The tournament is in full swing. Heroes have fallen. Darkseid is near. The 32 champions have been chosen, and now they must compete to earn the Heart of Apokolips. The first challenge? Battling across a deadly arena to acquire new weapons of war. The greatest powers of the DC Universe are up for grabs, and whoever holds them will advance to the next level. Superman has his doubts that the Justice League is doing the right thing, but there are others who have no problem killing to get what they want… DC K.O. #2 is packed with action and some very unexpected twists and turns.

I’ll admit, when I first saw DC K.O. #2 teased, I rolled my eyes a little. On its surface it feels like something we’ve seen many times before, a tournament featuring heroes and villains for some world changing prize. It’s a concept done many times over and the bracket and art mixed in a video game like feel to this take. But, then I read the first issue and it packed some surprises. Batman didn’t make it through the first round. There was an interesting focus on Superman and his role in the bigger scheme of things. And the kick-ass art helped.

DC K.O. #2 continues that interesting focus on Superman and so much more. The second round is here and the 32 contestants are competing to find 16 items of power. Think Wonder Woman’s lasso or a Green Lantern ring. It’s a race where anything goes and boy does it. While so many characters scramble to get an item and make it to the next round, writers Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson continue to center the event around Superman and how far he’ll go to save everyone. And he goes far.

While examining who Superman/Clark is inside, the comic puts the character through a brutal battle with Lex Luthor who goes to the extreme and takes things to the next level. DC’s “All In” has generally brought a rather positive and altruistic, bright, feel to the DC Universe, DC K.O. #2 delivers the grim and dirty vision of that with death and destruction… and the loss of a hand. No, Aquaman doesn’t get his hook back… It’s a shocking event that’s unexpected and twisted in so many ways but also pushes one character in a way we haven’t seen before. Without spoiling things, it’s very uncharacteristic of them and makes the series even more intriguing.

The art by Javi Fernández and Xermánico with color by Alejandro Sánchez and lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou pops. The issue, for the most part, is one giant battle as the heroes and villains rush to get their prizes. It opens up though with the continued relaxing moment of Bruce, Clark, and Diana, The art between the two is interesting with one having such a calm and chill factor to it, while we’re rushed into the next battle which is pretty non-stop until the end. The wholesome nature of one’s visuals are betrayed by the rough and destructive nature of the other. Superman particularly looks great, along with Lex, the both really hitting the drama and emotions, and general anger between the two.

DC K.O. #2 is a solid second issue that took an intriguing figure issue and will get readers to really go all in for the third. There’s something far more here than just a beat-em-up event, and no, not that ending. It delivers at the surface level all of that but underneath, it’s teasing something far more interesting.

Story: Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson Art: Javi Fernández, Xermánico
Color: Alejandro Sánchez Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Story: 8.5 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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