DC K.O.: Whats Next NYCC 2025 Panel

The DC: Knockout — What’s Next? panel at New York Comic Con featured moderator Paul Kaminski alongside Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Javi Fernández, Hayden Sherman, and Jeremy Adams.

Scott Snyder revealed that Joshua Williamson was the one who convinced him to return to DC Comics, pushing him to take big creative swings and encourage other creators to take risks. Snyder explained that major DC events will only move forward if they tell a great story, reflect who the company is, and set the stage for what comes next.

He teased that as Darkseid draws closer to the DC Universe, Earth itself begins to transform into Apokolips. The only way to stop it is for someone to control the Heart of Darkness hidden deep within the planet—and the only one who can do that must prove themselves worthy of the title King Omega.

Joshua Williamson added that this marks the third round of Knockout, describing it as a best-of-three battle. Characters who die in one round will have the chance to return as any version of themselves from across DC continuity.

New DC KO One Shots Announced

Superman vs Captain Atom by Joshua Williamson and Sean Izakse

Aquaman vs Hawkman by Jeremy Adams and John Timms

Wonder Woman vs Lobo by Joelle Jones and Jason Howards

Swamp Thing vs. Cyborg by John Layman and Pete Woods

Zatanna vs. Harley Quinn by Leah Williams and Stephen Byrne

Joker vs. Red Hood is Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson and Dustin Nguyen

(Snyder says Red Hood respawns as Robin in round 2 to fight Joker, in a warehouse.)

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The Four Horsemen of Darkseid

The panel also touched on The Four Horsemen of Darkseid, a major element of DC: K.O. mythology. Issue #1 revealed three of the four, but the identity of the final Horseman remains a mystery. Together, these beings—known as the Absolute Trinity—are destined to become Darkseid’s destroyers in Knockout.

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DC KO Knightfight

Writer Joshua Williamson and artist Dan Mora are teaming up for Knightfight #1, a story Williamson jokingly described as “Last Chance Kitchen for Batman.” “Does anyone watch Top Chef?” he asked the crowd, comparing the setup to a high-stakes elimination round.

In the series, Batman faces off against alternate versions of Robin who each went on to become Batman themselves—and they’re all arguably better at it than him.

Scott Snyder added that the story serves as a deeply personal odyssey for Bruce Wayne. “It’s a really probing examination of Batman going on the odyssey,” Snyder said. “Maybe I should let them go, and not come back,” he teased, hinting at the emotional conflict driving Batman through Knightfight.

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DC: K.O. – The Kids Are All Fight Special #1

Written by Jeremy Adams with art by Travis Mercer, The Kids Are All Fight Special #1 is set to release in January 2026. Adams described the story as a fun, energetic adventure featuring DC’s younger heroes.

“These kids are kind of being babysat on the Watchtower,” Adams said with a grin, “but they don’t stay there.”

NYCC 2025: Greg Rucka Returns to Batwoman After 17 Years for DC’s “Next Level”

Writer Greg Rucka is set to make his long-awaited return to Batwoman after a 17-year absence. The new story will be featured in the recently announced DC Next Level initiative like of books. Greek artist Dani will join Rucka on art duties for the project.

Rucka expressed immense enthusiasm for revisiting the character, stating that Kate Kane is one of a select few he would "do anything to work on." He explained that his original run, which ended in 2009, felt unresolved. The story has remained with him ever since, and he described the new project as a personal "exorcism" to finally tell the tale he's envisioned for nearly two decades.

"When you have the story and it’s in your head and you have to walk away for some reason, the story doesn’t go away," Rucka shared. "It’s about me, it’s not about entertaining you. I conned DC into solving my issues."

• DC's New Initiative: DC Next Level

Spearheaded by acclaimed writer Scott Snyder, DC Next Level is designed to provide an in-continuity home for fan-favorite characters and stories that might otherwise face cancellation due to lower sales. While the line spins out of the events of DC KO, it is crafted to be highly accessible and easily picked up by any reader.

According to DC editor Paul Kaminski, the creative direction takes cues from successful imprints like Ultimate Marvel and Absolute DC, as well as concepts from Transformers: Energon, aiming to deliver high-quality, impactful yet accessible new stories.

Snyder assured fans that the new line will feature "awesome" content that complements the main publishing line without detracting from it.

He also confirmed that there are no plans to close DC's Absolute Universe line.

Also confirmed to be part of DC: Next Level:

Lobo by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona

Legion of Superheroes by Joshua Williamson

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NYCC 2025: Marvel Announces “Shadows of Tomorrow,” the Next Era of X-Men Comics

News out of NYCC 2025 is Marvel revealed that the next era of the X-Men line, following The Age of Revelation, will be called Shadows of Tomorrow

This new phase will feature a blend of classic X-Men and fresh faces, expanding the mutant world while pushing it in bold new directions. The promotional image shown at the panel does not represent the full roster, hinting that there are still surprises to come.

Writer Eve L. Ewing teased that a group of new mutants introduced in Exceptional X-Men may be searching for leadership in the wake of Age of Revelation. “There are some new things coming,” she said. “All the folks you’ve known and loved in Exceptional will have new stories and new directions ahead.”

Like the Avengers Initiative once did for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Shadows of Tomorrow looks poised to usher in a new generation of mutants, balancing the legacy of the X-Men with a younger, evolving team dynamic that reflects the world they now protect.

NYCC 2025: DC Comics' Gotham City Panel

Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Jorge Jimenez, Ericka Henderson, Che Grayson, Tini Howard, and Babs Tarr take the stage to talk all things GOTHAM CITY!

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Tini Howard and Babs Tarr Announce New SIRENS Series

Tini Howard and Babs Tarr took the stage to announce Sirens: Love Hurts, a new series from DC Black Label.

Described as “The Long Halloween for the girlies,” the book promises to deliver the Gotham story fans have been waiting for — a bold, stylish spotlight on the city’s most iconic women.

The four-issue oversized series will focus on Selina Kyle, Harley Quinn, Dinah Lance, and Poison Ivy. It will begin in the summer with Ollie proposing to Dinah and will conclude the following spring with their wedding.

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Scott Snyder Talks Absolute Batman

Scott Snyder took the stage to talk about his upcoming work on Absolute Batman, diving deep into the tone, themes, and design of this bold new take on Gotham.

He revealed that just like how in playing cards the Joker can take on any card in a deck, Absolute Joker can literally become whatever Batman fears the most. In a major twist, this Joker represents absolute order, the direct opposite of Bruce’s chaos. Snyder described him as “someone with resources,” which makes him far more terrifying than the chaotic version he has written before.

The story features Ark M, a secret black site that holds unspeakable monstrosities. Beyond horror, Snyder said the series also explores class, focusing on a blue-collar Bruce Wayne and his working-class allies. His main goal is to create a page-turner, and he admitted that being outside continuity gives him a bit of freedom. “Every week I’m waiting for Jim Lee to call and tell me we can’t do that,” Snyder joked, “but he hasn’t called yet.”

Snyder talked about his lifelong love of horror, saying he watched it far too young and still draws from that inspiration. He explained that Bruce’s idealism makes him unmovable, so the horror around him has to be extreme. When Bruce stands against massive systems of power, those systems are going to strike back.

He confirmed that Scarecrows is on the way, and emphasized that his creative philosophy is to focus on what looks cool and let the characters evolve naturally, rather than being tied down by design sheets or rigid rules.

Snyder also announced that Jock will return to draw issue #15, a Joker-centric chapter, marking a long-awaited reunion between the two creators.

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BREAKING: Absolute Catwoman Solo Series Announced!

DC confirmed that Absolute Catwoman will spin off into its own six-issue mini-series.

Set in the Absolute Universe, this story flips familiar dynamics on their head. Here, Selina Kyle is more like Batman — she has the tech, the espionage skills, and the drive to operate in the shadows. The Joker, meanwhile, mirrors Bruce Wayne, holding the systemic advantage with his own manor and even a cave.

Selina no longer wants to run. She wants to climb. Her idea of breaking free from Gotham’s system is different from Bruce’s. While Bruce fights it, Selina aims to outgrow it and become bigger than the system itself.

The series is described as a mix of political secrets and high-tech espionage, centered on Selina’s search for freedom — and the question that defines her journey: how much does that freedom really cost?

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Jorge Jiménez on His Batman Run with Matt Fraction

Jorge Jiménez joined the panel to discuss his current Batman run with Matt Fraction. He said he is always looking for new inspirations and creative directions, and for this series, he wanted to explore something “a little more synthetic.”

Jiménez described working on Batman as a dream come true, calling the book his number one goal. After drawing Batman for five years, he admitted it can be difficult to find new ways to make the series feel fresh, but praised Fraction for bringing incredible energy and ideas to the project.

He also spoke about how grateful he feels for the fan response to the first two issues, saying the enthusiasm has been “crazy.” Jiménez mentioned that he’s happy to be collaborating early in the process with Scott, noting that Scott played a big part in helping launch his career.

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Erica Henderson Talks Harley & Ivy!

DC announced Harley and Ivy: Life and Crimes, written and illustrated by Erica Henderson. The series will finally tell the canon story of how Harley Quinn and the Joker broke up and how Harley and Poison Ivy became a couple.

Henderson explained that she realized no one had ever actually shown how these two major moments happened. She’s excited to explore both, while grounding the story in the emotional truth of where Harley and Ivy were and where they’re headed.

Unlike the freedom of the Absolute Universe titles, Henderson said she enjoys the structure and constraints that come with working in established continuity. The story will revisit Harley’s animated series era and even touch on her childhood.

Henderson described the project as having two parallel outlines — one tracking the emotional arc of Harley and Ivy’s relationship, and the other following the “life and crimes” unfolding around them.

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That’s all folks!

NYCC 2025: Spider-Man and His Venomous Friends Panel Announcements

Marvel Comics’ panel has begun. Jordan D White, Joe Kelly, Al Ewing, Stephanie Phillips, Charles Soule & CB Cebulski are seated, ready to announce the future of Marvel Comics

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Joe Kelly Talks Amazing Spider-Man

Joe Kelly opened by addressing the current state of Spider-Man in the 616 Universe — and yes, there are three active Spider-Men right now.

Peter Parker is currently off-world, traveling through space with his new “cutie” symbiote companion, Symbie. Kelly also dropped a major reveal: Peter’s current suit is sentient. 👀

Back on Earth, Ben Reilly is still operating as Spider-Man in his own right, while Norman Osborn has also taken up the mantle — though the rest of the Spider-family isn’t exactly thrilled about it.

Kelly explained that Peter’s high-tech suit is actually a Technarch named Glitch, a being who separated himself from the Technarch hive mind and somehow ended up aboard Nile’s ship.

The series will alternate between two storyline

• Even-numbered issues will focus on events on Earth with Norman and Ben.

• Odd-numbered issues will follow Peter’s cosmic adventures with Rocket, Glitch, Symbie, and their crew.

Editor Nick Lowe teased that Amazing Spider-Man #16 will be an emotional gut punch — saying he “dares anyone to read it and not cry.”

Spider-Man Annual #1 will introduce a new character named RAPID and it will tie into ASM proper later on.

Finally, there's landmark Amazing Spider-Man #1000 drops September 2026!

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Stephanie Phillips Talks All-New Ghost-Spider

Stephanie Phillips spoke about All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider and shared some exciting details about what’s next for Gwen Stacy.

Gwen’s former symbiote suit has gone rogue and now goes by the name Tantrum. The creature jumps from host to host, specifically targeting people who struggle with anger issues. Agent Anti-Venom will also make an appearance in issue #4.

Gwen is eager to start a new band, and Cindy Moon (Silk) has been teaching herself to play guitar so she can join in. A brand-new character will step in as the band’s lead singer, and after a quick audience vote during the panel, the band’s official name was revealed to be “Threadbare”.

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Al Ewing Talks Venom/ Announces Knull Solo Series

Al Ewing shared several big updates about what’s next for Venom during the panel. His upcoming story in Venom #250 will take place during the Maximum Carnage era, setting the stage for an epic clash between Hela and Knull.

Following the recent events in Thor, all of Earth has forgotten that the Asgardians ever existed. Hela is taking advantage of that chaos to launch an attack on Knull. Her plan is to trap him in a cage and use him as a power source, but Ewing warned the crowd that this is definitely not a good idea.

After adopting a new color scheme inspired by Spider-Man, Venom will begin borrowing Spider-Man’s name. This move draws the attention of Otto Octavius, who takes offense, arguing that Venom doesn’t even look like Spider-Man.

Madame Masque is set to return in Venom #253, where she aims to seize control of the city and make Mary Jane’s life miserable. During the Q&A, a fan asked if Ewing would finally kill Paul. He kept quiet on specifics but teased that Paul is about to have the worst day of his life very soon, which got a huge reaction from the crowd.

Ewing closed by revealing that Knull will star in his own solo series spinning out of Venom #250. Hela will not be his only adversary, and another “very important” character is set to challenge him in the book.

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Charles Soule Talks Eddie Brock: Carnage

Charles Soule explained why Eddie Brock would side with Carnage, revealing that Eddie’s reasoning is complicated. He tells himself he wants to take Carnage for his own so nobody else can be corrupted, but Soule says that is a lie. The truth is that Eddie is simply addicted to symbiotes. The story so far has been a metaphor for addiction.

In issue 9, Eddie will attempt to rid himself of Carnage without letting Carnage know. Issue 10 will introduce Soule’s original creation MUSE into the story and will serve as the conclusion to this arc. The final beat of issue 10 is described as a game changer with major implications for the entire Spider-Man line going forward.

Additionally, Soule announced a nine-part crossover event running through Venom and the main Spider-Man titles called Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral.

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🚨BREAKING🚨 Queen in Black by Al Ewing officially announced for 2026!

After the events of Venom #250, the Marvel Universe will find itself at the center of a war between KNULL God of the Symbiotes and Hela Goddess of Hel!

Queen in Black by Al Ewing arrives Summer 2026

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NYCC 2025: Image Comics Panel Announcements

The Image Comics panel is officially underway! Creators are seated and fans eagerly await a new slew of announcements from Image!

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Marjorie Liu celebrates ten years of Monstress

Marjorie knew even ten years ago that while the book started as fantasy, it was going to end up a Science Fiction store

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Kieron Gillen talks The Power Fantasy

We get a preview of Issue #13 with a character named Gravity, spiralling out of the events of Issue #12. The events of Issue #13 will change the entire plot. We're not told much about issue #14.

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Deniz Camp talks Assorted Crisis

Camp says wanted to tell this story for years but he doesn't feel his name held enough weight to get it done until now.

He set a goal for every issue of the book to use every aspect of the comic book medium at least once.

It's exhausting. Issue 8 will introduce a homeless Comic Book Colorist who literally falls into the gutter!

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Chris Condon talks News From the Fallout

Condon is asked to explain why these preview pages have dinosaurs on them. He says the things happening on Earth have been happening for 65 Million years.

And Jeffery Allen Love's son loves Dinosaurs so he thought it'd be fun for him to draw them.

Condon is glad to see people reacting to the book the way they are.

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Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen Reunite for Crowbound

Set in a near future where the Gulf Coast has been completely cut off from the rest of the United States by a massive, monolithic wall. The region has become dominated by a single, mysterious factory that employs nearly everyone who lives there.

The story follows a factory worker and mother whose daughter suddenly goes missing. In her desperate search, she strikes a deal with a supernatural entity to get her child back.

Lemire described the tone as “The Dark Tower meets Eraserhead.” Nguyen said he’s drawing heavy visual inspiration from Morbius and the Heavy Metal magazines of the 1980s.

While the pair initially wanted to avoid doing straight sci-fi again, they described Crow Crowbound as something closer to dark fantasy — though even they admit it’s hard to categorize. The series features extensive world-building, with the factory and the massive wall playing central roles in the mystery of this enclosed world.

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NYCC 2025: Swamp Thing Meets Jesus Christ?! DC Finally Announces The Release of Lost Story

DC Comics shocked the crowd at New York Comic Con today by confirming the long-lost Swamp Thing #88 will finally be published. The issue, written by Rick Veitch with art by Michael Zulli, features Swamp Thing traveling back in time and meeting Jesus Christ, referred to in the story as “the Nazarene.” For decades, the story was considered too controversial to print, making it one of the most legendary unpublished comics in history.

Originally scheduled for release in 1989, the issue was fully written and illustrated before DC’s leadership pulled it due to concerns about depicting a religious figure. The move led Veitch to walk away from the series, leaving his acclaimed run unfinished and the comic shrouded in mystery. Now, over thirty years later, DC is restoring and releasing the issue as part of its new Vertigo archival initiative, giving fans a chance to experience it in its original form.

The company described the move as a long-overdue act of creative restoration rather than a publicity stunt. The upcoming release will include the completed art and story, presented in its intended late-’80s format, preserving the tone and context of the original run. No official release date has been announced yet, but DC confirmed that the issue will finally see print in full.

For fans and historians, this moment represents more than a long-lost comic finally surfacing. It is a recognition of artistic intent and the freedom to tell challenging stories, even when they push boundaries. For over three decades, Swamp Thing #88 existed only as rumor and legend. Today, it becomes real.

DC Vertigo NYCC 2025 Announcements!

DC is talking Vertigo at NYCC! Here are some of the announcement made at their panel!

A preview book was handed out, harkening a new era of DC's Vertigo Imprint. It states:

“In 1993, DC launched its Vertigo imprint, a move that represented the medium's shift towards mature readers storytelling and robust genre exploration. While it included beloved series that were previously a part of the main DC line, Vertigo became defined by original concepts far outside of superheroes-many of which still stand as some of the most influential and revered comics of the modern era.

Readers came to know Vertigo as more than a publishing initiative, but as a sensibility and aesthetic. Comics that were bizarre and beautiful, transgressive and terrifying, poignant and passionate-those were Vertigo comics. and their success reshaped the comics industry itself along the way.

It's with that spirit that we bring you the DC Vertigo of today, previewed in the book you're reading right now. The imprint first returned last fall by adopting the current series that truly embodies its ethos- The Nice House by the Sea by James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno-and it now expands with a slate of all-new series from bold and imaginative voices, starting in February of 2026 with Bleeding Hearts, End of Life, and The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery.”

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Bleeding Hearts By Deniz Camp and Stipan Morian

The zombies won-and 10 years after the fall of humanity. they're the dominant form of life (or not-life) on Earth. They've developed their own cultural practices, their own language, their own society, all organized around hunting and devouring the few living humans unlucky enough to still be fighting for survival. Mouse-Pokes-Golf-Ball-Through-Hole In-Head ("Poke" for short) is a valued and beloved member of the Brain-Splashes-and-Sizzles-On-Hot-Rocks Horde of the Undead, and with his brother-in-arm Mush, he's happy to shamble along through the only world he can remember... until the day his heart mysteriously starts beating again.

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End of Life by Kyle Sparks Steve Pugh & Chris O'Halloran

Kyle describes it as “John Wick goes to Northern Exposure,” about a “piece of shit” hitman who accidentally robs an animal-themed cabal and proceeds to get targeted. The Comic also includes a cancelled newspaper cartoonist who has turned to a life of crime. “Real” strips from his comic will be included in the issues.

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One Hundred Bullets Returns with 100 Bullets: The US of Anger by Brian Azzarello Eduardo Risso

The Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso led series will be presented entirely in Blafk and white. Some of the previous characters will return!

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Necretaceous By Tom Taylor Darick Robertson

Two Words. Zombie….DINOSAURS!

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Nice House By The Sea Gets New Home

James Tynion's The Nice House by the Sea will now be released under the DC Vertigo label, starting with issue 4! Tynion says in his heart of hearts it was always a Vertigo book. Everything will “kick up a few notches” from Issue 7 onward.

“The residents of the House on the Lake and the House by the Sea were both told the same thing: thi humans who survived a global apocalypse. But while Walter the mysterious and seemingly all-powerfut allene waiter attached to chose to save the people he'd grown mos species. Ma the sea House was assembied by another of his he chose the most brilliant and competitive high-value humans lust learned thans walking the now-ruined Earth. They've s learned their only path to survival is to kill every one of the lovable losers in the Lake House..and they know exactly how do it. And what's worse? Someone in the Lake House has agreed to help them

A new arc begins in The Nice House by the Sea #7.”

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Fanatic by Grace Ellis & Hannah Templer

Fanatic centers around a woman obsessed with a comic. It’s a book about parasocial fan-creator relationships, and how they can warp your reality.

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The Peril of Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery BY Chris Condon & Jacob Phillips

Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips will tell us a Classical Detective Story with Some Sci-Fi and Fantasty, its set before Pearl Harbour and "Current Events" will play a role!

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A Walking Shadow By Simon Spurrier & Aaron Campbell

Inspired by a Sharkspeare quote from Macbeth, A Walking Shadow sees eight people wake up chained to a boat in a forest, with no idea how they got there and a monster on their tail.

Campbell is making stop-motion puppets for each character.

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The Crying Doll By Mariko Tamaki & Rosemary Valero- O'Connell

Set in NY at the beginning of the AIDs crisis in the 80s, and inspired by the real-life faceless dolls people keep in their houses. Tamaki says it’s a metaphor for a really messed-up childhood.

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Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy By Ram V & Mike Perkins!

Described as a contemporary spy thriller this new Ram V title promises “Spies, Spells, London, Magic and Espionage!”