Mortal Kombat collides with the DC Universe in February 2026’s DC K.O. special issue

DC K.O. is bigger than anyone expected, with the news that the DC event will include cameos from characters outside of the DCU including Vampirella, Homelander from The Boys, and Annabelle the doll — but perhaps the most satisfying surprise was the news that Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat will be appearing in the event’s February 2026 crossover special.

Sub-Zero’s appearance in the issue was announced during the Jim Lee & Friends panel at New York Comic Con 2025 when the DC publisher and president was joined onstage by none other than Ed Boone, creator of Mortal Kombat.

“We thought it would be really cool to pull in characters from outside the DC multiverse and kind of spice things up,” Lee said about the character’s appearance in the current event. He also joked that fans should look out for the “Death of Sub-Zero Anniversary Special.” At least, we think it was a joke…?

While DC has previously published Mortal Kombat comic books, including 2015’s Mortal Kombat X — and, for that matter, the DC superheroes have previously battled the Mortal Kombat characters in the 2008 video game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe — this will be the first time a Mortal Kombat character has appeared in DC canon, never mind as part of a major DC comic book event storyline.

That said, Sub-Zero’s entry into the cosmic tournament is a continuation of an important relationship between DC’s big boss and Mortal Kombat. As Jim Lee admitted while talking to Boone, “When I would work all night finishing an issue of whatever I was drawing [until] 6 or 7 in the morning, I would cue up the music from Mortal Kombat.” In fact, he said, he would “dance and draw along” to the music. Look, whatever works when you need it, that’s all we’re saying.

Sub-Zero will appear in an as-yet-untitled DC K.O. special issue in February 2025.

New York Comic Con 2025 will continue through Sunday October 12.