Scott Snyder says his return to DC almost looked very different.
Speaking on the AIPT Comics Podcast, the architect behind DC’s Absolute Universe revealed that before committing to DC All In and Absolute Batman, he approached Marvel about returning to superhero comics. This was after he left DC Comics to pursue eight Comixology Original series. The discussions went beyond simply writing a title, as Snyder also pitched a larger publishing initiative.
“I did approach Marvel after I approached DC first,” Snyder said.
After stepping away from DC around 2019 and 2020 to focus on creator-owned work such as Nocterra, Dark Spaces, and other projects, Snyder said he was ready to return to superhero comics with a broader vision.
A bigger idea than one series
Snyder explained that when he first spoke with DC, he proposed what eventually became the Absolute Universe alongside Joshua Williamson. Because it was such an ambitious undertaking, it required time for the publisher to evaluate.
“They were really enthusiastic, but it took… a while to okay it,” Snyder said.
During that waiting period, Snyder was transparent with DC about reaching out to Marvel as well.
“I told Marie, ‘I’m going to reach out to Marvel too.’ And she was like, ‘That’s fine.'”
According to Snyder, Marvel was receptive, but the timing wasn’t right.
“They were enthusiastic in a way, but they didn’t really have a spot for me at that time.”
While Marvel mentioned the possibility of one ongoing series, Snyder said he was looking for something larger.
“They did mention one series, but I just wanted to do more than that.”
What ongoing Marvel Comics series would you like to see Scott Snyder write?
Art by Alex Ross
Snyder also pitched an initiative to Marvel
Perhaps the biggest revelation was that Snyder didn’t simply ask to write a Marvel title. He also pitched an editorial initiative.
“I pitched them an initiative that I had in my head,” Snyder said. “It wasn’t Absolute. It was a very different thing.”
He described the proposal as something that would have crossed multiple books, though he declined to share specifics.
Marvel, he said, already had other publishing plans in motion.
“They were really nice about it. They just didn’t have room at that time.”
Snyder doing anything at Marvel Comics, like a Hulk book he once told me, is something many comic fans have thought about or dreamed of for some time. Well, it turns out it was a lot closer to happening than we realized.
A mission to prove superheroes weren’t finished
Snyder said his motivation for returning to superhero comics came from frustration with the growing narrative that the genre had peaked.
“I was really mad,” Snyder admitted.
At the time, headlines declared the Marvel Cinematic Universe was fading with superhero fatigue, and broader conversations suggested superhero stories had run their course.
“There was this conversation that superheroes were finished.”
That mindset inspired conversations with longtime friend and collaborator Joshua Williamson about proving there was still room for bold ideas in superhero comics.
“I was really on a mission when I was coming back to superhero comics.”
Ultimately, DC embraced Snyder’s vision. The company approved what became DC All In and the Absolute Universe in 2022 before launching the initiative in 2024, giving creators more than a year to develop the line.
Looking back, Snyder has no regrets.
“DC came through, and I did that,” he said.
Considering the commercial success of Absolute Batman and the broader Absolute line, the decision has reshaped both Snyder’s career and DC’s publishing strategy.
What do you think Scott Snyder pitched, and might he one day pull it off with Marvel when the timing is right? Only time will tell.
Don’t miss the full interview now running on the AIPT Comics podcast episode 387! He talks DC’s future, and the Absolute Batman animated series.
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