Thanks to the events of Absolute Power, a once-ridiculous C-list Batman and Green Arrow villain has just risen to prominence with a MAJOR power upgrade - destroying the entire Titans lineup in a quick attack. This shocking rise in power positions him for A-list status, but the real question arises: can he maintain this newfound dominance and completely redefine his legacy in DC lore, or will he return to obscurity?
...readers discover that Tockman's brain has undergone a significant transformation, specifically in the temporal lobe...
John Layman and Pete Woods' Titans #17 continues the wild ride of issue #16, which brought big changes to the team. Among these changes were Wally "Flash" West leaving to work with the Justice League full time, Roy “Arsenal” Harper joined the cast and Nightwing stepped down as team leader, passing the leadership position to Donna Troy.
However, The biggest shock came when Clock King attacked the entire Titans team and eliminated them in seconds– an achievement that seemed impossible for such a low-level villain. The preview for Titans #17 finally begins to shed light on how William Tockman managed to accomplish this astonishing feat.
ABSOLUTE POWER gave the Clock King the power to manipulate memories and perception of time
Clock King Character design by Eddy Barrows for Suicide Squad Dream Team
Tockman's quick defeat of the Titans in issue #16 made it clear that the villain had undergone a major power upgrade, as Clock King is typically portrayed as a C-list villain with no metahuman powers, relying instead on gadgets. Although some versions of Clock King suggest that he can see a few seconds into the future to anticipate his opponents' movements, even with this ability, there is no way he can defeat the entire Titans team. By the end of issue #16, it was evident that this was not the type of book that William Tockman's readers were familiar with, and this was confirmed in issue #17.
Titans #17 opens with Clock King's narration, where he reveals that during the events of Absolute powerhe was one of the individuals who gained new abilities when the powers stolen by Amanda Waller's Amazo task force were released. As the preview progresses, readers discover that Tockman's brain has undergone a significant transformation, specifically in the temporal lobe – the part of the brain responsible for memory and time perception. Although the preview ends here, the implications are clear: Clock King is now a high-tier meta with the ability to control memory and time perceptionwhich allowed him to defeat the Titans in record time.
Will Clock King be able to maintain his new A-list status?
Cover card variant B by Rahzzah for Titans #17 (2024)
Although it is not yet known exactly what Clock King wants with the Titans, issue #17 promises to trap them in their past memories. The edition's synopsis teases: “...the Titans [are] Looking back, reliving your most horrific and traumatic moments, over and over again..." Therefore, it will be intriguing to see how the Titans confront the Clock King's new powers, as these abilities are something completely unknown to them. Although it is likely that Titans will find a way to defeat Clock Kingthe real question is how much damage he could do to the team – the answer will determine whether he can maintain his new A-list status.
Titans #17 is available November 20, 2024, from DC Comics!