DC K.O. #5
/4.webp)
/5.webp "DC K.O. #5")
| Event\Storyline | DC K.O. |
| Writer | Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson |
| Artist | Javi Fernandez, Xermanico, Wes Craig |
| Cover Price | $4.99 |
In the melee that started with dozens of heroes and villains vying for theirchance to win the ultimate power in the universe, now only one remains!But to truly be crowned the King Omega, you must battle more than theobstacles in your path…you must battle yourself. It’s the finale to end allfinales as the one true champion is crowned, the fate of all that lives hangsin the balance, and a shocking decision will bring the DC Universe to thenext level. We would type more, but honestly, anything else is a spoiler—so suit up, get ready, and leap into the final round!
CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top
-
10
Comic Watch - Chad Burdette
Mar 04, 2026DC K.O. #5 finds Snyder, Williamson, Fernández, Sanchez and the rest of the creative only landing a winning story and art combo, but also embiggens the DCU and Absolute sandboxes without total universe reboot or changing things just for the sake of change. Read Full Review
-
10
Nerd Initiative - Megan Nichole
Mar 04, 2026DC K.O. #5 brings the end of the fantastic event with a very satisfactory ending. Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson knocked this out of the park with the story, and the artists put their talents on full display. Read Full Review
-
10
ComicsOnline - Matt Sernaker
Mar 05, 2026The boss fight is here, and man, was that worth the wait! Read Full Review
-
9.7
Fanlight Zone - Ken M.
Mar 04, 2026The King is Dead. Long Live a Hero. DC’s latest major event hits its’ stride with a finish you don’t want to miss. Snyder and Williamson never let up on gravity of events with the writing. The art team brings the action with incredible visuals to back it up! A new day dawns as DC. Jump on board to see how this all begins again! Read Full Review
-
9.5
Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield
This has been a phenomenal event, just big enough, and it looks like it might have just been the appetizer. Read Full Review
-
9.5
The Comic Book Spot - Jeremy Bonnette
Mar 04, 2026DC K.O. #5 wraps up a massive event and serves as a lead-in to the next chapter in the DC universe. With big action, incredible artwork, and an exciting conclusion, this finale gets us ready for the Next Level era in a major way. Read Full Review
-
9.4
The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally
Mar 04, 2026All of the artists bring beautifully detailed and visually stunning art throughout the issue. I love the various visual styles and how each one complements the story and the characters. Read Full Review
-
9.0
The Aspiring Kryptonian - David Beasley
Mar 04, 2026As far as finales go, this one was fantastically well done. My only quibble is the vagueness as to why a certain character goes missing, but I’m sure that story will reveal itself in time. Otherwise I felt this was a great ending to the DC Event that will ultimately shape future stories without completely needing to start from scratch as other events have attempted. Read Full Review
-
9.0
COMICON - Erik Amaya
Mar 09, 2026I did think this series was down for the count after the last few issues, but in the last round, Scott Snyder pulls it out of the bag and delivers a knockout finale with help from the artistic team of Javi Fernández, Xermánico and Wes Craig. Read Full Review
-
8.5
AIPT - Diane Darcy
Mar 04, 2026DC K.O. delivers its epic finale but doesn't end with a clear message for the future of the main DC Universe, which could potentially divide fans. Read Full Review
-
8.4
The Fandom Post - Chris Beveridge
Mar 18, 2026With a solid epilogue that teases an upcoming Absolute Crisis that almost feels like a natural given, there’s a lot to like here. While the idea of Lex and Darkseid going at it has its appeal, you knew it would always come down to Superman, and the natural build toward that worked well for me. The scope and scale of rewriting the universe and setting up for a new future hits well for me, and I like that it’s taking Superman off the stage for a bit while others step up as he pursues some lingering things. The teases we get in the epiloguer are solid, and knowing what some of the Next Level books that are coming are has me excited to see what’s next. I don’t think the event does a massive rewrite in the way some might have expected, but it solidifies the Absolute universe in an interesting way, and opens up a whole host of new possibilities. Definitely excited for what’s next. Read Full Review
-
8.0
But Why Tho? - William Tucker
Mar 04, 2026DC KO Issue 5 is torn between ending and beginning. It’s clear that this issue is a bridge between ladders of the DC Universe, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. Read Full Review
-
8.0
You Don't Read Comics - Russ Bickerstaff
Mar 04, 2026Amidst everything else, the final issue in the slightly strange and childish series is a real tribute to the spirit of the DC universe. There are echoes to crossovers past. There are echoes into the central conflict which have continued to be the central engine for the DC universe for so long. And it all feels like it’s brought to the page with some kind of coherence. Which is pretty impressive in of itself. Read Full Review
-
8.0
Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez
Mar 05, 2026DC K.O. #5 effectively provides a conclusion to the first act of the DC All In era. Things close out in a way that both the DC Universe heroes and Darkseid win. This is accomplished with a comic book that is filled with epic visuals that show why this event was so important. And because of the result in this finale, we get a whole new foundation that DC Comics can build their future on top of. Read Full Review
-
8.0
Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez
Mar 07, 2026This is accomplished with a comic book that is filled with epic visuals that show why this event was so important. And because of the result in this finale, we get a whole new foundation that DC Comics can build their future on top of. Read Full Review
-
7.5
KPB Comics - Phillip Creary
Mar 04, 2026It’s clear that DC K.O #5 was designed to be the ultimate jumping-on point. It’s a celebration of the DC multiverse that sets the stage for a softer relaunch across the line. If you’re looking for a definitive, world-changing ending, you might find this mid-tier. If you’re here for the incredible splash pages and the excitement of what’s coming next for characters like Superboy-Prime and Barry Allen, it’s a fun ride.< Read Full Review
-
7.5
Graphic Policy - Brett
Mar 04, 2026DC K.O. #5 wraps up the event with an interesting concept but overall a hollow finale. Read Full Review
-
7.0
Weird Science - Gabe Hernandez
Mar 04, 2026DC K.O. #5 delivers the kind of massive, theatrical showdown that event fans crave, with Superman and Darkseid pounding each other across reality while cosmic artifacts argue about what victory even means. The main story looks big and feels big, and there is real pleasure in watching the creative team swing for the fences with concepts like Alpha lives, pocket futures, and a hero who wins by refusing the crown. Read Full Review
-
7.0
Supergirl Comic Box Commentary - Anj
Mar 11, 2026As a Superman fan I was pretty happy with this issue. But as an event, I think we are right back where we were. Read Full Review
USER REVIEWS Back to Top
-
8.0
We’re here at the grand finale of the DC KO event. We get another fake-out with Lex winning and instantly being replaced by Superman after the intervention of the time-trapper Doomsday. Superman returns, and we witness a time-and-space-spanning battle between Superman and Darkseid. Superman ultimately destroys the heart, unleashing all the DC heroes, and we all emerge victorious. It’s all very cool stuff—top-tier Superman material. He enjoys games where everyone wins, and it works. I couldn’t help but smile. However, this also reveals Scott’s weakness as the story draws to a close. What truly transpired here? Scott always craves these grand stories, just like he did with Metal and Death metal. He’s just kind of mid at it. When he tackles more
+ Like • Comment• Likes (1) -
8.0
Scott Snyder stuck the landing. Much better than Dark Knight Death Metal. But I feel that every time Scott Snyder wants to go cosmic and go bigger and better, it gets overwhelming. There's a saying that's "Less is more", and when I am reading dialogue of Superman remaking the universe in his image, fighting through different eras where galaxies shudder, black holes vomit starlight it makes my eyes roll. I don't mind this event being filler for the next launch pad for new comic book series, and it still is entertaining. But this makes me glad that Scott Snyder left DC Comics for a while, because when he writes cosmic meta concepts it gets overwhelming.
-
5.0
Snyder outdid himself this time; he managed to plagiarize his own work. Anyway, this isn't the time DC has managed to put together a good event.
-
4.0
It took me a minute to process DC K.O. #5 and I don’t think I was satisfied with the ending. By page six they introduced a deus ex machina that sort of renders the first four issues moot. So ultimately winning the contest was pointless, it was just about energy and (without spoiling much) another character had a storehouse of Alpha energy … or whatever, nothing really mattered. This issue just undid the “crisis” introduced in the first issue and left things open-ended, it resonated with the same disappointment of Final Crisis. I know some people will find the ending interesting with an underpinning of social commentary … however that ultimately betrayed the promise of this crazy concept.
-
4.0
This event got so convoluted and esoteric by the end, it didn't make a bit of sense. Mostly I just didn't care. I'm so over these events and they just keep doing them again and again. Lay off already. I thought this was just going to be like a fighting games, but the fighting games have better stories. Thank God this over. My Review Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZozWBOLxk0
-
1.5
jesus christ a massive plot point was centered on superman trying harder
-
10
-
10
-
10
-
9.5
-
9.0
-
9.0
-
8.5
-
8.5
-
8.0
-
8.0
-
8.0
-
7.5
-
5.5
-
5.0
2025 In Review:
