Since the beginning of the comic book event DC K.O., the creative team has kept readers on their toes. To quote the great "Rowdy" Roddy Piper: “Just when you think you know the answers, I change the questions.”
In Round 1, writers Scott Snyer and Joshua Williamson shocked the world by killing Batman (that didn’t last long). In chapter 2, multiple heroes gave up their spots to those they deemed had a better chance at winning. Now, in the newest issue of DC K.O., the Heart of Darkseid throws a curveball that no one saw coming.
DC K.O. No. 3 creative team
- Writers: Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson
- Artists: Xermánico and Javier Fernández
- Colors: Alejandro Sánchez
If you follow any of the DC Comics social media pages, you would have seen that this issue of DC K.O. was going to be different. Instead of one-on-one fights, they were going to be two-on-two. I assumed this meant that the survivors of the tournament would be forced to pick someone who has survived so far. That was partly true.
The Heart of Darkseid told the remaining competitors to pick someone who’d lost. However, since The Joker emitted the most Omega Energy, he gave the Clown Prince of Crime the opportunity to pick anyone throughout the multiverse. No, this does not end well.
In one arena, Superman’s pick was Shazam. Considering they’re both people with pure hearts, this wasn’t a shocking choice. They went up against Guy Gardner, who chose his Green Lantern brother, Hal Jordan. A match that turned out to be as good as you'd think.
Wonder Woman went with Big Barda. A wise choice because they consider each other sisters and have chemistry (and something else that will be revealed in a future article). Cyborg, in what seemed like a befuddling move, picked Conner Hawke. I'd later learn that this wasn't as silly as I thought.
Even though they just fought, Aquaman picked Hawkman for the combination of, as he said, air and water. As weird as that was, nothing was weirder, but on brand, as Lex Luthor picking Supergirl. Shocking to no one, Lex knew what he was doing.
In the last two spots, it was Zatanna and The Joker. And the match that should have been one-sided. If you’ve been reading DC K.O. or following the series from afar, you know nothing is one-sided.
Zatanna selected John Constantine. At first, The Joker’s partner was revealed to be one of the most dangerous people in the multiverse, The Batman Who Laughs. A menace so dangerous that he destroyed multiple realities and was part of the team that ruled over the multiverse (read Dark Nights: Metal for that story).
As the match began, Constantine realized that something was up. He said, “I know a con when I see one.” That’s when Joker’s partner reveals himself to actually be the Fifth Dimensional being Mister Mxyzptlk.
As WWE's Jim Ross says: "Business is about to pick up." Which ones came out on top? Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to find out.
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