DC’s Next Big Publishing Event Revealed as Superhero Slugfest ‘DC K.O’ (Exclusive)

After setting sales records and rebounding from an impending industry downturn in 2024, punchy DC is hoping to continue the momentum by stepping into the ring for its next big publishing event.

Scott Snyder, the writer behind best-selling sensation Absolute Batman, and Joshua Williamson, who writes Superman, are the co-architects of what is being called DC K.O., the story initiative that will debut this fall and run through a main book as well as ripple out through various titles across the DC Universe.

Javi Fernández (Batman & Robin, King Spawn) will draw the main series that is being described as a slugfest to end all slugfests.

“DC K.O. is a knock-down, drag-out fight between all your favorite DC super heroes in a cosmic tournament to save the universe from Darkseid,” said Snyder in a statement.

The event builds off of the company’s DC All In era as well as its progeny, Absolute Universe. Both generated big sales and the Absolute line remains a blazing ball of sales and creative energy. Absolute Batman, written by Snyder, was the top-selling comic of 2024 and the comic is still generating six figures sales while also engendering lavish praise.

The new publishing event will feature 36 fighters, who join a tournament of champions, with winners rising up brackets. As Earth transforms into a five-level gladiatorial arena, each descending stage tests the heroes in brutal and symbolic ways. The goal is to generate enough Omega Energy to rival Darkseid and crown a new King Omega, a celestial being toward whom the universe bends.

Some previous company-wide publishing events had various characters as their emotional through line. Metal, which ran in 2017-2018, was a Batman story while Death Metal, from 2020-2021, had a Wonder Woman focus. DC K.O. will be a Superman story.

“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.”

“Each level is a new challenge,” stated Williamson. “And the tournament will reveal unexpected heroes—some you won’t believe will go really far in the fights.”

DC K.O. will be a five-issue limited series publishing through early 2026. The first issue, hitting Oct. 8, will feature a main cover with a dramatic “DC K.O.” acetate overlay. (The full cover art behind the acetate will be revealed live on DC K.O.’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25.)

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 Fernández. All versions of the 48-page kick-off issue will retail for $5.99 US.

The DC K.O. melee will spill into a series of one-shots and ongoing issues that will deepen the drama. Justice League: The Omega Act no. 1, written by Williamson with art by Yasmine Putri, serves as a prologue. That book will hit shelves Oct. 1.

Other titles connected to the proceedings include Titans no. 28, written by John Layman with art by Pete Woods; Superman no. 31, written by Williamson, will feature art and main cover by Dan Mora, with variant covers from David Aja, Seba Fiumara, Ariel Olivetti, and Jorge Fornés; and Justice League Unlimited no. 12, by Mark Waid with art and main cover by Dan Mora.

Some fans may find their inner Speed Force rushing with The Flash no. 26, written by Waid and Christopher Cantwell with art by Vasco Georgiev. The issue, feature a race through time between heroes Wally West and Impulse, is noteworthy as it features the return of longtime author Waid to one of the heroes that helped launch his career.

DC won’t pull any punches when is showcases reveals and surprises with an exclusive first look at DC K.O. during the DC All In: What’s Next panel at SDCC. Held Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room 6DE, the panel will see Snyder, Williamson, Waid and other top DC talent unveil behind-the-scenes insights into DC K.O., explore the future of Absolute Universe publishing, and set the stage for what’s coming next across DC’s core titles. DC executive editor Chris Conroy and DC group editor Paul Kaminski will moderate.

Check out some of the variant covers below.