REVIEW: ‘DC K.O.: Boss Battle’ Issue 1

DC K.O.: Boss Battle Issue 1 is published by DC Comics, written by Jeremy Adams, art by Ronan Cliquet, art by Carmine Di Giandomenico, Kieran McKeown, and Pablo M. Collar, colors by Hi-Fi, and letters by Tom Napolitano.

Before the next chapter of DC K.O., the contestants must generate Omega Energy by fighting characters from other universes.

DC K.O.: Boss Battle Issue 1 is unexpected in many ways, yet it has a recognised structure. Fresh off of getting pummeled by Darkseid, World Forger and Gorilla Grodd arrive in the cosmic tournament, just after the pages of DC K.O. Issue 3. The heroes are about to charge into battle against the Absolute versions of themselves. But first, they are sent into very different battles. They’re transported into locations where they have to fight the most famous figures from non-DC worlds.

Superman has to tackle Homelander; Wonder Woman is in an arena against Red Sonja; Plastic Man and Black Lightning are in a Mortal Kombat contest; and more. Superheroes, horror icons, and others are dragged into conflict with the heroes. The concept alone is mind-boggling, genuinely jaw-dropping in its majesty and unexpected. It’s fun, frantic, and chaotic.

However, because there are so many individual battles going on in DC K.O.: Issue 1, you don’t quite get long enough with each fight. It’s little glimmers of what they would look like, with some spectacular moments. And also, there isn’t really a finishing blow, which is ironic considering the Mortal Kombat guests. We don’t quite get the answer to who would win in a fight, but there’s a good account of what might happen. The ending fits seamlessly into the next issue of K.O., allowing the main story to continue.

There is a plethora of iconic characters that appear in DC K.O.: Boss Battle Issue 1. Many of those who have been killed in the tournament so far are resurrected, such as Star Sapphire, Plastic Man, and Black Lightning. But the most important members of this story are those borrowed from other companies. Adams had a dream role, implementing and toying with confrontations that seemed impossible.

The matchups of many are perfect. Superman, Homelander, Wonder Woman, and Red Sonja are terrific clashes. But others are ingenious as well, such as Lex Luthor and Samantha Strong from Beneath the Trees, and Joker meeting Annabelle, the haunted doll. It means there’s a lot of variety in the interactions. Some get much more attention and time than others. It’s disappointing that Vampirella and Batwoman are limited to a single page, as are Zatanna and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The Mortal Kombat segment is slightly extended, with Sub-Zero and Scorpion both entering to deliver their iconic lines.

The art in DC K.O.: Boss Battle Issue 1 is incredible, placing DC characters in entirely different worlds. It’s amazing to see the likenesses brought to life. Some, like Shang Tsung, are very recognisable from their appearances in recent games or TV shows. Homelander doesn’t exactly resemble Anthony Starr, but is closer in design to the late Steve Dillon’s original concept from the original comic. Some of the locations really suit the DC icons who enter them, especially Batwoman, as she enters Vampirella’s castle.

Then the battles start crossing over into each other’s worlds. As the combatants tussle, others crash through the ceiling and interfere. This is all building to one great big image, a phenomenal, sprawling battle involving all of the characters in one great shot, surely how utterly bizarre DC K.O.: Boss Battle Issue 1 is.

The colors are utterly brilliant. Hi-Fi ensures that every shade pops and looks amazing. Whether it’s Joker’s green hair in a haunted house, Star Sapphire’s pink costume in the suburbs, or dripping red blood in the suburbs, there’s a terrific fusion of vibrancy and darkness. The lettering is compact and close together, but it’s still easy to read. It’s funny to see the wiggly tails of the word balloons following Plastic Man, and he bends and contorts.

DC K.O.: Boss Battle Issue 1 is delightfully chaotic. It’s nonsensical fun, where the details and the plot don’t matter. What’s surprising in this mega crossover is just how much of it there is. It’s eight separate stories in one, with so many figures stepping in from across pop culture. It’s energetic and a thrilling side step from the main event. The only frustrating facet of this tie-in is that it should be longer. It genuinely had the potential to be an anthology, with more prolonged bouts and definitive answers to the burning questions about who would win.

DC K.O.: Boss Battle Issue 1 is available now wherever comics are sold.