In this review of DC K.O. #4, find out who gets the crown of King Omega and the right to face Darkseid.
DC K.O. #4
Written by SCOTT SNYDER and JOSHUA WILLIAMSON (interlude)
Art and Main Cover: JAVIER FERNÁNDEZ
Interlude Art: XERMANICO
Variant Covers: DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON, MIKE DEL MUNDO, RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE, JEFF SPOKES, GUILLEM MARCH, AARON BARTLING, DAN MORA
Page Count: 40 pages
Release Date: 2/11/26
This review contains spoilers
As DC K.O. #4 begins, the Final Four go head-to-head with the Absolute Trinity (Darkseid powered versions of the Absolute characters in their own titles) and Booster / Darkseid. Shortly into the fights, though, Joker switches sides and Darkseid makes him into a new form of parademon. He uses his new power to rip kryptonite from Lex’s suit, giving it to Absolute Batman, who then spears Clark with the shards.
Just as Joker is about to finish off Superman, Bruce re-enters the tournament after his trials in the Knightfight books. He spears Joker through the back as repayment for taking him out of the tournament early on.
Everyone fights their Absolute counterparts until Superman uses heat vision to imprison Absolute Superman in his own cape. This gives Clark the chance to punch Booster Darkseid as hard as he can, knocking him out, releasing the Absolutes from his control.
It’s too late, though, because a gigantic Darkseid emerges from underground, having collected enough energy to inhabit his own body again. All the heroes, Absolutes included, join together to battle Darkseid. Using his Omega Beams, Darkseid blasts everyone, destroying all but Clark and Lex, who was shielded by Clark.
Down to the last two, Darkseid then waits for a winner and Lex blasts Clark with the last of his suit’s energy to take the win and become King Omega.
Saturn Girl then shows us how the Absolutes were made into Darkseid’s horsemen before the tournament. Darkseid allows her to look into his mind and she sees that in the past, present, and future, there is only Darkseid. She also catches a glimpse of what looks to be Time Trapper as a possible light in the darkness, ending the issue.
Analysis
Scott Snyder has put together another great issue with DC K.O. #4. The fights between our heroes and the Absolutes did not disappoint. For those who have been keeping up with all of the DC K.O. tie-ins, Batman’s return comes as no surprise. If you’ve heard about the upcoming “Reign of the Superboys“, then Superman’s loss here is also no surprise. If you don’t follow those things too closely, then this issue was jam-packed with shocking twists and turns. Either way, it was a fun one.
There were several things that I really liked in DC K.O. #4. Joker’s turn to the “dark side” was not completely expected, but not exactly a surprise, either. It made me cheer even more when Batman returned and took him out in the exact manner he had used to take out Bruce at the beginning of the tournament. As a Superman fan, I enjoyed Clark’s battle with Absolute Superman. Clark had to push himself as hard as possible to slow down the Absolute version.
Wonder Woman did have a few cool moments, but I found that in comparison to Batman and Superman, her page time seemed lower. I didn’t count the panels, but I felt she could have been utilized a bit more. Lex’s victory also didn’t sit right with me, mainly because I didn’t like how he went about winning. We’ll have to see how the final issue plays out, but he’s going to need some big tricks up his sleeve to beat Darkseid.
The artwork in the main DC K.O. titles has been excellent and DC K.O. #4 is no exception. Javi Fernandez’s illustrations of the characters are top notch. The fights are big and never boring, as he changes up perspectives and angles constantly, leading to a feast for the eyes. Alejandro Sanchez’s coloring brings the battles to life. One of the best pages of the issue has all six heroes running at you to take on Darkseid. The arrangement of the heroes is mirrored and full of energy. There are multiple two-page spreads in this one, so the action has room to breathe.
Final Thoughts
DC K.O. #4 brings us close to the end of the tournament with big action, crazy twists, and a new King Omega! This one will be hard for the finale to top. Have fun, comic lovers!
