Scott Snyder once again pushes Superman, Batman and company to the limit in a tournament controlled by Darkseid that will put the soul of the DC Universe on the line
For years, Darkseid was the embodiment of evil in the DC Universe. But what is about to happen? DC KO It goes beyond any previous cosmic war. Scott Snyder Yes Javier Fernandez They return with a story that combines absolute power, corruption and a merciless battle between the publisher’s greatest heroes. The end of the DC Universe as we know it could begin here.
It all starts with the publication of KO DC n. 1 (of 4)an event that, according to Snyder, “represents the final clash between Darkseid’s Omega energy and the heroes’ will to resist absolute corruptionThe author himself confirmed this That They are not simple initials, but they mean something King Omegathe new title that the villain adopts once he has achieved divine power capable of altering reality itself.
Darkseid and the All-Kingdom
The starting point of DC KO has its roots in a shocking revelation: the ancient Kryptonians created the Omega Devicean artifact with which Darkseid managed to dominate the primordial energy of the universe. This discovery causes a chain reaction that merges the heart of Apokolips with Earthturning it into a hellish battlefield known as Absolute kingdom.
As Snyder explains, “Darkseid has transcended space and time. He is no longer just a god of destruction, but a force that absorbs all existence until only his will remains.” In this scenario, the Justice League and the rest of the heroes will have to face the impossible: stopping an entity that has already conquered everything in the future.
But the only way to do that is to become what they fear. Heroes must absorb omega energythe very essence of control and destruction, until one of them becomes as powerful as Darkseid. The problem is that the closer they get to the heart of Apokolips, the more that energy corrupts themtransforming them into distorted versions of themselves.
The Tournament of the Gods
The story takes a brutal turn when the conscience-endowed heart of Apokolips itself Create a tournament to decide who is worthy of your power. Five levels, one rule: win without mercy.
Snyder describes it as “a battle royal of divine proportions”, in which the heroes must defeat each other to prove they are worthy of absolute power. Those who show mercy or attempt to help their comrades will be repelled by the device itself, unable to generate enough Omega Energy to survive.
Thus, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern and Superman face off in one battle for the salvation of the universe that threatens to transform them into their worst enemies. The tone is reminiscent of that of the publisher’s major events, but with a more introspective approach: it’s not just who wins that counts, but what remains of his humanity after the fight.
The legacy of the multiverse and the Absolute Universe
The echoes of DC KO they also come to the call Absolute universeintroduced in Absolute evil by Al Ewing and Giuseppe Camuncoli. Snyder explains it Omega energy is connected to that alternate universewhere matter itself is made up of conscious particles that tend towards darkness.
It implies this Darkseid’s corruption is rooted in the very creation of the multiverseand that his domination could mean the total fusion of both planes: the traditional DC universe and the Absolute. In the words of the screenwriter, “There is something at the heart of creation that beats with its own will… and tends towards darkness”.
Meanwhile, the scientists and mystics of the How much of which -an alliance that unites heroes such as Mister Terrific, Zatanna and Atom -tries to understand the phenomenon. But each answer opens a new abyss, a new question about whether reality itself can resist the power of the world King Omega.
The price of power
The central idea of DC KO It’s devastating: To defeat Darkseid, you must become him. The heroes must choose between maintaining their ideals or sacrificing them to save everything. In this conflict, what it means to be a hero in the DC Universe is tested.
As the official synopsis progresses, “The closer they get to the heart of Apokolips, the more it will transform them, making them dangerous even among their own allies.“Corruption, ambition and desperation will be the true enemies, and only one will reach the end. His own Gold Boosters comes to refer to the phase as the Absolute kingdoma name that perfectly defines the dimension of this final war.
An event that redefines standards
Against DC KOScott Snyder and Javier Fernández reprise the cosmic epic of Metal Yes Deadly metalbut taking it a step further. The event promises to change the rules of the multiversewondering if light can survive in the face of its own shadow.
Visually, Fernández offers intense art, with landscapes of fire, crazy deities and fights that mix physical power and cosmic energyas Snyder weaves a story that unites the past, present and future of the DC Universe. This is the American edition October 8, 2025 with a price of $5.99and marks the beginning of a saga that promises to be the ultimate confrontation between Darkseid and everything that represents hope.
