Generic, Clichéd And Drawn Out: ‘DC K.O.’ #4 Reviewed
by Olly MacNamee
Summary
As we head into the final round of the DC K.O. event, I’ll be glad when it’s all over. If you like wrestling, you’ll like this. I don’t, and I’ve seen one too many hero versus hero battles where they all end up on the same side to feel anything anymore when it predictably ends up happening in this penultimate issue.
Overall
6/10As each new issue for DC K.O. drops, so does my ability to keep up interest in this series. A series whose whole premise is a drawn-out WWE match with characters dressed up in brightly coloured costumes, following a script and beating down on one another. So, just like a WWE wrestling match, minus the superpowers.
And while there is still some fun to be had in this, for me, it’s become all a bit too drawn out. And that’s just in reading this core series. God forbid I picked up all the other tie-ins. Those days are long gone for this jaded comic book fan. But then, not all fans are jaded. But, if anyone is claiming this is anything more than a mediocre event comic, they’re very mistaken.
Don’t get me wrong, there are certainly some very good lines of both narration and dialogue to be taken from this. A glaring good example of this is when Earth-0’s Batman criticises the Absolute Universe’s Batman’ symbol, with writer Scott Snyder playfully and knowingly echoing the criticism of many a keyboard warrior when it was originally revealed. Talk about meta! Plus, Javier Fernández‘s art is always a treat, and he certainly handles this large ensemble cast exceptionally well.
There’s also the thrill of the DC Universe finally crossing over with the Absolute Universe, but it’s not enough for me. Especially after Snyder follows the tired trope of the possessed Absolute Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman starting off fighting against the remaining heroes of Earth-0 before inevitably joining them against Darkseid, a character I feel is far too overexposed at this moment. Another problem with this event: he seems to be the Big Bad for many a DC Crisis over the past decade and more, and maybe it’s time to put him back in his toy box for a while.
And so as we enter the final furlough of this comic book event series, it’s all gone a bit humdrum and a bit flat if I’m honest. And while I’ll stick around for the final issue, I can’t say I’m expecting too much.
DC K.O. #4 is out now from DC Comics.
