DC pulled out all the stops during its explosive All In panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, spotlighting the future of the Absolute Universe and launching fans into the next chapter: DC K.O. (King Omega), a brutal, high-stakes multiversal tournament where survival, legacy, and darkness collide.
The King Omega Rises
Forget “Knock Out,” DC K.O. stands for King Omega, the terrifying new form Darkseid has taken after absorbing the Omega essence of the Absolute Universe. Now he’s targeting the core DC Universe, claiming all things, magic, space, and time for himself. The only way to fuel this conquest? Combat. As Joshua Williamson explained, “The heart of darkness doesn’t want to be held by anyone but Darkseid.” Heroes must prove they’re worthy by becoming something like him.
Scott Snyder described the pitch as “Squid Game meets Mortal Kombat, but fun!” with DC K.O. acting as the second major beat in the Darkseid saga that began in All In Special #1. And yes, Superman brings brass knuckles powered by miniature suns into battle. “Have you ever been punched by the sun?” joked Williamson.
A Universe-Wide Throwdown
The K.O. tournament isn’t just about brute force; it’s about soul, legacy, and sacrifice. Paul Kaminski promised a wildly diverse roster of characters: Captain Atom, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Red Hood, Lobo, Swamp Thing, Zatanna, and more. “Unlimited means unlimited,” said Mark Waid, teasing the Justice League Unlimited title, which spans heroes across time and space.
Meanwhile, Mr. Terrific’s secret squad, The Terrific Ten, are time-displaced warriors tied to the series We Are Yesterday, with a brutal hook: only one will survive.
New Series Announcements
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Knightfight by Joshua Williamson and Dan Mora (November) explores Batman’s worst nightmare: what if the Robins all became Batmen in twisted alternate futures?
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Impulse Control, a new Flash arc by Chris Cantwell and Mark Waid, follows Wally West and Bart Allen in a two-lead book that pits them against a timeline-threatening Impulse plan.
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Legion of Darkseid continues in Superman, revealing that Superboy Prime, now something of a redeemed fanboy, is joining the arc.
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Justice League: The Omega Act acts as a bridge, teaming Time Trapper, Booster Gold, and Flash against a corrupted Legion of Super-Heroes.
And yes, Aquaman’s infected. Jeremy Adams revealed Arthur is now host to The Blue, supercharged with Omega Energy and more dangerous than ever.
Absolute Universe Expands
The panel opened with deep dives into Absolute Wonder Woman, Absolute Batman, and new reveals like:
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Absolute Evil, written by Al Ewing and focused on billionaires facing the uprising of inspired citizens.
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Absolute Green Arrow, a six-issue series by Pornsak Pichetshote and Rafael Albuquerque (Spring 2026).
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Snyder teased the origin of Absolute Bane, plus cameos from Deathstroke, who in this world is Alfred’s best friend.
The Absolute Universe isn’t ending. In fact, as Snyder and Williamson emphasized, DC K.O. will “supercharge” everything. “This is where the fun begins.”
Fan Energy, Creator Passion
The panel closed with Kaminski presenting Snyder and Williamson with special DC K.O. jerseys, celebrating the hard work of everyone at DC. As mics cut off, a fan shouted: “Where’s Skeets?” To which Williamson, still grinning, responded: “Skeets is around!”
From cosmic chaos to character-driven battles, DC K.O. promises to reshape the future of the DC Universe, with brass knuckles, alternate timelines, and no mercy.
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