Written by: Jeremy Adams
Art by: Cian Tormey, Pat Boutin
Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letters by: Buddy Beaudoin
Cover art by: Cian Tormey, Romulo Fajardo Jr. (cover A)
Cover price: $5.99
Release date: January 21, 2026
DC K.O.: Green Lantern Galactic Slam #1, by DC Comics on 1/21/26, throws Kyle Rayner into the most absurd cosmic wrestling spectacle imaginable, and somehow makes it work as pure, unapologetic fun.
First Impressions
The opening pages hit with immediate, undeniable charm. Kyle Rayner gets knocked into a boom tube while defending Earth during the K.O. Tournament, landing in the most unexpected place: a traveling intergalactic wrestling arena called the Hub. The premise is completely bonkers, yet the execution is so confident and tongue-in-cheek that you immediately buy into the world and want to see where this insanity goes.
Plot Analysis
Kyle Rayner materializes on an alien wrestling planet called the Hub after being hit by a Parademon during the K.O. crisis on Earth. He awakens to find himself in a massive intergalactic wrestling entertainment venue run by a bizarre system where an algorithmic drive matches wrestlers across time and space in tournament-style bouts. A Galaxian wrestler named Omega-Bam-Man, the current champion, takes pity on Kyle and explains that the Hub operates outside normal spacetime, making escape nearly impossible until the drive initiates another match.
Omega-Bam-Man shares his entire origin story with Kyle, explaining how he was an outcast from his home planet of Galaxia due to possessing strength that violated his society's gender-based restrictions. He was saved by a legendary wrestler named Bromega, trained to become the multiverse's greatest fighter, and eventually won the W.A.M. belt after Bromega's apparent death. Kyle realizes he cannot leave until the algorithmic drive sends them to another location, and his powers are drained from the journey. The two form an unlikely partnership as Kyle gains confidence wearing a makeshift Green Lantern costume to attempt escaping.
Darrel, the computerized intelligence controlling the Hub, is revealed to be a puppet manipulated by Bromega, who faked his death and became an agent of Darkseid. Bromega and his fellow conspirators have been deliberately keeping the Hub away from Earth and other key locations, jamming distress signals while spreading destruction across the multiverse in service to Darkseid's apocalyptic plans. Kyle and Omega-Bam-Man confront Bromega and his allies at the Hub's control center in a desperate attempt to regain control of the ship and reach Earth.
The Hub suddenly transmats to Earth during the K.O. Tournament crisis, where an emergency W.A.M. match is broadcast across the entire universe as the final battle unfolds. Omega-Bam-Man and Kyle face Bromega, Mr. Scuzz, and Knockout in an all-out brawl while Earth's defenders fight Parademons simultaneously. Kyle's interference in the match as a Green Lantern technically disqualifies Omega-Bam-Man, even though they achieve victory and save the planet. Omega is then kicked out of W.A.M. permanently, but chooses to stay on Earth to help fight Darkseid's forces rather than return to the wrestling circuit.
Writing
Jeremy Adams maintains a remarkably brisk, energetic pace throughout. The opening action sequence immediately establishes stakes and the fantastical premise without drowning readers in exposition. The dialogue crackles with personality, particularly through Omega-Bam-Man's enthusiastic "bro bro" vernacular, which could easily feel forced but instead becomes endearing and memorable. The origin sequence, while lengthy, breaks up perfectly with visual panels and short dialogue beats, preventing it from feeling like a slog of narration. The reveal of Bromega's betrayal lands effectively because Adams plants subtle foreshadowing through earlier character moments. Structure-wise, the comic balances the absurdist comedy of the wrestling segments with genuine stakes from the K.O. crossover event, creating a pleasant tonal blend rather than a jarring clash.
Art
Cian Tormey and Romulo Fajardo Jr. deliver consistently clear, dynamic linework that makes action sequences easy to follow even during multi-character brawls. Composition choices emphasize weight and impact, particularly during the wrestling moves where panel sizing and perspective convey force. Colors shift dramatically depending on location: the Hub's vibrant alien aesthetics pop with neon purples, golds, and greens, while Earth's scenes dial back intensity appropriately for a world under siege. The character designs are distinctive enough that readers never confuse fighters despite the crowded fight sequences, and the art team clearly understands wrestling photography, framing moments like actual broadcast angles. Visual clarity never suffers even during the comic's most chaotic sequences, making panel transitions feel natural rather than confusing.
Character Development
Kyle Rayner functions effectively as the audience surrogate, confused and overwhelmed by the entire situation, yet his determination to save Earth never wavers despite being powerless and disoriented. Omega-Bam-Man's arc from humble beginnings to champion to outcast to unexpected hero carries genuine weight because Adams takes time to establish his values and training mindset. The origin story succeeds because it explains why Omega-Bam-Man, despite his goofy exterior, operates with honor and loyalty. Bromega's turn as a villain doesn't require complex internal motivation, instead serving the plot's needs, though his backstory as a mentor figure makes the betrayal sting emotionally. Minor characters like Mr. Scuzz benefit from the wrestling framework allowing multiple fighters to exist without extensive backstory requirements.
Originality & Concept Execution
A Green Lantern encountering an intergalactic wrestling reality is genuinely novel, combining two entertainment concepts most readers would never expect to mix. The execution succeeds because Adams commits fully to the wrestling aesthetic, using tournament logic and broadcast commentary throughout without ever winking too hard at the audience. The concept of the Hub as an unstoppable force matching fighters across time creates genuine tension because the rules feel consistent. The mashup doesn't undermine the K.O. event stakes, instead positioning itself as a tangential-but-meaningful side story that feeds directly into the main narrative. Most impressive is how thoroughly Adams mines the concept for both comedy and character moments without ever letting the premise overshadow the actual story being told.
Positives
This comic's greatest strength is its willingness to commit completely to absurdist fun while maintaining genuine emotional investment. Omega-Bam-Man's origin sequence, despite being a massive chunk of the issue, works because it balances humor with authentic character motivation, making readers care about a wrestler named "Bam-Man" fighting for title belts. The wrestling language gives the fight sequences visual and narrative clarity that pure superhero brawls often lack. Kyle's predicament creates meaningful stakes despite the goofy setting because his goal remains consistent: get home and help save Earth. The art team's ability to maintain visual clarity through multiple simultaneous fights, combined with strong panel composition that emphasizes impact and weight, makes every page visually satisfying. The issue further earns points for tying directly into the K.O. event without requiring readers to follow the entire crossover, making it accessible to casual consumers.
Negatives
The primary weakness emerges in the final act, where plot momentum collides with forced comic book logic. Kyle's disqualification of Omega-Bam-Man based on ancient W.A.M. regulations feels artificially inserted solely to remove him from future stories and tie into continuity requirements rather than emerging organically from character choices or reasonable storytelling. The explanation that Green Lanterns cannot fight in sanctioned matches exists nowhere in prior setup, making the consequence feel externally imposed rather than earned through narrative foreshadowing. Bromega's motivation, while serviceable, lacks the psychological depth that would elevate him from simple plot device to memorable antagonist. The issue further struggles with pacing in its middle section, where Omega-Bam-Man's origin story, while entertaining, stretches long enough that new readers might lose focus or feel distracted from Kyle's urgent situation. Additionally, readers genuinely invested in the K.O. Tournament's serious stakes regarding Darkseid may find this comic's tonal lightness somewhat grating, positioning it as optional rather than essential reading despite the crossover connection.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TwitterThe Scorecard
Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 2/2
Final Verdict
DC K.O.: Green Lantern Galactic Slam #1 is a genuinely entertaining romp that knows exactly what it is and executes the premise with impressive confidence and visual clarity. It commits fully to its wrestling spectacle without apologizing for the absurdity, and that commitment makes it work. However, it stumbles at the finish line with artificial rule insertions and a tonal disconnect from the K.O. event's serious apocalyptic stakes. This comic earns a spot in a limited budget if you value comedic entertainment and character-driven writing alongside quality artwork, but readers focused exclusively on the K.O. event's central narrative should approach with realistic expectations about where this story sits in the larger puzzle.
8.5/10
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