DC K.O.: Harley Quinn vs. Zatanna #1 is a High-Energy Slugfest (Review)

by

The big DC Comics event, DC K.O., is still underway, and Harley Quinn is about to battle one of the most powerful magic users in comics. DC K.O. features a tournament between DC’s heroes and villains, all competing for cosmic power to defeat Darkseid and save the universe. The event has already seen many iconic characters defeated, and now it’s down to the Sweet Sixteen, with exciting fights highlighted throughout the All Fight Month tie-in.

As a huge comic and fight fan, I was really excited for DC’s ‘All Fight Month’ – a month-long event showing off the second round of the DC K.O. tournament, with extra fights thrown in for good measure. We’ve already seen some cool matchups like Superman vs. Captain Atom and Aquaman vs. Hawkman, but honestly, the fight I was most looking forward to was Harley Quinn against Zatanna. And let me tell you, it totally delivered! It’s easily the best thing I’ve read so far during this ‘All Fight Month’ event.

Rating: 4 out of 5

PROS CONS
Lots of kinetic energy to the fights The tie-in story feels superfluous
Fantastic characterization for both fighters Harley’s right, the fight was never fair

Harley Quinn and Zatanna Go for Broke in Brutal Tie-In Story

Okay, so I just read DC K.O: Harley Quinn vs. Zatanna #1, and it’s following the same setup as the other ‘All Fight Month’ issues. Basically, Harley and Zatanna are battling it out, and the first one to win two out of three matches moves on. What’s cool is Harley really gets into the rules and immediately takes the lead, even managing to injure Zatanna’s throat, which stops her from being able to cast spells! Harley wins the first round pretty decisively, and it’s a harsh wake-up call for Zatanna, showing her just how seriously Harley is taking this competition.

Zatanna approaches the second round with much more determination, vowing to defeat Harley without relying on magic – though she does use it for healing, which Harley quickly points out. The fight is significantly more aggressive, with both women employing harsh tactics like stabbing and knocking each other’s teeth out. Although Zatanna loses the round, Harley is pleased to see her opponent finally showing the competitive spirit needed for the tournament. Harley then gets a chance to use some of Zatanna’s magic, and the final round begins.

Harley and Zatanna engage in a magical battle, exchanging spells. Harley cleverly provokes Zatanna by mentioning her father, which enrages Zee and leads her to deliver a devastating attack. Horrified by her actions, Zatanna is left reeling. However, Harley reveals her strategy wasn’t to win the duel itself, but to push Zatanna towards a darker path, believing this will give her a better chance of winning the overall competition. Now that Harley is eliminated, Zatanna vows to fully unleash her power in the next fight.

Harley Quinn vs. Zatanna Was a Surprisingly Good Character Study

I really loved Fight Month! What I appreciated most was finally seeing the one-on-one battles we were hoping for after the first round of DC K.O. Williams and Andolfo did an amazing job giving Harley and Zatanna’s fight the space it needed. It was fascinating to get inside their heads and understand what motivated them. Honestly, the fights were super intense – some moments, like when Harley actually bit Zatanna’s earring off, were pretty shocking!

A quick scene showing Booster Gold fighting the Quantum Quorum on the Watchtower might be a little confusing if readers aren’t following every title in the All Fight Month series. While it doesn’t hurt the main story, I generally don’t enjoy stories that are split up and told across multiple tie-in issues. Otherwise, Williams and Andolfo have done a great job. The story lives up to its promise of intense action and also makes you care about both characters involved.

Tie-in comics sometimes feel disconnected from the main narrative, but this one actually enhances the stories of both characters in DC K.O. It’s unclear where Zatanna’s arc will ultimately lead, but witnessing her self-discovery and potential to reach the final round is compelling. Harley Quinn initially believed her involvement in DC K.O. was futile, but she effectively challenged Zatanna, resulting in one of the most engaging stories of All Fight Month so far.

https://comicbook.com/comics/list/7-god-level-power-ups-dc-heroes-and-villains-just-received/embed/#

Read More

2025-12-17 17:41