Mild Mannered Reviews – DC K.O. #2

DC K.O. #2

“Chapter Two: Objects in Motion”

Writer: Scott Snyder and Joshual Williamson
Artist: Javi Fernandez and Xermanico
Cover: Javi Fernandez and Alejandro Sanchez
Variant Covers: Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer; Simone Bianchi; Tyler Kirkham and Arif Prianto; Mike Del Mundo; Ben Oliver; Dan Mora; Vasco Georgiev; Ariel Cohen

Reviewed by: Tony Parker

Back in the past, in simpler times, Clark, Lois, Bruce, and Diana discuss what they would be without powers. Clark guesses Diana would be a historical site tour guide, Diana guesses Bruce would be a doctor, and Bruce guesses Clark would be president. Clark doesn’t think he has that in him.

Now, in a place with no future, the contestants are prepared for the tournament. The Heart of Apokolips, the gamemaster, explains that they must act like Darkseid and take each other’s powers. Powerful items such as Blue Beetle’s scarab, the God Killer sword, the Worlagog, Atom’s belt, a Motherbox, Psycho Pirate’s Medusa Mask, Thor’s hammer, Bane’s venom, the Speed Force wing, the Power Rings, the Genie Pen, the Claw of Horus, the Soul Taker sword, the Lasso of Truth, the Cosmic Rod, and a mystery item… They are all up for grabs. By the end of the challenge, half the heroes will be gone, as they won’t have items.

The challenge begins. Superman ensures Lex Luthor can’t reach the Power Rings. Wonder Woman tries to beat Etrigan to Atom’s belt, but Giganta beats her to it, only for a giant sized Joker to beat HER to it. He then eats her and a bunch of other small time villains. Plastic Man nearly stops Metamorpho from getting the God Killer sword, but gets burned by his own superplastic upgrade, as Metapmorpho can turn into that. Starro then stops him, only for Jay Garrick to grab the sword himself. Guy Gardner nearly grabs the Speed Force ring, but Harley’s mallet insures she gets it instead.

Lex, meanwhile, beats Superman up while explaining his plan. The Phantom Zone had shown him how he could save the world, and he believes Superman would just return it to the way it was. Using all the Kryptonite in his disposal and a blade, he cuts Superman’s hand off and leaves him to suffer, stating he will be the one to save the world for once.

While Superman heals, Guy Gardner narrowly misses out on a weapon again thanks to Hawkman grabbing the Claw of Horus, Cyborg gets the Motherbox, Swamp Thing, Barda and Etrigan duel for the Soul Taker Sword, and Lobo gets Venom, but he pisses off Starro, which leads to chaos. Starro replicates and possess the aforementioned main man, Power Girl (who fights Supergirl for Psycho Pirate’s Medusa mask), Jay Garrick (who tries to stop Black Lightening from getting the Worlogog), Wonder Woman (who fights Zatanna for Thor’s Hammer), and Firestorm (who fights Aquaman for the Cosmic Rod).

Thankfully, Zatanna gets Wonder Woman to use the hammer, which zaps Starro off, while Red Hood gets the Scarab and attacks Joker, as does Harley Quinn with the Speed Force. Joker shrinks however, and attacks Big Barda inside her head. Vixen also gets the Thunder Pen while beating King Shark. Meanwhile, Star Sapphire slows Luthor down before he can get the Power Rings, using a construct of the Fortress of Solitude as a weapon, then collects all the rings.

All but one. The Black Lantern ring. And Lex Luthor has it.

Just when it seems that the heroes have the advantage, Lex raises all the elder gods so all the weapons can be his. It seems there is no hope.

But then Superman decides to find the mystery item, to truly go all in… And he finds it: The Omega Sanction. Just when it seems he’s gonna beat Lex, the last item (the Worlagog) is found by Guy Gardner. The 16 without items are instantly eliminated, and now only 16 are left for the actual fight round:

The Joker. Etrigan the Demon. Jay Garrick. Superman. Hawkman. Lobo. Zatanna. Guy Gardner. Lex Luthor. Harley Quinn. Red Hood. Aquaman. Wonder Woman. Captain Atom. Swamp Thing. Cyborg.

Meanwhile, Booster Gold (really DARKSEID) kills Time Trapper and enters the battle…

Story – 3: A step down from the last issue, I hate to say, and perhaps for a dumb reason, but still. While I do enjoy the popcorn flick feelings, and many of the cool moments (such as Omega Sanctioned Superman), most of this felt like prelude to the actual story. It doesn’t help that it’s full of dumb fanservice too (Gee, does Scott Snyder love The Joker and Harley Quinn?). What’s worse, the bracket turned out to be a lie. None of the opening battles will seemingly happen. Why post it like that, then? Why lie?

I don’t know, guys, I was a little disappointed. Still a 3, because when it’s fun, it’s fun, but this is nowhere near issue #1’s quality.


Art – 5: It still looks fantastic though. For one kind of nothing location, they really made it pop.


Cover Art – 3: Pretty good, but too much like the first one, I fear.


Variant Cover Art – 5: Wonder Woman kneeing a character who shouldn’t be going as far in this tournament? That’s a 5 from me.


Variant Cover Art – 2: Hard to tell what’s even happening. Okay art I guess.


Variant Cover Art – 5: If only we got such matchups…


Variant Cover Art – 5: Love how 50s this one feels, not in a Silver Age way, more in the design and colors.


Variant Cover Art – 3: Cool looking Wonder Woman.


Variant Cover Art – 5: It’s almost as if that should have been the format from the start.


Variant Cover Art – 1: I don’t like AEW.


Variant Cover Art – 5: This one is ART, hang it in a museum!


Variant Cover Art – 4: Cool, if a little plasticky.


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