DC KO: Boss Battle has revealed its multiversal matchups. Ryan Stegman leaves X-Men. Ram V, Evan Cagle and more have signed up for a French graphic novel series.
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Episode Transcript:
Superman takes on Homelander in DC K.O.
Ryan Stegman exits The X-Men.
Ram V and Evan Cagle snag French graphic novel series.
This is Comic Book Club News for January 9, 2026.
Superman Takes On Homelander In DC K.O.: Boss Battle:
Since it was surprise announced at New York Comic Con, DC Comics fans have been going hog wild at the idea of DC K.O.: Boss Battle #1, an upcoming comic that will pit DC characters from other characters throughout the multiverse, including those from Mortal Kombat, Annabelle from The Conjuring, and let’s be honest, the main event: Superman versus The Boys dark version of the Man of Steel, Homelander. And now, thanks to DC we’ve got a glimpse of what to expect in the preview pages and covers. Not only that? Sabrina the Teenage Witch is joining the fray, as well.
Written by Jeremy Adams with art by Ronan Cliquet, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Kieran McKeown, Pablo M. Collar, and Hi-Fi, the gist is that the DC characters in the DC K.O. tournament realize they need more Omega Energy in their final battles in order to take on Darkseid. So what to do they do? Enter the multiverse, with new challengers coming from comics, movies, gaming, and more.
The match-ups teased include Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat versus Plastic Man and Black Lightning, Batwoman versus Vampirella, Star Sapphire versus Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Samantha Strong from IDW’s hit Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees versus Lex Luthor, Wonder Woman versus Red Sonja, and as mentioned, Superman versus Homelander. Not pictured? Joker versus Annabelle, though you can see that one in your nightmares.
DC K.O.: Boss Battle #1 hits stores on February 4, and among other covers includes one featuring Supes versus Homelander by original The Boys artist Darick Robertson.
Ryan Stegman Exits The X-Men:
Artist Ryan Stegman is exiting the X-Men. The penciller has been on Marvel’s title since 2024’s relaunch of the adjective-less series, alternating duties with — among others — Netho Diaz. But it seems that time is done.
Writes Stegman on his newsletter, “I’m no longer drawing X-Men. Well, that’s not entirely true. I’m writing an X-Men Annual that Steve Skroce is drawing, and I’m drawing some of that. But THEN, I’m officially done with the X-Men for the foreseeable future. I had a great time working on the title and love the X-Men fans. Sort of.”
Stegman did work on the Age of Revelation event that just concluded in December, but it seems he’s already left the franchise… Tony Daniel has taken over X-Men for three issues, followed by Diaz. What’s next for Stegman? He teases drawing “a billion covers and a secret project that I am very excited about. I will be writing and drawing a thing.”
So there you go! Goodbye to the X-Men, Ryan Stegman. Hope you survived the experience!
Ram V, Evan Cagle, More Sign Up For French Graphic Novel Series:
A new French publisher called Morgen is making some big moves: they’ve snagged a murderer’s row of creators for a new, multi-volume graphic novel series. Specifically, writer Ram V, artists Anand RK and Evan Cagle, letterer Aditya Bidikar, and editor Eric Harburn.
Per The Beat, while we don’t have any details on what the books will be about, they will be published over three years, with nine volumes total. And if you’re not in France, Image Comics has signed up as the publishing partner for English-speaking territories.
And honestly? Plot doesn’t matter here. This team in different iterations has produced stand-out work including Dawnrunner and The New Gods, and is worth reading no matter what. Even if we have to take a trip to France.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And I don’t know if you could hear it, but I was saying “X-It” with no “e” at the beginning. You get it.
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