If you’ve been picking up any DC titles, you’ve started to notice a few things – namely, how interconnected some titles are. It all began with the DC All-In Special, which saw the death of Darkseid and the birth of the Absolute Universe, and has continued to reverberate throughout Justice League Unlimited and Superman. Now, with the next phase of DC’s All-In era set to begin with DC K.O., Justice League: The Omega Act #1 lays the groundwork for DC’s past, present, and future.
Following the end of the “Legion of Darkseid” arc in Superman #28-30 and the “We Are Yesterday” crossover between Justice League Unlimited and Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, time has been shattered, leading to a future where Darkseid reigns supreme. Despite the Time Trapper’s insistence that nothing can be done, Booster Gold and the Flash race against time itself to figure out a way to reverse Darkseid’s grip on the future. And how does it connect to Krypton’s past?
Joshua Williamson has been one of the major architects of the All-In era, and he does a great job of threading together this particular needle. DC’s continuity can be tricky to figure out, but thanks to the looming threat of Darkseid, readers will see just how far reaching the All-In Saga’s been so far. Williamson also continues to show off his knowledge of DC history – since this is a time travel tale, fans will get to see different eras of time, including Kamandi the Last Boy on Earth, Batman Beyond, and the Multiversity.
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The choice to focus on the Time Trapper, Booster Gold, and the Flash also makes for one of the more unique dynamics in DC’s recent books. Anyone who’s been reading Williamson’s Superman run knows that the Time Trapper is actually Doomsday, and that the Man of Steel recently rescued Booster from years of torment. Their approach to the Darkseid problem also underlines the major issue at hand; Doomsday believes nothing can be done, while Booster and Flash struggle to find a way to win. Since DC K.O is reportedly aiming to push its heroes to be more “ruthless”, the interactions between Time Trapper, Booster and Flash sets the stage for what’s to come.
The Omega Act #1 is also a very gorgeous book, thanks to the work of Yasmine Putri. She matches Williamson’s script by going as big and bold as possible on each page. The Time Trapper hovers ominously above everything, his purple cloak and chains flapping in the wind. A panel shows dozens of heroes converging upon the Justice League’s Watchtower. When the Flash runs through time, he leaves a trail of golden lightning in his wake.
Putri and Cian Tormey also have the chance to showcase Krypton in its pre-explosion glory, while also planting some ominous hints about how far Darkseid’s reign really reaches. The more sci-fi focused angle makes it feel like an entirely different story, and if it weren’t for a revelation connecting the past to the present, it could have been its own story. Justice League: The Omega Act #1 is a solid setup for DC K.O., but also shows the depth the All-In saga is aiming for. It’s been a minute since DC tried something this big, and hopefully it can stick the landing.
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