Plot
Following the end of Absolute Power, the Justice League has reformed in their new headquarters — the Watchtower — as a new, more open and cooperative organization: The Justice League Unlimited. Every hero on earth is invited to join their ranks and create a global network of super-heroism, coordinated by Red Tornado.
The JLU is disrupted during their first meeting by Darkseid, having felt empty and purposeless about his role in the universe, and wanting to defy it all by finally winning or dying. He merges with the Spectre, and comes to attack the newly formed league, eventually reveling in his demise and breaching a rift in the multiverse to the Elseworld, which he infects with Darkseid-energy, later dubbed Omega Energy. The League reaches out to Orion, who informs them that Darkseid is missing throughout the multiverse and that he is, in fact, a universal constant, and a new Darkseid will be created to replace him. Booster Gold is sent to explore the world beyond the rift where he is lost to Earth-0, and kidnapped by Darkseid and his Legion.
Several of the titles under the initiative would show throughout the year several Darkseid-related signs, largely appearances of Omega Energy and Parademons. All occurrences culminate in Apokoliptan fire-pits appearing all throughout earth.
The Quantom Quourm — Time Trapper, World Forger, Gorilla Grodd, and Booster Gold — inform the Justice League of Darkseid's coming. His arrival, according to them, is inevitable, and with the amount of Omega Energy he amassed in the Absolute Universe, is unstoppable. Earth is transforming into a new Apokolips and has been imbued with a Heart of Apokolips. Darkseid will take over earth throughout space and time, leaving only the present for action, as the Quorum informs the League the only option left is to kill Darkseid with the same energy he uses — Omega (in lieu of Alpha, which is more present on Earth-0, like Superman) — and become the King Omega through a transformative tournament within the Heart. (DC K.O.)
In the final round, Superman almost becomes the King Omega and kills Darkseid, but instead chooses to share the power with his fellow participants in the tournament and, together, they defeat him. Superman restores Earth to its original state and disappears, stating he has more to do elsewhere. Every participant in the tournament is infused with a combination of Alpha and Omega energy.
Darkseid has not died, merely disappeared, his legion hiding in the future of Earth-0. Throughout the multiverse, a DC K.O. tournament was held on every one of the infinite Earths, and only Earth-Prime remained victorious. Darkseid now controls the multiverse, gathering Omega Energy and power. What comes next is a "Crisis of Absolute Proportions."
