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Batwoman, Lobo and more take DC Comics to the Next Level in 2026 with new comic book series

Eight new comic book series were announced as part of DC Next Level in 2026, spinning out of DC K.O., bringing some classic characters back to the DCU

News by Graeme McMillan, Editor

Published on Sat Oct 11 2025

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DC Comics is about to take things to the next level in 2026 — literally. In the aftermath of the current DC K.O. event, which pits heroes against… well, everyone, including themselves and characters who aren’t even inside the DCU in an attempt to defeat cosmic threat Darkseid, the publisher will be unveiling a new publishing initiative to follow on from the hugely successful DC All In — and It’s called DC Next Level.

Teasing DC Next Level at New York Comic Con 2025’s DC K.O. - What’s Next panel, the company announced no less than eight new series that will be launched as part of the line:

Batwoman
Barbara Gordon: Breakout
Deathstroke
The Demon
Firestorm
Shadow of the Bat
Lobo
Zatanna

…and that’s apparently just the start of what Next Level is going to bring to the DCU, with more titles on their way.

Fascinatingly, DC wasn’t willing to share creative teams or dates for any of the new series with the exception of two series (we’ll get to those in a second), but they were sharing creators who’ll be part of the initiative as a whole, and they are…

Jeff Lemire
Tony Fleecs
Jamal Campbell
Joshua Williamson
James Harren
Mariko Tamaki
Deniz Camp

…Oh, and the two series they were willing to give creators for? Lobo by Skottie Young and Jorge Corona and Batwoman by Greg Rucka and Dani. Batwoman launches in March 2026, dates for all of the other titles are to be announced in the coming months.

If nothing else, now we know some of the characters who’ll survive DC K.O. — but as for everyone else…? Well, the series continues through February 2026, and no-one’s really safe until the end…

DC K.O. #1 is available now. DC Next Level begins in March 2026.

New York Comic Con continues through Sunday, October 12.

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Graeme McMillan: Popverse Editor Graeme McMillan (he/him) has been writing about comics, culture, and comics culture on the internet for close to two decades at this point, which is terrifying to admit. He completely understands if you have problems understanding his accent.