C2E2 2023: Scott Snyder Spotlight
by Tito W. James
At C2E2 2023, Scott Snyder was given a spotlight to reflect on his time at DC Comics and his new titles in creator-owned comics. Even when Snyder was first making a name for himself he came across as refreshingly candid and transparent. During the panel, Snyder looked back on the triumphs and challenges he faced while working on a high profile character like Batman.
Ultimately, he’s incredibly proud of the work that was done and grateful to his readers and collaborators. However, many of his more radical ideas did not go unchallenged. The concept of giving Batman a brother in Court of Owls or titling a Batman series, “Metal” gave the editorial staff pause.
In Snyder’s view, characters like Batman have been around for so long that it’s impossible to really do a “new” story. Therefore, the key to originality is personal experience. When he was redoing Batman’s origin story, Snyder purposefully avoided imagery that was too close to Year One. Instead, he opted for bright vivid colors and a punk rock attitude.
Snyder wanted to create a Batman who could face the fears that his own kids had–of natural disasters, gun violence, and terrorism. In Snyder’s view, superheroes are metaphors that can embody the fears and aspirations of the readership. The most important thing one can do as a writer is to write the story that is the most personally meaningful.
