Fan-favourite writer Scott Snyder has signed a major deal with Amazon’s digital comics publisher, ComiXology, to create eight new comics with a host of co-creators including Greg Capullo and Franco Francavilla.
The deal, first announced by The Hollywood Reporter and made through Snyder’s Best Jackett Press, will see all eight titles appear first on ComiXology and then in print via Dark Horse Books. Capullo will draw We Have Demons, marking the team’s first creator-owned project after their hit run on Batman together. Speaking about We Have Demons, Snyder said: “It was the idea that made the other ones fall into place. It has everything that I love to do. It’s big and bombastic but it’s also character-driven and plays with genre and horror and monsters.”
Snyder’s other co-creators on the books, which will start publishing in October, are some of today’s best artists: Jamal Igle, Tula Lotay, Rafael Albuquerque, Dan Panosian, Francis Manapul, Jock and Francavilla. Although they will begin as OGNs, it’s possible some of the titles could become ongoing series. Snyder has been quietly working on these projects for some time however, the Coronavirus pandemic accelerated his desire to make them a reality. In addition, the deal has allowed Snyder an avenue by which the books stay affordable for readers via the digital-first model yet still make it into comic shops. Agreeing that for many, comics became an unaffordable luxury during the pandemic, Snyder said: “I started to think about the affordability of it.” For ComiXology’s $5.99 per month subscription, readers can take a look at Snyder’s new works and then choose whether or not to go for the print editions.
The deal arrives amid a growing conversation around creator payments and royalties, particularly where film and TV adaptations are concerned. Snyder remains committed to DC and wants to continue to work with the publisher, but also realises that the monthly schedule can be a grind. “It’s a tumultuous time in comics,” says Snyder. “I think a lot of big companies are cutting rates and becoming more corporate. But because all these companies, networks and streaming services, are so desperate for content, there is more demand for good storytelling than ever before. You have more agency.”
Under the deal, ComiXology - and therefore Amazon - retain no rights to the comics, which means Snyder and his co-creators will benefit the most when it comes to ancillary rights and adaptations of these works. However, Amazon will get a brief ‘first look’ window for any adaptation. “There is a period during which we are making the books that they can look at them before we go out with them,” says Snyder. “But what I love is we could decide, ‘Hey, we are going to go a different way.'” Amazon has had huge success in the last two years with adaptations of The Boys and Invincible, originally published by Dynamite and Image respectively.
Capullo has had success with previous creator-owned projects, like Reborn (written by Mark Millar). The opportunity to work on Reborn came up as Capullo’s DC contract was coming up for renewal. DC counselled Capullo to stay with them, largely because creator-owned success was considered difficult at best. At the time, Capullo remembers thinking: “Yeah, it’s a long shot but it does happen, and it has to happen to someone, so why not me?” Fast forward to today and Reborn is currently in development at Netflix, with Sandra Bullock attached. “It worked out. You do this stuff with the hope that it can get to something bigger and more attention and a bigger audience.” For Snyder, who named his imprint for his sons, Jack and Emmett, the motivations behind this move are more sweeping: “I wanted it to be something where I’m trying to push myself.” Check out early art and descriptions from ComiXology below.
BARNSTORMERS: written by Scott Snyder with art by Tula Lotay and colours by Tula Lotay and Dee Cunniffe — A high flying adventure romance set just after the First World War.
THE BOOK OF EVIL: written by Scott Snyder with illustrations by Jock — A prose story about four young friends growing up in a strange, near-future where over 90 per cent of the population are born as psychopaths.
CANARY: written by Scott Snyder with art and colours by Dan Panosian — It’s 1891 and a mine collapses into itself. Find out what the dark substance found 666 feet underground is in this horror Western!
CLEAR: written by Scott Snyder with art and colors by Francis Manapul — A sci-fi mystery thrill-ride into a strange dystopian future, where a neurological internet connection is transforming reality.
DUCK AND COVER: written by Scott Snyder with art by Rafael Albuquerque — A manga-influenced teen adventure set in the strange post-apocalyptic America… of 1955. In conjunction with Albuquerque’s Stout Club Entertainment.
DUDLEY DATSON AND THE FOREVER MACHINE: written by Scott Snyder with art by Jamal Igle and Juan Castro and colours by Chris Sotomayor — A rollicking adventure story about a boy, his dog and a machine that controls time and space! What could go wrong?
NIGHT OF THE GHOUL: written by Scott Snyder with art and colours by Francesco Francavilla — A dazzling work of horror, intercutting between the present-day narrative and the story of a lost horror film.
WE HAVE DEMONS: written by Scott Snyder with art by Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion and colours by Dave McCaig—The conflict between good and evil is about to come to a head when a teenage hero embarks on a journey that unveils a secret society, monsters, and mayhem.
