For his fall crossover event, DC Comics is going all in with the action, thanks to DC K.O., a deadly tournament. Coming from writers Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder, the architects of the DC All-In/Absolute universes, this crossover is presented as a cosmic, bracket-style tournament where 32 of the DC Universe’s greatest heroes and villains are forced to fight for the fate of existence.
The story follows the emergence of a massive, five-tier gladiatorial arena that rises from the Earth, drawing the DC Universe’s most powerful champions into a series of escalating battles. Each level of the arena tests its combatants through increasingly brutal and symbolically resonant trials, with the ultimate goal of generating enough Omega Energy to rival Darkseid’s power. Darkseid, having ascended to a new and more dangerous form, has erased the DC Universe’s future, leaving the present as the heroes’ only chance to stop him. The tournament’s victor is destined to be crowned the new “King Omega,” a cosmic being capable of realigning the universe’s fate.
While the event features iconic heroes and villains from all over the DC Universe, it is described as a Superman story, exploring themes of morality, inner darkness, and the weight of leadership under extreme circumstances.
What to read before DC K.O.?
DC K.O. is the first event of the DC All In era. To understand what happened to Darkseid that led to this event, you have to go back to the beginning with DC All In Special #1, the one-shot written by Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson with art by Wes Craig and Daniel Sampere.
The Justice League Unlimited series is at the heart of the DC All In saga. To be up to date for DC K.O., it’s the title to read. On Superman’s side, the recent “Legion of Darkseid” arc is leading up to the crossover event.
- Justice League Unlimited Vol. 1: Into the Inferno
Collects Justice League Unlimited #1-5. - Justice League Unlimited/World’s Finest: We Are Yesterday
Collects Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #38-39, Justice League Unlimited #6-8, and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest 2025 Annual #1. - Justice League Unlimited Vol. 2: The Omega Act [2026]
Collects Justice League Unlimited #9-11, Justice League: Dark Tomorrow Special #1, and Justice League: Legion of Darkseid Special #1
*
DC K.O. Reading Order
At the center of the event is DC K.O., a five-issue limited series written by Scott Snyder and illustrated by Javi Fernández. Before that, DC Comics is publishing a one-shot prelude, Justice League: The Omega Act #1.
DC K.O. Reading Order: Issue by Issue
As the “DC K.O.” event is ongoing with a main miniseries and numerous tie-in issues, this reading order will be updated as the event progresses. As usual, the main issues are in bold and the tie-ins are not, except when some of them contain important details to the main plot.
Note: Justice League Red #4 was originally solicited as a tie-in for K.O., but has since been removed (we can confirm that it has only a loose connection to the main event, so it is completely unnecessary and takes place before the event).
Countdown: The Road to DC K.O.
- Superman (2023) #28-30 – Superman: Legion of Darkseid
- Justice League Unlimited #11 – Official Prologue
- Aquaman #11 – The issue is set before The Omega Act Special and DC K.O. #1. At the moment, it looks like it’s a skippable issue, as it doesn’t add any more information.
- Justice League: The Omega Act Special #1 – Official Prologue
The Main Event Starts here!
- DC K.O. #1
- Titans #28 – Except for Cyborg, the Titans are in charge of evacuating Earth.
- Titans #29 – The aftermath of the delocalisation across the galaxy.
- Superman #31 – The issue runs parallel to DC K.O. #1.
- The Flash #26 – Follow-up to DC K.O. #1 with Wally and Bart.
- The Flash #27 – Bart and Wally’s story continues.
- Justice League Unlimited #12 – Terrific Ten, Part 1. Follow-up to DC K.O. #1 with the time-displaced heroes from the “We Are Yesterday” story.
- Justice League Unlimited #13 – Terrific Ten, Part 2 is the Follow-up to #12 and set around Titans #28
- Justice League Unlimited #14 – Part. 3 of the Terrific Ten
- Justice League Unlimited #15 – Part. 4 of the Terrific Ten New
- DC K.O.: Knightfight #1 – In the aftermath of DC K.O. #1, Batman goes on his own epic journey.
- DC K.O.: Knightfight #2 – Batman’s journey continues.
- DC K.O. #2
- Superman #32 – Contains a few spoilers from DC K.O. #2 and must be read after.
All Fight Month! After the challenge that took place in DC K.O. #2, the sixteen remaining fighters face off in eight rounds during the Epic Month of All Fights! You need to read the rounds in the order they are released, as each issue contains an interlude on the Watchtower.
- DC K.O.: Superman vs. Captain Atom #1 – Round One in the Epic Month of All Fights!
- Aquaman #12 – Round Two
- DC K.O.: Wonder Woman vs. Lobo #1 – Round Three
- Titans #30 – Round Four
- DC K.O.: Harley Quinn vs. Zatanna #1 – Round Five
- The Flash #28 – Round Six
- Superman #33 – Round Seven
- DC K.O.: The Joker vs. Red Hood #1 – Round Eight
- The Flash #29 – This is a direct follow-up to The Flash #28 and can be read after, but before Superman #34.
- DC K.O. #3
- DC K.O.: Knightfight #3 – While in direct continuity with Knightfight #2, a page makes references to what happens in the tournament.
- DC K.O.: Knightfight #4 – Direct follow up to #3 without references to other events. The story continues in DC K.O. #4 (so can be read around here). New
- Aquaman #13 – This issue is set during DC K.O. #3, although this is a skippable issue that adds nothing to the main event.
- DC K.O.: Green Lantern Galactic Slam #1 – This issue is loosely connected to DC K.O., acting more as an Omega Wam-Bam Man story featuring Kyle Rayner. For the moment, it seems to be quite optional.
- DC K.O.: The Kids Are All Fight Special #1 – An optional read about the adventures of Jon Kent, Cassandra Cain and the young superheroes. Serves mostly as an introduction to the Titans.
- Titans #31 – The planet’s transformation into New Apokolips continues.
- Superman #34 – A page reconnect with Superman and events from D.C. K.O. #3 while the arrival of characters featured in the Flash indicates this issue takes place also after The Flash #29.
- DC K.O.: Boss Battle #1 – Takes place directly after DC. K.O #3 New
Coming Soon…
- DC K.O. #4
- Aquaman #14
- Titans #32
- Superman #35
- The Flash #30
- Justice League Unlimited #16
- DC K.O. #5
What to read after DC K.O.?
It is too early to say. Stay tuned and check back in early 2026, after the DC K.O. event has concluded.