DC Comics announces next event DC K.O. with writers Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson
Just some time before SDCC, DC Comics has revealed more information about their next big event book titled DC K.O. which is going to be a Superman-centric book written by Scott Snyder and Superman book’s current writer Joshua Williamson together with main series artist Javi Fernández.
So according to DC, this will be a cosmic throwdown of sorts with various DC heroes enter a tournament that will end with the crowning of a new King Omega. A total of 32 fighters will go on a slugfest to save the universe and to also show off their strength in drag-out brawls.
This new and ambitious project is hot on the heels of last year’s DC All In Special # 1 which introduced not only the latest JL incarnation dubbed the Justice League Unlimited but also the first book where we meet the new Absolute Universe. DC Comics revealed that the event will be written by primarily by Scott Snyder with art by Javi Fernandez with Joshua Williamson handling the tie-in books across the DC Universe.
Scott Snyder comments that the villain Darkseid has gotten more powerful after his last appearance in All In Special # 1. He’s become so powerful that he’s actually destroyed the future for the DC Universe and it’s only in the present that the DC Super Heroes can stop that from ever occurring.
But why are the heroes taking doing a cosmic tournament rather than banding together to kick Darkseid’s ass? Apparently it has to do with generating power and according to the two writers, the five level gladiatorial arena will harvest omega energy that can trump Darkseid’s power levels and then be given to a new King Omega, a character who was described as a “celestial being toward whom the universe bends”.
The tournament we’re about to see in DC K.O. isn’t going to be pleasant too with Snyder describing the fights as “merciless”. Meanwhile Williamson is also excited to see fans meeting some unexpected heroes in this gladiatorial book, “some you won’t believe will go really far in the fights…”
While the battles are epic, the emotional center lies with Superman.
“Metal was a Batman story, Death Metal was a Wonder Woman story—and DC K.O. is a Superman story,” said Williamson. “I wanted to tell a story about Superman looking into his own heart of darkness,” said Snyder. “It’s a very personal story wrapped in nine layers of candy exploding in your face.”
DC K.O. # 1 Solicits
DC K.O. #1
Written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Javi Fernández, DC K.O. is a five-issue limited series publishing through early 2026. The first issue features a main cover by Fernández with a dramatic DC K.O. acetate overlay. The full cover art behind the acetate will be revealed during the DC All In: What’s Next panel at San Diego Comic-Con (Thursday, 7/24, 11:30am PT, Room 6DE), and limited-edition ashcans of DC K.O. (comic trim with a foil cover) will be on sale during SDCC in the DC Booth, while supplies last. DC K.O. #1 variant covers include artists Jim Lee, Daniel Warren Johnson, Frank Cho, Scott Koblish, Jae Lee, and Mike Del Mundo, plus specialty variant covers by Ben Oliver (Face-off variant), NOOBOVICH (1:25 ratio variant), Dan Mora (Bracket variant; AEW Cameo variant), Mark Spears (Darkseid variant), and a foil variant by main cover artist Fernández. DC K.O. #1 is available from participating retailers on October 8, 2025. All versions of the 48-page kick-off issue will retail for $5.99 US.
