Chad Burdette
DC is leveling up the multiverse on February 4, 2026 with DC K.O.: Boss Battle #1, a high-octane oneshot from writer Jeremy Adams and artists Ronan Cliquet, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Kieran McKeown, Pablo M. Collar, and Hi-Fi.
Arriving ahead of the explosive final phase of the DC K.O. event, this special issue throws DC’s greatest Super Heroes into a gauntlet of unexpected challengers from across comics, horror, fantasy, and gaming.
Comic Watch Reviews:
- DC K.O. #1: The Scene Is Set For A Real Slobber-Knocker Of An Event
- DC K.O. #2: Round 2 – DCU Items Of Power…Gotta Catch Them All!
- DC K.O.: Knightfight #1 – The Curse of the Cowl
- DC K.O.: Knightfight #2 – Under The Black Cowl
- DC K.O.: Knightfight #3: You’re Getting Old, Bruce
- The Flash #26: Some Say He’s Impulsive…
- Superman #31: The Return of Superwoman
- Superman #32: Ready? Fight!
For the first time ever, DC Super Heroes will face off against icons including;
- Sub-Zero (Netherrealm)
- Homelander
- Red Sonja and Vampirella (Dynamite)
- Samantha Strong (IDW)
- New Line Cinema’s Annabelle, the infamous horror doll.
- And in a surprise twist, Sabrina the Teenage Witch (Archie Comics) will make a cameo appearance!
Fight Month
- DC K.O.: Superman vs. Captain Atom #1: Fight Month Begins With A Predictable Winner And Outcome – Winner: Superman
- DC K.O. ALL FIGHT MONTH: ROUND 2 OF 8 – Aquaman Vs. Hawkman: When Friends become Foes in Aquaman #12 – Winner: Aquaman
- DC K.O. ALL FIGHT MONTH: ROUND 3 OF 8: Wonder Woman vs. Lobo #1: Bracelets & Bastiches!!! – Winner: Wonder Woman
- DC K.O. ALL FIGHT MONTH – Round 4: The Green Vs The Man And Machine in Titans #30 – Winner: Cyborg
- DC K.O. Fight Month – Round 5: Harley Quinn vs. Zatanna #1 – Black Magic Woman Winner: Zatanna
- DC K.O. Fight Month: Round 6: The Flash #28: Talkin’ Bout My Generation Winner: Guy Gardner – Green Lantern
- DC K.O. Fight Month – Round 7 – Superman #33: No Sympathy For The Demon Winner: Lex Luthor
- DC K.O. Fight Month – Round 8: The Joker vs. Red Hood #1: Paybacks A Bitch
Jeremy Adams shared about the oneshot:
“Patrick Horvath created an incredibly complicated and frankly, scary, character with Samantha Strong. I feel lucky to be able to pit this serial-killer bear from IDW’s Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees against the greatest criminal mind of our time, Lex Luthor.
Especially because Lex has no idea who it is he’s stumbled upon. And, having written four animated Mortal Kombat movies, I jumped at the chance to write more of the Netherrealm world, especially for comics.
These characters hold a place dear to my heart as I’ve had the chance to interact with a huge swath of their fandom, their creators, and the MK universe as a whole!”
Adams continued:
“DC K.O.: Boss Battle held surprises for me, too, I never anticipated that I’d be writing ‘Welcome to Greendale!’ in a DC comic! Home of our favorite teenage witch who volunteers to “help” Star Sapphire in the Boss Battle.
This was a bright spot to put together in the midst of the over-arching chaos of the issue. I found myself really enjoying the brief moments with Sabrina.
And Homelander vs Superman! The biggest A-hole in pop culture right now fighting the big blue boy scout?
Come on! My only regret is that I didn’t have *more* pages to show these guys punch and kick…and for Superman to tell Homelander to shut his potty mouth before launching him into the sun!”
DC K.O.: Boss Battle #1 arrives with a main cover by Jamal Campbell and card stock variant covers by Jeff Spokes, Darick Robertson & Diego Rodriguez (featuring Homelander), Patrick Horvath (featuring Samantha Strong), Frank Cho & Sabine Rich (featuring Vampirella, Red Sonja, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch), and Gleb Melnikov (AEW cameo variant). Jeff Spokes’ variant cover will be available as an OTO wraparound in both card stock and foil.
Jeff Spokes Variant Cover / Foil Variant Cover:
Darick Robertson & Diego Rodriguez Variant Cover:
Patrick Horvath. Variant Cover:
Frank Cho & Sabine Rich Variant Cover:
DC K.O.: Boss Battle #1
The heroes of the DC Universe are running out of time, and don’t have enough Omega Energy to enter the final battles.
To stop Darkseid’s escalating threat, they must enter a series of escalating boss fights across the multiverse, each more unpredictable than the last.
Every encounter pushes them closer to the edge, and failing to level up means certain failure in the final DC K.O. contestant brackets!
DC K.O.: Boss Battle #1 arrives on February 4 at participating comic shops and digital retailers and will retail for $4.99 US (main), $5.99 US (card stock variants), and $7.99 US (foil variant).
