By
Kevin Erdmann
Published Feb 13, 2026, 10:30 PM EST
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
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Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for DC K.O. #4On the one hand, Batman using Kryptonite against Superman is nothing new. However, the WAY in which The Dark Knight just used one of The Man of Steel's primary weaknesses was particularly brutal.
In the new DC K.O. #4, Darkseid's Horsemen are revealed to be a corrupted version of the Absolute Universe's Trinity. Together, they were pitted against the primary DC Universe's Trinity (and Lex Luthor) in one of the final rounds of DC's current "King Omega" tournament.
While the new issue is full of major moments and key changes to the status quo (like Batman killing The Joker), I'm still having a hard time getting over Absolute Batman's brutal use of kryptonite in DC K.O.
Absolute Batman Was RUTHLESS With Kryptonite in DC K.O. #4
After Joker surprisingly defected to Darkseid’s team, he stole Kryptonite from Lex Luthor and gave it to Absolute Batman, resulting in one of the coldest kryptonite attacks in recent memory.
In the Absolute Universe, it's been established that Batman’s cowl ears double as detachable throwing knives. Sprinting at full speed toward the main DC Universe’s Superman, Absolute Batman swapped his standard bat-ears for Kryptonite shards mid-charge before stabbing Superman in the back.
Without question, this new Absolute Batman move is both unexpected and goes SO hard. It also perfectly represents the extreme brutality Absolute Batman has shown in own DC run from Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta.
Imagine How Absolute Batman Will Use Kryptonite Against His Own Superman
Henry Cavill Superman Incapacitated By Kryptonite in Batman V Superman
It's also worth noting that Absolute Batman's attack was against the primary DC Universe Superman, rather than his own. As such, one can only imagine how Absolute Batman might wield kryptonite in a possible fight against Absolute Superman in the near future.
With DC K.O. not quite counting as their first meeting due to Darkseid's corruption, a true encounter and potential clash between this younger and darker "World's Finest" has yet to occur in the Absolute Universe. When and if it does happen, it's going to be insane to see how Absolute Batman ups the ante with kryptonite, considering how he used it here against the OG Superman.
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Dive into the world of movies and TV shows with Screen Rant, your source for news, reviews, and exclusive content. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.DC K.O. #4 is on sale now from DC Comics.
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Batman
Alias
Bruce Wayne
FIRST APP
Detective Comics #27 (1939)
Created By
Bob Kane, Bill Finger
Franchise
D.C.
Race
Human
First Appearance
Detective Comics
One of DC's most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world's leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
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Superman
Alias
Kal-El, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent
Created By
Joe Shuster, Jerry Siegel
Franchise
D.C.
Race
Kryptonian
First Appearance
Action Comics
Alliance
Justice League, Superman Family
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
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Comics
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Batman
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Superman
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Dive into the world of movies and TV shows with Screen Rant, your source for news, reviews, and exclusive content. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Trending Now
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