(Image Source: DC / Daniel Sampere)
Death is usually a fleeting thing in superhero comics. Like the phoenix of myth, a hero may fall only to be reborn and burn all the brighter. This was a given regarding DC‘s company-wide, combat-oriented event DC K.O. However, a new series preview reveals the first member of the Justice League to die has been already been resurrected in the not-too-distant future.

The action of DC K.O. centers around the return of Darkseid and the prophesized destruction of Earth at his hands. The only hope for humanity lies in one member of the Justice League absorbing enough of the corrupting Omega Energy to beat the New Gods tyrant at his own game. This necessitated a fighting tournament, which would give the winner the appropriate emotional resonance to absorb Omega Energy.

(Image Source: DC Comics / Dan Mora)

The first casualty came in the closing pages of DC K.O. #1. Despite their best efforts to imprison or distract their enemies before the tournament, many supervillains attempted to enter the fight. This included The Joker, who shot Batman in the back with a flag-gun harpoon. This apparently took the Dark Knight out of the fight. However, a preview for the tie-in miniseries DC K.O.: Knightfight confirms just how outrageously overprepared Batman is.

How Batman survived his apparent death in DC event

Written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Dan Mora, DC K.O: Knightfight #1 finds Bruce Wayne back in Gotham City. The narration in the preview reveals that Batman equipped himself with special armor empowered by New Gods technology. This armor was calibrated to bring him home via Boom Tube if he was taken out of action for too long. However, it is immediately apparent that the Dark Knight has been away far longer than intended.

(Image Source: DC Comics / Dan Mora)

Batman’s survival isn’t really a surprise. It was never likely that DC would kill off their most popular hero, even if only for the span of an event. However, this preview does offer two mysteries for readers to consider. First, did Batman’s Apokoliptian armor also heal his wounds, or was that another agency at work? The other big question is just what brought Batman to the future Gotham City.

DC K.O.: Knightfight #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on November 5, 2025.