DC K.O. (Local Comic Shop Day 2025 Ashcan Edition) #1 - DC Comics

DC K.O. (LOCAL COMIC SHOP DAY 2025 ASHCAN EDITION) No. 1, November 2025

Unashamedly acting as a promotional gimmick for “DC Comics” major comic book event “DC K.O.”, this five-page pamphlet probably utterly bemused those readers who knew absolutely nothing about Darkseid somehow destroying the future. For rather than providing them with any sort of explanation as to how “a universe-shaking five-level gladiatorial arena” has shockingly emerged on Earth, Scott Snyder simply throws his audience straight into Superman’s preparation for his opening bout, before suddenly dragging them back to a time when the Man of Steel was still oblivious to the sense-shattering machinations of Apokolips’ absolute ruler.

Indeed, the vast majority of this “exclusive Ashcan special edition” focuses upon Clark Kent, Diana of Themyscira, Lois Lane and Bruce Wayne all sitting around a boardgame harmlessly ribbing one another as the dice rolls flow. So idyllic a moment is genuinely heart-warming, as it’s nice to see the Burbank-based publisher’s Trinity enjoying one another’s company. But a fair few bibliophiles would surely have preferred some sort of account as to how Darkseid acquired “his ever-growing Omega powers”, or an explanation as to just why so many of the “greatest superheroes in the universe” are willing to “enter the arena in a thunderous tournament where the stakes are sky-high.”

Of course, the main aim of this publication is to generate curiosity in the actual mini-series, and as a teaser this title performs that role rather well. Of particular interest has to be the American author having Superman choose to ‘up’ his power levels even more than normal by wearing some “knuckles with miniature suns raging inside” – something which strongly suggests that the ‘Boy Scout’ is taking absolutely no chances during the imminent tournament.

Quite possibly less satisfactory though are some of Javi Fernandez’s layouts, which debatably make it hard to ascertain just who is who inside Lane’ apartment. Clark is pretty recognisable. However, Diana’s dark hair so closely resembles that of the award-winning journalist for the Daily Planet, that when Lois does emerge from the kitchen as a brown-haired, rather homely-looking lady, it’ll probably take a few onlookers a moment or two to realise just who she is. In addition, Bruce Wayne simply melts into the background due to a complete lack of facial detail, and disappointingly doesn’t even make an impact once inside the Bat-Wing racing to confront Darkseid.

Writer: Scott Snyder, Artist: Javi Fernandez, and Colorist: Alejandro Sanchez

Alien Verses Captain America #2 - Marvel Comics

ALIEN VERSES CAPTAIN AMERICA No. 2, February 2026

For those Marvelites expecting to get knee-deep in Xenomorphs with Sergeant Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos, Frank Tieri’s script for Issue Two of “Alien Verses Captain America” probably landed somewhat flatly. True, the American author does pen the elite special unit entering an alien-infested Hydra Stronghold in Occupied France. But by the time this twenty-page periodical is just halfway finished, only the World War Two squad’s veteran leader is still alive; “Bullets have no effect, Sarge! And it’s whipping that tail around again --”

Instead, the Eisner Award-winner moves away from writing a gritty, down-to-earth battle between some of the Allies’ finest soldiers and “the destructive might” of the Red Skull’s latest acquisitions, and ramps up this mini-series’ science-fiction flavour with the sudden appearance of Captain Mar-Vell. So swift a move, courtesy of a Kree Sentry robot crashing feet-first amongst the deadly extra-terrestrials just in the nick of time, must genuinely have taken many within this comic’s audience by complete surprise, and certainly ends any notion some bibliophiles might have had that this “Twentieth Century Studios” tie-in was going to at least be somewhat grounded using contemporary weaponry.

Up until this moment however, this publication proves remarkably similar in plot to the events of James Cameron’s 1986 feature film “Aliens”, with Captain American and Bucky Barnes desperately searching an underground complex-turned-Xenomorph nest for a lost comrade-in-arms. Whether such parallels are a good thing or not is rather debatable, but the fact that the Sentinel of Liberty’s shield is the only item standing between the war heroes and an acid blood bath definitely makes for some exciting, adrenalin-fuelled action – especially once its established that even the likes of "Dum Dum" Dugan are not safe from suffering a truly, gratuitously graphic demise.

Also helping to add to this comic’s ‘old school’ feel is arguably the layouts of Stefano Raffaele, who provides some wonderfully claustrophobic for the Howling Commandos as they’re voraciously devoured by the aliens one-by-one. In addition, Color Artist Neeraj Menon provides the panels with some very atmospheric muted greys, blues and browns, which resultantly really helps make the combatants’ blood and guts genuinely pop off the printed page.

Writer: Frank Tieri, Artist: Stefano Raffaele, and Color Artist: Neeraj Menon