Writers: Scott Snyder & Joshua Williamson
Artists: Javi Fernández & Xermánico
Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Editors: Marquis Draper & Paul Kaminski
Cover Artists: Javi Fernández & Alejandro Sánchez; Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer; Rafael Albuquerque & Marcelo Maiolo; Mike Del Mundo; Jeff Spokes; Ben Oliver; Dan Mora; Aaron Bartling
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $5.99/$5.99 Card Stock
Release Date: February 11, 2026
Wonder Woman won through Round Three by increasing her knowledge of Apokolips. Lex Luthor triumphed by manipulating others. The Joker channeled the power of creativity and imagination to get one step closer to turning reality into a black, laughing void. And despite Batman's insistence that Clark crush his opponents, Superman won Round Three by sharing with others. How will the final four fare in Round Four? And after the events in DC K.O. Knightfight #4, will someone else be joining them? Let’s leap into DC K.O. #4 and see!
Story
Heroes seek to protect others, while villains strive to exploit them. In this contest about who will become the best dominator, Round Three winnowed the heroes from six to two, while both villains made the cut. So, when the Heart of Apokolips transports them to the world Darkseid created, it seems ironic that Superman, Wonder Woman, Joker, and Lex Luthor confront four heroes. But as Wonder Woman tells Superman, what the Heart touches, it corrupts.
In DC K.O. #4, the champions fight Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Booster Gold. While Booster Gold hails from their world, the other three call the Absolute Universe home. But when Superman studies them, all he senses is Darkseid. Like when Darkseid burst into their world and interrupted their game night, Darkseid inhabits all four at the cellular level.
Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson fill their story with plenty of twists and turns. Amid the battle, the membership changes on both sides. The story looks back to the past, as memories of their game together enlighten the present. Yet the situation everyone faces is that the allure of power is all-consuming. Superman discovered this when the Heart showed him the world he could create, and the Green Lanterns attacked him. In DC K.O. #4, the people who hunger most for completeness emerge as the victors.
Art
Superman wears an uneasy smile while the Joker delights in confronting their opponents. The Batman of Darkseid’s realm showcases his venom spikes. His new ally, Wonder Woman, utilizes her magic arm. Absolute Superman's hands and forearms glow. As they channel Omega energy, the features of Darkseid’s heroes contort with rage, evoking Chancellor Palpatine when his use of the Dark Side drained him of youth and vitality.
While Alejandro Sánchez lavishes vivid colors on Javi Fernández and Xermánico’s action-packed art, green links the Joker and Lex Luthor with Kryptonite. But red dominates, coloring characters' skin and clothes, and filling their eyes as they attack their opponents. Red infuses the air of Darkseid’s industrial realm, while explosions rock combatants and incinerate champions. Crimson droplets splash across the pages of DC K.O. #4, whether inhabiting the present or portraying events in another time. It merges with yellow and orange to create a cosmic, otherworldly feel in this pink and purple realm.
The Heart of Apokolips welcomes readers with tall white letters in black fields. As Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou places black dialogue in white balloons, the letters grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices. Booster Gold speaks white letters into black distorted shapes that evoke Darkseid’s polluted realm, while dialogue and balloons change color as the intensity of the battle increases. Sound effects heighten the deadly battles, as one character expresses his will with red letters in white clouds with red borders. Thanks to DC Comics for providing a review copy.
Final Thoughts
When the four champions travel to Darkseid’s domain, they battle heroes shaped by a harsh world that forces heroes to fight harder to survive. As they fight for the right to battle the Heart of Apokolips, DC K.O. #4 provides crucial backstory to help readers understand how evil took over the universe.
Rating 9.8/10
To look inside see my preview of DC K.O. #4.
No comments:
Post a Comment