Superman vs Homelander? DC’s K.O. Teases That Match — Plus Sub‑Zero, Red Sonja, Vampirella and Annabelle Join the Chaos

DC Comics is taking its K.O. crossover even further by inviting characters from other franchises to a special issue, and yes — that might include a showdown fans have joked about for years.

Release dates and tie-ins

Overview of DC K.O.

DC’s K.O. event started in early October and centers on a multiverse-spanning tournament where Superman, Batman, and other DC heroes compete to become *King Omega* and stop Darkseid. The first issue dropped a number of surprises, though creators and the publisher are keeping many of those details under wraps.

Guest appearances revealed

At New York Comic Con during the Jim Lee and Friends panel, DC confirmed that a special tie-in issue slated for February 2026 will feature several non-DC characters. Specifically, the panel showed that the issue will include:

Guest roster

Homelander (from The Boys)
Sub-Zero (from Mortal Kombat)
Vampirella
Red Sonja
Annabelle (from The Conjuring)
Samantha (from Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees)

Writer Scott Snyder called the issue “a big special… something you can pick up and really enjoy on your own”, and more details were reported by Popverse.

Additionally, panel photos showed promotional art by Jeff Spokes that places these characters in front of what appears to be a Boom Tube, and attendees shared those images online. See the promo art by Jeff Spokes on AIPT Comics.

Quotes and panel notes

DC Comics president Jim Lee asked, “Who doesn’t want to see Homelander fight Superman?” which pretty much sums up why this special issue is getting attention. Meanwhile, creators emphasized that the special is intended to be enjoyable as a standalone read.

Release dates and tie-ins

For the timeline: DC K.O. #2 is scheduled to release on Nov. 26. The special crossover issue featuring the guest characters is planned for February 2026. The K.O. event will also continue into 2026 with tie-ins to several DC series, including Superman #31.

This crossover comes after the recent Deadpool/Batman one-shot that Marvel and DC published, and DC will publish a Batman/Deadpool one-shot in November. Looking ahead, the publishers are also planning books that pair Superman with Spider-Man in 2026; more on that can be found at AIPT Comics.

In short, DC K.O. is expanding the ring. Expect the tournament to keep branching into unexpected places, and follow the official release schedule for the exact issue drops.