A Batman Villain Just Got a Massive Power Upgrade

As a lifelong fan of the Titans, I must say that the latest arc, featuring the Clock King, has been nothing short of exhilarating! The way John Layman and Peter Woods have breathed new life into this classic team is truly commendable. The introduction of Clock King’s mind-reading abilities adds a unique twist to an otherwise ordinary villain, making him a formidable foe for the Titans.


In issue #16 of the Titans comic, a fresh chapter began for the group. Writer John Layman and artist Peter Woods took over, marking significant changes: Dick Grayson (the Flash) left, Roy Harper (Arsenal) joined, Donna Troy became the leader, and the team decided to collaborate rather than stand in for the Justice League. These alterations represent a major shift in the team’s usual dynamics. Shortly after, they encountered their first challenge of this new phase—an adversary typically powerless against them: the Clock King. In issue #17, he managed to catch them off guard and employed a novel ability against them: the power to probe through their memories.

Over time, there have been three different Clock Kings, generally recognized as minor adversaries that Batman encounters. The one who battled the Titans is William Tockman, the second one in sequence. He’s a frequent member of the Suicide Squad throughout the years and was last seen in “Suicide Squad: Dream Team,” working under Amanda Waller during the events leading up to “Absolute Power.

Clock King’s New Power Makes Him More Dangerous Than Ever

Essentially, the infamous career of the Clock King isn’t particularly noteworthy in terms of heroic deeds. However, he has gained recognition for his distinctive attire, which features a clock face as a mask. He possesses chronokinetic abilities that enable him to exist with a seven-second delay relative to actual time, fly, and generate clock-shaped energy constructs to ensnare enemies. The original Clock King, Tockman, also had time travel technology, while the third Clock King is an adversary of Green Arrow without any connection to the first two. Interestingly, it’s Tockman’s new powers that make him the most formidable Clock King and a villain who poses a genuine threat.

In Titans #16, the Clock King’s enhanced abilities were initially showcased; however, it wasn’t until the following issue that readers understood this development. Donna Troy encountered a vivid recollection of the original Titans Tower. Subsequently, Arsenal underwent a flashback reminiscent of when Green Arrow ambushed him, while the archer was feigning work for Waller. As the story progressed, each team member experienced a similar memory, culminating in Raven’s flashback leading her to become enraged and incapacitate the entire team.

As a gamer, I’m diving into Titans #17 where the Clock King reveals his newfound ability to invade people’s minds through a growth on his hippocampus, gained during the final showdown against Waller. Arsenal’s emotional turmoil over Green Arrow’s lack of trust in him regarding Ollie’s secret plan against Waller gave Clock King an opening, and he exploited it to delve into each Titan’s mind, all interconnected like a vast neural network. His goal was to mine their memories for information, but the team used their link to counter him, thanks to Donna Troy outsmarting him.

Clock King’s New Powers Are Boon And A Curse

Earlier, Clock King wasn’t much of a concern, but with his recent acquisition of powerful abilities, he poses a significant threat now. His capacity to delve into the memories of his adversaries makes him formidable, as it gives him knowledge that he shouldn’t possess. Remember, knowledge is power, and for many heroes, information about their identities or loved ones could significantly advantage villains. However, this newfound power comes at a heavy cost – it’s slowly taking his life with each use.

The characters typically associated with Batman’s rogues gallery frequently undergo transformations, and it appears the latest version of the Clock King is shaping up to be quite formidable. Deathstroke has conceived a strategy involving assembling a team to take down the Titans, and the enhanced abilities of the new Clock King have made him an essential component in this scheme.

Titans #17 is available now.

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2024-11-25 00:10