#what is happening to innocent israelis is horrible. but i find it funny how the world only cares when its an israeli person

[incorrect-riordanverse]

the problem with all these white authors like rick riordan who are revealing their stances on the israel-palestine apartheid is that they barely do anything but virtue signal when they claim “i’m on the side against war” “i’m anti-violence” “i abhor terrorism.” zero people are going to disagree with you. zero people believe what hamas did is justified. zero people think israel shouldn’t have a right to defend itself against terrorism. but that isn’t what israel is doing when they collectively punish all of palestine, who doesn’t even have an official army. when rick riordan says some wishy-washy bullshit about the violence suffered on both sides of the conflict, and words his whole dumbass blog post like it’s violence that is in any way equal, that literally helps no one. in fact, it’s so damn negligent of the 75 years of violence that palestine has suffered and been oppressed for. yes, there are innocent civilians in israel who are suffering, no one is disagreeing with you. that doesn’t erase the fact that israel is a disgusting state that has used state-sanctioned violence on a systemic scale since its conception, and the oppressed people have responded to that in violent retaliation (because OBVIOUSLY they would). israel is built on the subjugation of palestine, there is no equal suffering between the two.

[sebeth]

Doomsday Clock #1

Warning, Spoilers Ahead…

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 Doomsday Clock #1 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.

  Everyone knows the ending of Watchmen: Ozymandias (Adrian Veidt) launched a nuclear attack on New York City disguised as an alien attack.  Unknown to the Watchmen, Rorschach left evidence implicating Veidt with a newspaper. Doomsday Clock begins in the aftermath of the attack.  A few highlights of the opening pages:

“November22, 1992.  Or maybe it’s the 23rd. Streets were littered with bodies, brains boiled over by groteseque nightmares of fictional invader.  Clock started over.  We had a chance.  But they blew it.  All of them.”

“While the totalitarians stand their ground, covering their eyes, preaching for a return to a rose-colored Republic…Soon the bugs will be all that’s left.  And the cockroaches will go to war with the maggots, fighting over the scraps of the moderates.”

The first page shows police officers struggling to control protests and riots.

A newscaster states: “Authorities have confirmed the Vice President has shot and killed the Attorney General.  As the standoff enters its fifth hour, seventeen hostages remain, including the Israeli Prime Minister…Less than two weeks into the collapse of the European Union, Russia has amassed its military in Belarus, and is threatening to enter Poland…World leaders have proclaimed they will not stand by if blood is shed…North Korea now capable of reaching as far inland as Texas…Hundreds have broken through the wall and flooded into Mexico.  Thousands are expected to follow…We are still waiting on a statement from the President.”

We can safely say Veidt’s plan to “unite the world in the face of an alien threat” was a complete failure.  The third page states how the plan failed: “Global manhunt continues for the world’s smartest man…assert Adrian Veidt’s arrest and conviction will definitively absolve the United States government of accusations of collusion in the New York City massacre…Russian intelligence insists the President and his cabinet were willing participants…apprehension is needed to stabilize the political unrest that has erupted across our country and the world…re-elected on a campaign promising the capture of the most-wanted man in the world…charged with the murder of three million people, and the hospitalization of tens of thousands of others who suffered permanent psychological damage…no sign of his former teammates, including the so-called American deterrent, Dr. Manhattan…better known as the Comedian, was murdered by Veidt after he…his journal deciphered and verified by independent investigations before it was stolen from…The New York Gazette was the first to be forcibly shut down after the infamous front page that exploded across the world…”

Who receives the blame for the current unrest across the planet – Veidt, Rorschach, the New York Gazette?  I’m placing the responsibility on Veidt. History shows we made it through the Cold War without a “unified threat”.  I can’t believe any country would be eager to launch an attack against the United States with a still-active Doctor Manhattan. Veidt’s plan was ridiculous – was he going to continue to randomly bomb cities in order to force the world’s governments to remain united?  Veidt’s plan only resulted in millions of casualties and a massive escalation in global tensions.

The National News Network announces that William F. Buckley Jr., speaking on behalf of the President of the United States, announces that Russia has invaded Poland: “The evils of this world has forced our hand.  If the Russian military does not withdraw within four hours, the President will have no choice but to launch the full force of our military might.  We urge you to gather your family and make your way clear of the designated red zones.”

Um, are the Russians only allowed to attack the red zones?

We switch to a prison where a surprisingly alive Rorschach is strolling the hallways. Rorschach has resolved a domestic abuse encounter: “Amy’s boyfriend came.  Dragged her out back…Amy came back.  Bruises on neck. Split lip. Found boyfriend.  Broke hands.  Put fork through tongue.  Forgot to tell him why…Hope he got message.”

I would hope so as Rorschach was rather gentle on the boyfriend (by his standards).

The United States governments launches its nuclear missiles as Rorschach releases the prisoner of cell 31: Erika Manson, the Marionette.

Rorschach asks Erika to come with him.

“Come with you?  You said you’d throw me down an elevator shaft the next time we met.”

“Ha ha.  Funny.  But wasn’t me.  Not same guy. Different.”

“Prove it.”

Rorschach removes a glove and reveals an African-American skin tone. Possibly the reporter that received the evidence of Veidt’s plan?

Rorschach shows Erika a photo of a young boy: “But you come with me.  Do job.  Find out where boy is.  Deal?”

“Where’s my son?”

“Don’t know.  Don’t yell.  Partner does.  Do what he asks.  Find god. Save world.  Will explain.”

Who is Rorschach’s partner? I’m assuming the missing god is Doctor Manhattan.

Erika insists Rorschach free her husband – Marcos Maez, the Mime.

It’s been a few years since I’ve read the Watchmen – were the Mime and the Marionette mentioned in the original series?  Are they characters from “Before Watchmen”?

I’m getting “Joker and Harley Quinn” vibes from the Mime and the Marionette.

“Tt.” – Is the new Rorschach an adult, very tanned Damian?

Rorschach takes the Mime and the Marionette to the Nite Owl’s lair.

“Are the rumors true? That Rorschach killed Nite Owl and the Silk Spectre before he offed himself.  He went totally nuts.  Is that what happened?”

“False.”

Rorschach’s partner is revealed to be Ozymandias!  

Ozymandias reveals that he “hoped to lure Nite Owl back but he’s retired.”

Yeah, I’m sure Dan and Laurie have had more than enough of Veidt’s plans.

Veidt warns Erika against making threats: “The first Rorschach was an interesting man.  A cruel one in some respects, but someone who held onto his principles.  He was predictable.  Uncompromising.  But this one…”

“I assume you’re aware of what I did.  It took a lifetime to conceive and orchestrate…there was hope.  But even the greatest of empires decays.  The very name I took is a testament to that. There is no escaping the irony.  I found myself laughing uncontrollably when I first realized…laughing until it hurrngg.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s an asshole.”

“Yes.  I also have cancer.  And it’s spreading.  Another reminder of my mistakes. Taking what is most precious to me.  My dream has died.  I cannot save our world.  Though there is one who, even now, has the power to.  Doctor Manhattan.”

“Dr. Manhattan?  No one’s even seen him in years.”

“Yes, I know.  That is our mission.  All of us. We need to find Jon.  Wherever he’s retreated to.”

I’m guessing the “taking what is most precious to me” line indicates brain cancer. Veidt’s putting a lot of faith in Doctor Manhattan’s abilities – the nuclear missiles have been launched!  I know Doctor Manhattan is all-powerful – better hope time travel is among the abilities.

How does the Marionnete play into this?  She doesn’t seem to have any powers.

I’m disappointed that Nite Owl and Silk Spectre won’t be playing a part in “Doomsday Clock” – they were my favorite part of the Watchmen.

The series ends with Clark Kent having a nightmare of his parents’ deaths: “I heard their tires screech.  Ma scream. Pa grit his teeth.  It was the night my parents died, Lois.  It was horrible.”

“I can’t remember the last time you had a nightmare.”

“Lois…I don’t think I’ve ever had one.”

What’s the cause behind Clark’s vivid nightmare?

The issue ends with “The Great Lie” from the November 2, 1992, edition of the New York Gazette written by Jack N. Anderson.  A few highlights:

“In the wake of ‘The New York City Massacre’, wars ended, political enemies became allies and Veidt stepped into the spotlight.  For the last seven years, he has influenced the world more than any other man in history, creating new policies and brokering alliances across the globe.  Although never taking political office…”

‘The Strange Case of Roger Jackson’ reveals “shortly after the publication, the man who first found Rorschach’s journal, Seymour David – an employee at the New Frontiersman, was found brutally beaten to death in his home. Initially, the police believed it to be a break-in gone wrong, leading to the arrest and conviction of Roger Jackson, a young thief who had evidence seemingly mounted against him…New evidence is pointing to Jackson’s innocence and that this robbery was not random at all. At the center of this mystery, which could be the key to finding the true killer, is what was missing from Seymour David’s hands when his body was found – Rorschach’s journal.”

So my theory of Rorschach being the reporter who found the journal is shot. Ozymandias is the obvious murderer of Seymour David – he had the most to lose if the journal became public. However, the journal’s contents clearly became public knowledge as it led to Veidt’s downfall – so who killed David and leaked the contents of the journal?  

I enjoyed the issue – it was pure set-up but it set a few mysteries in motion.

Favorite Line: “Don’t point imaginary guns at me.  Wasn’t funny the first time.”