Right from the jump, DC K.O. #4 is absolute chaos, and I love that Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson don’t waste a single second trying to explain who the Dark Trinity is or why they aren’t themselves. It honestly doesn’t matter in the heat of the moment; the issue’s energy is just “let’s fight,” and it works perfectly for a penultimate chapter. We are dropped into the King Omega Tournament, where the stakes are as high as the body count, and the “Trial by Absolute” feels like a frantic, red-hued descent into cosmic horror.
Batman’s Return and the Art of “Cheating”
The biggest reveal of the issue is the return of Batman, who has been taking a bit of a break during the Knightfight event. Snyder is clearly having a blast with Bruce here, and his return to the main stage is top-tier. I especially loved the sequence where Absolute Batman shoves Kryptonite into his own ears and proceeds to ram Superman like a bull. It looks absolutely ridiculous, but that is exactly the kind of unhinged, high-octane energy Snyder brings to these characters.
The character work here is subtle but great, particularly Snyder’s idea that being Batman is essentially “cheating.” Bruce admits to using techniques from his training years to manipulate the dice, arguing that it isn’t cheating; it’s just being Batman. It’s a great moment of a writer truly “getting” a character, showing that Bruce’s greatest superpower is his refusal to lose, regardless of the rules.
I also have to give mad props to the team for poking fun at the Absolute Bat-symbol. Bruce even takes a dig at the “bat-brick” symbol, calling it the ugliest one he’s ever seen, which is a hilarious way for Snyder to acknowledge the fan debate over his own creation.
The Corrupting Heart of Apokalips
On the narrative side, we finally get confirmation on the Heart of Apokalips and its corruptive nature. Which explains so much, including why Captain Atom seemed so unlike himself during his fight with Superman earlier in the event. It’s also now clear that the Absolute Trinity aren’t just from a dark world; they literally have Darkseid’s essence inside them. What this means for the future of the universe is anyone’s guess. Visually, Javi Fernández is doing the Lord’s work on this book. There is a specific shot of Absolute Wonder Woman where half her face looks evil and sinister, and it is easily one of the best panels in the issue.
The Joker’s Heel Turn and the King Omega
I can’t say I expected the Joker to pull a full heel turn here, but then again, it is the Joker. While his turn fits his character, his new Parademon design left a bit to be desired compared to the other high-concept designs in the book. However, the real shocker was the ending. Seeing Darkseid effectively jump out of Booster Gold’s mouth was a wild visual. The subsequent full-page reveal of the Dark God by Fernández hits it right out of the park, reminding everyone that while the heroes are playing a game, Darkseid is the board.
Overall, DC K.O. #4 is a solid issue, though I’m starting to get a little over the constant narration. I’m ready for Superman or someone else to take over the POV and ground the story a bit more. As we move toward the next issue, titled “The King Omega,” it looks like Doomsday/Time Trapper might be the clutch factor the heroes need to actually win this thing, but we’ll have to wait for issue #5 to see how that theory holds up.
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‘DC K.O.:’ #4 | Absolute Batman Returns and Darkseid’s Horsemen Rise
DC K.O. #4 is a solid issue, though I’m starting to get a little over the constant narration. I’m ready for Superman or someone else to take over the POV and ground the story a bit more.
