The multiverse is about to get a lot more crowded. On February 4, DC is pushing the boundaries of the “DC K.O.” event with a massive one-shot titled DC K.O.: Boss Battle #1.
Written by Jeremy Adams and featuring a powerhouse art team including Ronan Cliquet, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Kieran McKeown, Pablo M. Collar, and Hi-Fi, this issue serves as the high-stakes prelude to the event’s final phase. The premise is simple but wild: DC’s iconic heroes must survive a gauntlet of “Boss Battles” against legends from the worlds of gaming, horror, indie comics, and fantasy.
A Roster Like No Other
Fans can expect to see DC staples square off against a truly bizarre and exciting list of challengers:
- Sub-Zero (Netherrealm/Mortal Kombat)
- Homelander (Dynamite/The Boys)
- Red Sonja & Vampirella (Dynamite)
- Samantha Strong (IDW/Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees)
- Annabelle (New Line Cinema’s haunted doll)
- Sabrina the Teenage Witch (Archie Comics)
Why the Boss Battles?
In the overarching story of DC K.O., the heroes are running low on Omega Energy, which they desperately need to enter the final confrontation against Darkseid. To “level up” and secure their spot in the final brackets, they must travel the multiverse and win these unpredictable fights.
Writer Jeremy Adams expressed his excitement about the specific matchups, particularly the inclusion of the “serial-killer bear” Samantha Strong:
“Patrick Horvath created an incredibly complicated and frankly, scary, character with Samantha Strong,” shared Jeremy Adams. “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!”
The Battle We’ve All Wanted: Superman vs. Homelander
Perhaps the most anticipated moment of the issue is the showdown between the Man of Steel and the leader of The Seven. Adams also teased a lighter, more magical moment involving the Archie Comics universe.
“DC K.O.: Boss Battle held surprises for me, too,” said Adams. “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!”
Release Information
- Release Date: February 4, 2026
- Main Cover: Jamal Campbell ($4.99)
- Variant Highlights: Jeff Spokes (Wraparound), Darick Robertson (Homelander), Patrick Horvath (Samantha Strong), and Frank Cho (Vampirella/Red Sonja/Sabrina).
- Special Editions: Foil variants will be available for $7.99.
