killing police officers, Angela (King) has to become harder and tougher as she searches for the truth behind Chief Judd Crawford's (Don Johnson) murder.
Angela has put on the vigilante's mask because she has been carrying the burden of watching her parents die in an explosion. Angela learns a valuable lesson; she needs her wounds to breathe because the mask is suffocating her.
8 Doomsday Clock: Firestorm
Firestorm is a ticking time bomb waiting to explore near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. In a race against time, Superman is trying to calm down Firestorm and take control of the situation. As Russian soldiers start blasting away and victims are transformed into shattered glass, everything appears to point Firestorm as the culprit. As a detective, Batman is able to put the clues together, but is too late to stop Firestorm from exploding. Adrian Veidt, aka Ozymandias, has been pulling the strings behind-the-scenes, making sure the heroes fall into his trap.
7 HBO's Watchmen: Social Commentary
The first episode of HBO's Watchmen, entitled, "It's Summer and We're Running Out of Ice," depicts the horrifying race massacre of the Tulsa Race Riot. The opening sequence revisits the explosive animosity between white residents and the African-American community. The Seventh Kavalry represents how hatred from the 1920s still lingers to today among white supremacists.
Will Reeves (Louis Gossett Jr.) witnessed how racism murdered his entire family, left him an orphan, and traumatized him to become the vigilante known as Hooded Justice. The bleak tone is heartbreaking and grounded.
6 Doomsday Clock: Action
In Doomsday Clock #10, Dr. Manhattan discovers how Superman is integral to the DC Universe and starts playing around with certain events in the timeline. The ramifications of Dr. Manhattan's interference with time-travel leads to the shocking deaths of Martha and Jonathan Kent, the adoptive parents of Superman. The entire Justice Society of America is wiped away from existence because they had never been formed. Without the love of his human parents, Superman appears to be unable to hold his inner rage during his final confrontation with Dr. Manhattan.
5 HBO's Watchmen: The Squid Attack
HBO's Watchmen explores the aftermath of the giant alien-like squid landing on New York City. The alien invasion from the comic book is now a metaphor for the September 11th terrorist attacks, involving the collapse of the World Trade Center, in New York. The destruction of Manhattan was brought to life from the page to screen.
Just like in real life and on the HBO drama, the Big Apple was struggling with tourism because no one felt entirely safe. Tourists did not want to pay money to visit a massive graveyard; a troubled city in mourning.
4 Doomsday Clock: Crisis
In Doomsday Clock #9, every member in the Justice League shows up on Mars to tackle Dr. Manhattan. Because there has never been magic in his world, Dr. Manhattan suddenly experiences something new, when Shazam throws his lightning bolts at him. Every Green Lantern, including Guy Gardner, uses their glowing green ring to blast him away. Even Supergirl gets involved in the battle and unleashes the full power of her heat vision. Dr. Manhattan is utterly shocked when Captain Atom actually comes close to hurting him, and forces him to regenerate.
3 HBO's Watchmen: A God Walks Into A bar
One of the best episodes of HBO's Watchmen pays tribute to Moore's nonlinear narrative. Making great use of time-travel, Doctor Manhattan recounts his epic and tragic love story to Angela (Regina King) during their first encounter. Dr. Manhattan knows everything that will happen but doesn't attempt to prevent their breakup.
Even when Angela tries to disrupt the timeline, there are deadly consequences to their romantic relationship. Though he may have godlike powers, Dr. Manhattan finally feels real and true emotions with Angela. Interestingly, Dr. Manhattan has moved on from his past loves, which includes Laurie and Janey.
2 Doomsday Clock: Superman
Because the S on his chest stands for hope, Superman has always been a source of inspiration. Interestingly, after his confrontation with Superman, Doctor Manhattan has a newfound sense of enlightenment as he reads into the future of the DC Universe. No matter what happens, Superman will always be on the side of good, leading a team of champions to battle against the upcoming secret crisis. Because the Man of Steel inspired him to be better, Doctor Manhattan now wants to be more involved with humanity and sticks around in the DC Universe.
1 HBO's Watchmen: See How They Fly
At the end of Watchmen, Adrian Veidt created a horrifying massacre that left millions of innocent lives dead. Laurie Jupiter, Daniel Drieberg, and Doctor Manhattan make a deal to keep their mouths shut because nations have been brought together to prevent a nuclear disaster. Adrian gets away with the crime he committed and doesn't feel morally guilty. On the show, Laurie (Jean Smart) decides to break out of that deal she agreed to and places Adrian under arrest. Unafraid of facing legal trouble, Laurie wants Adrian to serve prison time for mass genocide.