DC All In

DC All In is an American comic book initiative spearheaded by writers Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson and debuted in October 2024 by DC Comics. It is the successor of Dawn of DC, following the end of the "Absolute Power" storyline.[1]

Publication history

The DC All In initiative began with DC All In Special #1, a 64-page one-shot that was written by Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson, and illustrated by Wes Craig and Daniel Sampere. It is also a flip book issue, as one half focuses on Superman and the formation of a new Justice League, and the other focuses on Darkseid and the establishment of the Absolute Universe.[2] It was also announced that Snyder would be writing Absolute Batman and that Williamson would be joined by artist Dan Mora for a new arc of Superman, which debuted a new Superwoman and saw the return of Doomsday.[3]

In 2024, at New York Comic Con, it was announced that Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee would take over the monthly Batman title from Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jiménez for a six-part story called Hush 2, starting in March 2025. Lee also confirmed that Scott Williams, Alex Sinclair, and Richard Starkings would return as inker, colorist, and letterer respectively for the story and that it would be part of the All-In initiative.[4][5]

In 2025, announced at New York Comic Con, the next publishing initiative, titled DC Next Level, would launch in March 2026 with several new series putting a focus on lesser-known superheroes. It is described as the "second act" to the All In saga; the "first act" ending with the finale of the DC K.O. event.[6]

Plot

Following the end of Absolute Power, the Justice League has reformed in their new headquarters — the Watchtower — as a new, more open and cooperative organization: The Justice League Unlimited. Every hero on earth is invited to join their ranks and create a global network of super-heroism, coordinated by Red Tornado.

The JLU is disrupted during their first meeting by Darkseid, having felt empty and purposeless about his role in the universe, and wanting to defy it all by finally winning or dying. He merges with the Spectre, and comes to attack the newly formed league, eventually reveling in his demise and breaching a rift in the multiverse to the Elseworld, which he infects with Darkseid-energy, later dubbed Omega Energy. The League reaches out to Orion, who informs them that Darkseid is missing throughout the multiverse and that he is, in fact, a universal constant, and a new Darkseid will be created to replace him. Booster Gold is sent to explore the world beyond the rift where he is lost to Earth-0, and kidnapped by Darkseid and his Legion.

Several of the titles under the initiative would show throughout the year several Darkseid-related signs, largely appearances of Omega Energy and Parademons. All occurrences culminate in Apokoliptan fire-pits appearing all throughout earth.

The Quantom Quourm — Time Trapper, World Forger, Gorilla Grodd, and Booster Gold — inform the Justice League of Darkseid's coming. His arrival, according to them, is inevitable, and with the amount of Omega Energy he amassed in the Absolute Universe, is unstoppable. Earth is transforming into a new Apokolips and has been imbued with a Heart of Apokolips. Darkseid will take over earth throughout space and time, leaving only the present for action, as the Quorum informs the League the only option left is to kill Darkseid with the same energy he uses — Omega (in lieu of Alpha, which is more present on Earth-0, like Superman) — and become the King Omega through a transformative tournament within the Heart. (DC K.O.)

In the final round, Superman almost becomes the King Omega and kills Darkseid, but instead chooses to share the power with his fellow participants in the tournament and, together, they defeat him. Superman restores Earth to its original state and disappears, stating he has more to do elsewhere. Every participant in the tournament is infused with a combination of Alpha and Omega energy.

Darkseid has not died, merely disappeared, his legion hiding in the future of Earth-0. Throughout the multiverse, a DC K.O. tournament was held on every one of the infinite Earths, and only Earth-Prime remained victorious. Darkseid now controls the multiverse, gathering Omega Energy and power. What comes next is a "Crisis of Absolute Proportions."

List of publications

Events and crossovers

Reception

The DC All In Special one-shot received positive reviews, praising how its two main storylines (DC Universe and Absolute Universe) interact with each other.[73][74]