DC K.O.: Superman vs. Captain Atom (2025-) #1 (DC K.O. All Fight

by Joshua Williamson, Sean Izaakse (Artist)

DC K.O. All Fight Month, round 1 of 8! A fight so explosive it you won't want to miss it!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Superman

Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2025

Reviews

[MrGlassWontBreak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Superman fights Captain Atom in a best 2 out of three, hand to hand, to-the-death, combat game where they both get to choose a new form to ensure victory after each round. The fight goes as you’re expect with Supes initially holding back until he later defeats Captain Atom with some smarts and using his own power against him.

Supes chooses his Superman Prime form after loosing the first round, and freezes the entire fucking Sun to win a round. This was kind of boring story wise, but it had some spectacular panels and over the top fight sequences, the classic comic book fun stuff

[Hannah Call · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5/5

[Colin Post · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m excited for all fight month - it’s a cool idea for an event that’s leaning hard into being a lot of fun. And this first issue sets the stage nicely! I love how the combatants pick between different versions of their characters for each round - this makes for some fun nods to the rich web of stories the DC universe is built on. The KOs entertain those wild what ifs… that fans bat around but rarely play out in books (what if Superman sucked in the vacuum of space and extinguished a star??). The story is mostly fluff but we do learn a bit more about the Heart of Apokolips and what the fighters face as they progress.

[Joshua Tompkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great issue! I enjoyed the fights between the two! The first round I think was the best and once they were able to choose their forms, a concept I really enjoyed, it went downhill for them. I loved seeing the different versions of the two characters in the background but I knew in round 3 that there was no way Captain Atoms gambit would pay off.

[Cristhian · Rating 4 out of 5]

En este punto de DC K.O. ya mejor desconecto todo intento de coherencia y disfruto sus tonteras

[Antonio Escobar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely liked this fight

[Whatslifeanyways · Rating 3 out of 5]

Superman stomps captain mid man

[Cybernex007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

That’s what I’m talking about! This is exactly the kind of no holding back character on character fighting and bantering and insanity I’ve wanted out of this event! So glad we have finally gotten to this point. And although we all knew that captain atom would end up blowing up, lol, I’m glad they did it with such class befitting his character in this comic. Immediately jumping into this comic we see given a brief overview of Nathaniel Adam’s life. From farm bit, to air man, to ultimate sacrifice that the end him into captain atom, to superhero, and to ultimate weapon…but never a god. But Nathaniel now recognizes that the power inside of him, that everything else is also made up of, will need to be fully embraced if he has any shot of winning this. He is fully taking to heart what time trapper said, that he has to show no mercy to become king omega. Which is why in the events of DC KO #2 he ended up taking out supergirl to get her object and continue in the tournament, which resulted in Superman chewing his ass out between rounds. But as Atom is yelling back to Superman about getting his head in the game, like batman told him to, he is questioning if Superman even has the chops to deal with this situation as it only gets harder from here. Suddenly a teleport starts up around them as Superman promises they will talk about this when it is over. Atom is thrust into space, as he flies towards the nearest rift towards the fight he is filled with the confidence that his power and experience can best anyone he fights…and shit he’s fighting Superman. Hey that talk we were going to have after this, how about doing that now?

Captain atom looks around to see the two power houses are in a mock up of metropolis, even though it’s most likely fake Superman recognizes that the heart of Apokolips can bend reality and these people could entirely be real. But even so Superman feels as though something is missing from the city. I wonder if that detail will come back later. Either way Atom doesn’t give him a second longer to think as he immediately goes for Superman, I locking him across the city and destroying a few buildings in the process. Even though Nate puts in this tough figure, this is still hurting him but he still refuses to show mercy. Even with Nate throwing down Kryptonite and red Sun energy punches, he is still beginning to literally crack his suit from all the pressure. But Superman isn’t fighting to the extent he could be, he recognizes that Nate would never kill in cold blood. But then Nate brings up that every time his suit has been destroyed, he has been lost through time and space and they have never once come looking for him. Through this anger Nate begins to drain all of the power from Superman’s body, leaving him a scrawny heap and winning the first match-up, knocking Superman out. Now that’s power scaling, lol.

This is a best 2/3 match though, and as the combatants enter limbo for the next round they are allowed to choose a different version of themselves to fight as in the next round. Additionally Nate gets a surge of omega energy, and it immediately begins to take him over once more and call to him as the potential savior of the world. Superman has also regenerated and looking over their options he knows what Nate will choose and quickly chooses his own as they are thrust back into the arena…this time appearing in Nate’s childhood home. Nate chose to take the form of Monarch, as in some realities he became the god who could control time and space (not Hawk as fans didn’t figure it out in that reality, lol), and Superman took the form of golden Superman prime from the 853rd century. As Superman reminds him they are both on the same side and want to save the world, he suddenly flies off at super speed into space and towards the sun. Nate isn’t impressed, he will just drain as much solar radiation as Superman can take in. But he isn’t here for that, instead he is doing a trick flash told him about. Suddenly he winds up and with a powerful burst of freeze breath…knocks out the sun completely, leaving them in a void of cold. Atoms can be slowed in extreme cold, including them, but Superman has enough power to last a lifetime…while Nate doesn’t. Immediately getting Superman the KO without throwing a punch.

Nate didn’t like loosing like that and decides he is switching it up. Superman tries to warn him to be careful, that no matter what they need to be themselves and they can’t loose who they are in this twisted game. Superman has felt the same intoxicating omega energy Nate has and recognizes that the closer they get to the heart the more it will manipulate them. But Nate refuses to listen and instead of choosing just one form…he chooses all of them. In contrast Superman decides to return back to his standard form. It’s now Superman vs a god who can control time, space, and all of reality…including the reality of the game itself! He fully plans on twisting reality around them as the heart of Apokolips sends them into the next round to take the fight directly to it! It of course…doesn’t like this, and Superman tried to warn Nate off from as they were told it would defend itself. Suddenly reality is broken around them, as they begin to slip into Nate’s own timeline! The 9 panel layout showing Nate’s history on the first page is now cracked as our characters fight on top of it! How cool! Nate doesn’t care of his own timeline is breaking, he is willing to sacrifice everything in order to win. He was shown the world he could create, the destiny he could decide with the power he can attain from this, unlike Superman who everyone knows will just return things back to how they are. Suddenly captain atom is taking fragments of his own history and the int them into weapons against Superman! He literally throws an origin bomb at Superman from shards of time and space!! WHAT?! Everything around Nate crumbles, everything is broken but now he believes he has power over his future. As the omega symbol burns bright in his eyes he believes he has won…only for Superman to appear behind him! But things are different, Superman is now fully silver and has the powers of captain atom himself after that stunt! He is now using them against Nate, draining Nate’s powers the same way he drained Superman in the first fight. Nate tries to rewind time back to the start of the round and Superman realizes he can’t let him. He suddenly digs into Nate’s armor ready to rip him apart, Nate cries out for him not to. If he explodes he will teleport out of the competition with no clue where he could land, he won’t be in control. Superman knows, and apologizes as he rips Captain Atom apart and forces him to explode…getting the KO, but at a great cost. Superman if you win this, please use part of that power to bring Nate back in one piece. As Superman is teleported to the next round he can further feel the surge of power from the heart trying to corrupt him.

As the issue comes to an end we go back to the watchtower interlude started at the end of DC KO #2. Here time is speeding back up as it’s revealed booster gold is darkseid in disguise and is now attacking the time trapper! He claims he has let this go one for long enough and that the trapper didn’t see who he was as he is blinded by hope. Suddenly darkseid throws the trapper out into space. Commenting on the fact he has always hated doomsday, as to think anyone thought a monster like him could challenge a god. Suddenly the world forget comes from behind to try and take him on, and we leave off with Darkseid taunting that he could not possibly win. Shoot, a second mini fight at the end of each issue, lol, gotta love it.

[purplusly · Rating 3 out of 5]

supermen izgubi prvu rundu i onda zaledi sunce da bi pobijedio. brao

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

No estoy al 100% con todo este ausnto del DC KO y menos con una colección de one shots desarrollando los "Versus" de este Torneo Multiversal. Aún así, admito que este primero me ha sorprendido muy para bien. Hay cierta lógica y coherencia en enfrentar a Superman y el Capitán Atómo. Tanto es así que realmente venimos de una maxiserie que se cimentó en que este enfrentamiento sería algo más meta existencial y dialéctico que físico con el DOOMSDAY CLOCK. Incluso el Black Label de Jenny Sparks terminó por hacer confluir del todo el que el trasunto directo del Capitán Atomo, Dr. Manhattan, se entremezclase con el personaje base. Llevando su personalidad y capacidades atómicas a ese peligroso ámbito de la personalidad sociópata límite de lo deífico. Joshua Williamson juguetea con esto, pero sobre todo se queda con el hecho de que el Capitán Atomo es un militar con una visión puramente práctica de lo que se presenta como una guerra. Por lo que choca de lleno con la visión más idealista del Hombre de Acero. Esta máxima es presentada de esa forma de poderes fuera de cualquier límite al que Superman tendrá que acogerse por mucho encorazonador pitch que suelte entre medias.

[AviChaim Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun issue, though it felt slightly disconnected from the main K.O. storyline until the final moments tied everything together. I really enjoyed the three-round, no-holds-barred showdown between Superman and Captain Atom, especially since the entire issue is told from Captain Atom’s perspective rather than Superman’s, an angle that adds a refreshing twist given the main story’s usual focus.
The inclusion of different versions of each character between rounds, like Superman Prime and Monarch, added a great layer of variety and spectacle. Overall, it’s a fun, chaotic, and delightfully over-the-top detour; the kind of lighthearted break comics can really benefit from now and then. I’m glad to see this kind of energy returning to DC.
I recommend picking up this issue if you’re following the DC K.O. series, though it may not land the same for readers outside that context.
Grade: B

[Paloma Montecino · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐
Me gusto pero fue un poco aburrido comparado con el resto. Banco a muerte que haya ahi tipo al final esta escena de la watchtower sobre lo que esta sucediendo al mimo tiempo que las peleas.
Lo que si, claramente todas estas battles va a ganar una etapa cada uno y la tercera desempata, no van a hacer otra cosa.
Le habia puesto originalmente un 3⭐ pero le subi media cuando aparecio el amor de mi vida en las primeras paginas. Le baje 1⭐ entera cuando llegue al final y de la nada habia un adelanto de la porqueria que voy a tener que leer mañana. Todos sabemos de que porqueria estoy hablando.

[Alexis Moreno · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little plain and predictable in terms of the characterization of captain atom. a man who doesn’t want to feel weak and powerless tries to enforce this on reality but it doesn’t play back so he intensifies the attempts. superman doesn’t want to play along and he resist mostly successful but at great moral cost if not material with the caveat of Captain Atoms fate.

[Craig Schorling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun issue. The fight and action was top notch and the moments of dialogue were good. Superman is doing everything he can to resist the evil of all this. The final pages connected things in a coherent way. Sign me up for more of these fight issues.

[Joseph Andress · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rocked. I can't say much more without dropping spoilers, but this was just rad as hell. Learned a lot about Captain Atom, and the writing choices especially towards the end were superb. Solid art too, felt old-fashioned in a good way especially with its color.

[PixieART · Rating 4 out of 5]

DC KO Round one. A must read in the DC KO line up. The order is confusing because of all the tie in issues.

So far:
DC KO#1
DC KO#2
Round #1

Any tie ins you read in between those adds to the main storyline in these.

[Raymond Paquette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good fight, but the ending was a forgone conclusion. I enjoyed Atom’s descent into Monarch. The evil is affecting them all.

[sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

superman my baby

[AJ Easterday · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine, but very predictable.

[Ushnav Shroff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun!

[Joseph Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.25)

[Andy Waldron · Rating 3 out of 5]

this shit is so goofy but i do kinda love it…

[Caleb Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun fight but the ass pull powerups get old

[Jerry Aguirre · Rating 5 out of 5]

The omega energy corrupted Captain Atom and all Superman had to do was outsmart him. He used his mistakes to defeat him, although reluctantly. Epic battle! Great way to start the next round!

[alejandro galvez · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun

I am having a blast with DC KO. I haven't been this excited for a comics event in years. Read it. Its so much fun.

[Roland Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love both characters. There’s some great moments highlighting the core differences in the MO of each. I can’t help but wonder will any of this matter in the end

[Hades Grayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Kamen Rider Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realmente ame esta pelea, dudo que alguna más en este evento llegue a estar a la altura

[Mark Cubillos · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fight is not just physical but philosophical. Captain Atom wants to win at all costs and Superman does not want to lose himself.