DC Comics has officially announced its next major event series: DC K.O., a five-issue limited series launching this October.
The event promises a high-stakes, multiversal showdown pitting 36 of DC’s heroes and villains against each other in a brutal bracket-style tournament to determine who will wield the power of King Omega and challenge Darkseid.
The series is co-written by Scott Snyder (“Dark Nights: Metal”) and Joshua Williamson (Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths), with art by Javi Fernández (“Nightwing”), and features a central focus on Superman.
“This one is wild,” Snyder said in the official DC blog post. “It’s about unexpected heroes—some you won’t believe—going really far in the fights.”
What is DC K.O.?
Set on a transformed Earth-0, the story introduces a gladiatorial contest hosted by a cosmic force known as King Omega. The multiverse’s most powerful champions are pulled into five terrifying tiers of combat to generate enough Omega energy to fight back against Darkseid’s dominion.
But the event isn’t just about punches and powers—it’s about legacy, choice, and inner darkness. Superman, in particular, will play a major role, struggling not only with external threats but with the shadows within himself.
Timeline and key releases
The DC K.O. event kicks off on October 1 with a prelude one-shot:
- “Justice League: The Omega Act” no.1 (Oct. 1)
Written by Joshua Williamson, art by Yasmine Putri
The Time Trapper arrives to warn the Justice League of a looming cosmic disruption.
Oversized issue; sets the stage for the tournament.
The main event begins the following week:
- “DC K.O.” no.1 (Oct. 8)
48-page launch with main art and acetate variant cover by Javi Fernández.
Includes a full bracket reveal of all 36 contenders.
Additional variant covers by Gleb Melnikov, Simone Di Meo, and Francesco Mattina.
Ongoing series tie-ins in October include:
- “Titans” no.28 (Oct. 15) – Earth faces evacuation as Apokolips approaches.
- “Superman” no.31 (Oct. 22) – Superman enters the Heart of Apokolips to confront a dark energy wave.
- “The Flash” no.26 (Oct. 22) – Wally West and Impulse fight to avert a potential “Impulsepoint” reset.
- “Justice League Unlimited” no.12 (Oct. 22) – Mr. Terrific and the Terrific Ten investigate Earth’s destabilized core.
A thematic evolution of DC events
Unlike DC’s previous cosmic-scale crises, which focused on Batman (Metal) or Wonder Woman (Death Metal), this time the spotlight is on Superman.
“This one is about Superman and the choices he’s forced to make,” Snyder said. “There’s a reason he’s the heart of the event.”
Williamson added that the tone blends the intensity of Mortal Kombat with the narrative depth of Crisis on Infinite Earths, and teased a wide array of characters stepping into unexpected roles, including lesser-known heroes and villains.
DC K.O. begins October 1, 2025, with “Justice League: The Omega Act” no.1. Issue no.1 of the core series follows on October 8.
