DC legends Scott Snyder and Josh Williamson have dropped a bombshell: The future of theDC Universeis dead. The culprit? None other than Darkseid, now crowned the all-powerful King Omega. And the only hope of stopping the total annihilation of our favorite heroes and villains lies in a brutal, all-out bloodbath you won’t want to miss.
This fall, event architects and writers Scott Snyder and Josh Williamson are killing the future of the DC Universe in its latest crisis event, DC K.O.. Snyder described the crisis as“a knock-down, drag-out fight between all your favoriteDC super heroes in a cosmic tournamentto save the universe from Darkseid. Darkseid has evolved into something bigger and stronger than ever.”
Williamson added that the New God has"destroyed the future. There’s no future for the DC Universebecause of what he’s done, the heroes’ only shot is to stop him in the present.”The stakes have never been higher, with the event officially kicking off July 11, 2025, inDC K.O.#1.
DC’s K.O. Crisis Event, Explained
Squid GamesMeetsMortal Kombatin DC’s Cosmic Tournament
Announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 during theDC All In: What’s Next?panel, Snyder unveiled DC’s plans for the K.O. event, essentially aSquid Game meets Mortal Kombat-style tournament. DC K.O. will be a brutal five-level showdown where 36 of DC’s greatest heroes battle each other in an epic, never-before-seen battle royale that will push them to their absolute limits.
Fans may wonder why DC’s heroes are fighting one another when Darkseid is the real threat. The answer lies in the tournament’s goal: one champion must collect enough Omega Energy to challenge a Darkseid who is more powerful than ever after creating the Absolute Universe. Each hard-fought victory brings the heroes closer to gathering the power they need.
Each win builds Omega Energy, with heroes advancing through the tournament in a format similar to the NCAA’s March Madness. Like the famed basketball event, the heroes will compete in a single-elimination bracket until one remains, the DCU’s ultimate champion, tasked with facingKing Omega Darkseid in a final, universe-defining battle.
How Did Darkseid Become the DCU’s Omega King?
Why DC’s Heroes Have to Build Up Omega Energy to Defeat Darkseid
As many readers have likely guessed, the“K.O.”in DC K.O. carries a clever double meaning. Traditionally, K.O. stands for“knockout,”referring to a fighter being rendered unconscious or unable to continue after taking blows in a one-on-one match, perfectly fitting the Mortal Kombat-style aspect of this epic tournament.
However, K.O. also stands for“King Omega,”Darkseid’s new, overpowered moniker. This title reflects his most powerful state ever, achieved after absorbing theOmega essence of the Absolute Universe. Now at peak Omega capacity, Darkseid has set his sights on the core DC Universe, determined to conquer everything in his path without mercy.
Williamson elaborated,“The heart of darkness doesn’t want to be held by anyone but Darkseid,”meaning DC’s heroes must prove themselves worthy by becoming something like him. This is why they must build up their own Omega Energy. If they hope to defeat Darkseid and save the future, matching his power is their only chance.
CHAMPIONS, CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON!
Each Hero Gets to Bring One Item of Their Choice into the Arena
TheDC All In: What’s Next?panel also revealed that each DC hero can bring one item of their choosing into the arena. Williamson and Snyder unveiled Superman’s weapon of choice:mini-suns forged into a pair of brass knuckles. Fans even got their first look at this powerful addition to the Man of Steel’s arsenal.
Above, Ben Oliver’s Face-Off Variant forDC K.O. #1shows Superman with heat vision blazing and fists raised, each hand adorned with miniature suns. These brass knuckles will not only deliver devastating blows but also keep the Man of Steel supercharged throughout every fight, ensuring his powers remain at full strength.
It’s a badass concept, asSuperman is rarely depicted using anythingbeyond his own abilities; most tools would be superfluous against his might. This clever addition makes perfect sense, though, since it will keep him in peak condition by providing a constant boost from his most important resource: yellow sun energy.
Best Reading Order for DC K.O.
Justice League: The Omega Act#1 is Available Jul 30, 2025
DC has been building toward this event since thelaunch of their All In initiative, starting with the creation of the Absolute Universe and the formation of the Justice League Unlimited. For completionists, that’s the best place to begin if you want the full reading experience leading intoDC K.O.
If you’d rather jump straight into the event, that’s completely doable; no prior reading is required to understandDC K.O..The story will technically begin with the prologueJustice League: The Omega Act#1, releasing July 03, 2025, before the tournament officially kicks off the following week.
Set to launch on October 8,DC K.O.#1 will mark the event’s official start. The reading order then continues withTitans#28 (October 15),Superman#31 (October 22),The Flash#26 (October 22), andJustice League Unlimited#12 (October 22). So, which hero do you think will rise as theDC Universe’schampion to faceDarkseid?
