John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.
The following contains major spoilers for DC K.O. #1, on sale now from DC Comics.
The DC Universe is heading for another reboot, unless its greatest heroes can find one among them to become something even greater.
DC K.O. #1 (by Scott Snyder, Javi Fernández, Xermánico, Alejandro Sánchez, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou) finds the heroes of the DC Universe brought together by a terrifying vision of the future, one in which an unstoppable Darkseid tears their world asunder. As it turns out, this vision was afforded to the likes of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman by none other than the Quantum Quarum consisting of the Time Trapper (formerly Doomsday), the World Forger, Grodd, and Booster Gold. As these four explain, Darskeid's latest transformation has turned the already immensely powerful villain into the King Omega of the Absolute Universe, and if the primary DC Universe can't find its Alpha, there will simply be no hope left for its future.
DC K.O. #1
- Written by SCOTT SNYDER
- Art by JAVI FERNÁNDEZ and XERMÁNICO
- Colors by ALEJANDRO SÁNCHEZ
- Letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU
- Main cover art by JAVI FERNÁNDEZ and ALEJANDRO SÁNCHEZ
- Variant covers by DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON & MIKE SPICER; FRANK CHO & SABINE RICH; JAE LEE & ALEX CHUNG; MIKE DEL MUNDO; JIM LEE & ALEX SINCLAIR; BEN OLIVER; DAN MORA; MARK SPEARS; SCOTT KOBLISH & HI-FI; and NOOBOVICH
While Darkseid has been a part of the wider DC Comics mythos for decades, it wasn't until 2024's DC All-In Special #1 that the character became something larger than life (or anti-life) itself. After forcefully bonding to the Spectre and launching an all-out assault on the Justice League Unlimited's newly minted Watchtower, Darkseid was seemingly obliterated entirely. Whereas Darkseid's physical form was indeed destroyed, his consciousness was able to move beyond the veil of the Multiverse that shrouded the once enigmatic Elseworld. Upon doing so, Darkseid's consciousness bonded to the fabric of this alternate reality by tethering himself to its Omega Particles, transforming it into the brutalist Absolute Universe fans know today.
First teased back in July, DC K.O. will see some of the greatest heroes, antiheroes, and villains of the DC Universe duke it out until only one remains to stand against Darkseid in his King Omega form. At the time, DC K.O. co-architect and writer Scott Snyder promised fans "a knock-down, drag-out fight between all your favorite DC Super Heroes in a cosmic tournament to save the universe from Darkseid." Snyder continued, "Darkseid has evolved into something bigger and stronger than ever... There’s no future for the DC Universe because of what he’s done—the heroes’ only shot is to stop him in the present... You have to be merciless to win, and when you’re out, you’re out."
In August, DC Comics unveiled the full 32-character roster of fighters taking part in DC K.O. Aside from obvious choices such as Superman, Captain Atom, and Wonder Woman, lesser-known powerhouses such as Big Barda, Swamp Thing, and Etrigan the Demon are also set to join in the fight. Per the official solicit synopsis for DC K.O. from DC Comics, "This fall, the gloves come off as the greatest superheroes in the universe enter the arena in a thunderous tournament where the stakes are sky-high, and the cost of victory may be too steep to bear... Who will rise through the brackets and rival Darkseid against his ever-growing Omega powers? And what sinister secret lies at the absolute heart of Apokolips? Get ready for the most fun you’ll have all year (at a death tournament)!"
DC K.O. #1 is on sale now from DC Comics.
Created by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
English (US) · 