I wonder what type of Crisis Bane is talking about...
Luthor believes that Bane is settling for far too little, and Bane believes that Luthor is attempting something too large and that he will ultimately fail, like all other multiversal threats have. But more than that, Bane knows something is coming – a threat so ominous that it makes even multiversal domination seems like a shortsighted goal:He has Psycho-Pirate and his mask. He would know.
A Crisis is coming to the DCU, and it’s not a Crisis of emotions in a farmhouse in Nebraska. I must warn you that every word beyond this sentence is speculation, but I have a strong feeling about this.
For 75 issues, time has been even more of a threat in Tom King’s Batman than Bane has been. Memories of conflicting continuities; a future timeline where Bruce and Selina marry and live to old age, in Batman Annual #2. A future timeline where Bruce dies at the hands of Gotham Girl, as narrated by a future Gotham Girl herself at the end of Batman #5. A past where Batman buys a diamond that becomes an engagement ring. A past where he doesn’t.
And meanwhile, there is Dr. Manhattan.
For 10 issues of Doomsday Clock, a small watchface has appeared on the bottom left of each front cover, and with each issue it has gotten one minute closer to midnight. And in the midnight position rests a Superman symbol. Surely nothing to worry about. Surely a sign of victory for our heroes. And in the opening pages of Doomsday Clock #9 Dr. Manhattan theorizes about 2 possible outcomes for the timeline of the DCU:
But Dr. Manhattan ending all existence isn’t really on the table, so let’s look at that other one. Let’s say something very bad happens to Superman, that he becomes so angry that he punches with enough might to kill even Dr. Manhattan. And let’s say that Dr. Manhattan has been actively manipulating multiple timelines, changing them but also sustaining them. What if the godlike being who is actively holding time together… suddenly dies? What would happen to time?
Crisis. Calamity. Timelines in conflict. Pre-Crisis, post-Crisis, and post-Flashpoint.
And let’s entertain the idea that Doomsday Clock isn’t the big continuity event that we all thought it was. What if it’s only the lead-in? The Countdown To The Big One? What comes next?
Well, we know that Geoff Johns‘ next project is The Three Jokers, and if you’ll recall Batman investigating that particular plot thread in the final pages of New 52 Justice League #50, on his batcomputer viewscreen we saw images of the pre-Crisis, post-Crisis, and post-Flashpoint Jokers. But a mini about 3 Jokers doesn’t sound like the center of a line-wide Crisis. And Tom King sure has had his hand in this timeline plot for a long, long time. Just as long as Johns, really.
Say, isn’t Mitch Gerads working on a 12-issue secret thing with Tom King right at this very moment?
Oh, and that bit about Gotham Girl cratering Batman? It sure would be a bad time to lose a hero that essential, just before a Crisis. And combining multiple timelines on the other end sure would be a convenient way to bring him back.
And, yes, I’m aware that Scott Snyder is on a press tour telling you all that Doomsday Clock will pass without ramification.
Scott Snyder is lying to you.
Interesting.
