DC K.O. The Flash

The Flash (2023)

by Mark Waid, Christopher Cantwell, Vasco Georgiev (Illustrator)

Expanding the DC K.O. blockbuster saga through the lens of the Speed Force, the Flash Family becomes the linchpin connecting timelines as battles rage across worlds—revealing how the fight for the Heart of Apokolips reshapes the flow of time itself.

Legendary Flash writer Mark Waid returns to the character he co-created—Impulse—as the impetuous speedster decides he can stop the havoc of DC K.O. single-handed!

But the young hero’s Impulsepoint will do much more harm than good, and now the Flash must stop Impulse’s race through time before he wipes out everything!

Plus Darkseid’s Absolute Legion chases the speedsters to Flash Barry Allen’s origin moment, and Flash Jay Garrick battles Green Lantern Guy Gardner in a K.O. bout for the ages in this collection of The Flash #26-30! (Note: This is Volume 5 of the ongoing The Flash series collections.)

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Graphic Novels

120 pages, Paperback

Published August 25, 2026

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book 3.5 stars but it is one of the better of the DC KO tie ins I have read. It also explains Impuse's injuries in the main story.

Darkseid is coming and so are his Legion corrupted versions of heroes and heroines past, present, and future.However Impulse has an idea to how to stop him, before he ever became a threat. Could the DC universe be pulled into an Impulsepoint? What are the ramifications? Are they worse then Darkseid having his way or is that inevitable right now? Also what is the Omaga Speed?

Another question this answers for me is why the current Flash was not in the tournament. A good addition to the main story and seem to promise more surprises to come. What is next for the survivors?

[Ángel Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leído mes a mes en la cole española:

Más que entretenida historia a cargo de ese ente imprescindible en el Universo DC actual, Mark Waid, ayudado por unos amiguetes, que el pobre solo no da abasto. Después de la bazofia infecta perpetrada por el peor enemigo de Wally, Simon Spurrier, estos números saben a gloria.

Tenemos, en la esquina derecha, a la Legión de Darkseid intentando destruir la Fuerza de la Velocidad para sustituirla por la Fuerza Omega. Toma ya. ¡Y con Max Mercury, nada menos, de su parte! En la esquina izquierda, por su parte, Impulso y Wally van a tener que echar el resto para detener a estos enemigos tan formidables y, por supuesto, lo van a hacer, en una aventura con tanta acción como corazón. Todo muy guay, aunque sepa a poco. Lo único bueno de esta despedida del hombre que hizo de Wally el auténtico Flash para toda una generación (en la que me incluyo), es que será sustituido por Ryan North, un tipo en el que deposito toda mi confianza después de que volviera a hacer grande al mejor supergrupo de Marvel, los 4 F. Pero, para mí, Mark Waid y Wally West estarán por siempre unidos, así que... hasta la próxima, Mark.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mark Waid and Christopher Cantwell send Bart Allen across time and space, with Darkseid hot on his heels as DC KO hits the Flash.

You know sometimes when writers come back to characters they defined, and it just doesn't feel right any more? That's the impression I got from this volume of the Flash. Waid writes Bart mostly like he did back in the Impulse days, so it doesn't feel like he's gone through almost anything in the last twenty years, and it makes him look super dumb.

The DC KO of it all is a good backdrop, but I'd hardly call this an essential story either for the event as a whole or the characters within.

Skippable, and a shame, since I know both writers are usually better than this.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have to agree with the overall rating on this one. I’m a huge Flash fan but the issue with this graphic novel is that it takes place in the middle of DCs “K.O.” event. This means that there is a lot going on outside of this story run and as someone who’s really only reading the Flash books, I found myself lacking some context. They try to fill you in the best they can, but there were some cut aways that didn’t really make much sense. Or suddenly there would be some contrived plot point that feels like it came out of nowhere because it had something to do with another character’s tie in story arch.

I would say this is a bit of a skip. Still love the Flash, and since I’m bias I’ll say, if this were any other character’s story I probably would have only given it a 2/5.

[George Zakka · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really dislike it when they force a character to have an arc in an event, especially when it is unnecessary; such is the case here with this arc. I am glad it is over; I don't really remember much, and I don't care to. I am excited to see where the Flash goes next.

[Donavon · Rating 4 out of 5]

this collection of The Flash #26-30! (Note: This is Volume 5 of the ongoing The Flash series collections.)

One of the best DC KO stories. It is better than the main series...

[Pedro Espada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grapa esencial en el evento DCKO, donde además se ve un despliegue de poder de Wally y Bart brutal, y con un dibujazo que le va que ni pintado!