In this week’s episode of Off Panel, writers Scott Snyder, Kelly Thompson, and Jason Aaron join the show to talk about their work in the Absolute Universe at DC with Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman, and Absolute Superman respectively. Snyder kicks things off, as he discusses the roots of Absolute DC, events as the thing before the thing, the environment Absolute grew in, and the power of jumping on points, before Thompson and Aaron join to talk about taking on this type of project, the idea of competition, collaboration, figuring out how varying pieces fit, the “big” of it all, their favorite art so far, the most challenging part, trying to make something sustainable, and more.

You can find Snyder, Thompson, and Aaron on Bluesky and Instagram as well as their work in Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman, and Absolute Superman respectively.

You can download the episode directly here on Libsyn.

Big thanks to Deanna Chapman for stepping in to edit this episode. If it sounds better than usual, it’s because of her.

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Thanks to the sponsor of this week’s podcast: Zoop! Things may be quieting down for the holidays, but not over on Zoop. There’s still time to back Megaton Man from Don Simpson and Fantagraphics, The Awakened from Alex Segura, Michael Moreci and Dean Kotz, Thunder Guardian from Reilly Brown and his son, as well as other live campaigns! More campaigns are coming soon to Zoop from Joe Quesada, Rodney Barnes, Xzibit, & Jonathan Wayshak, and more that are yet to be announced! Zoop would like to thank all the creators who have recently submitted projects, and urge all creators to submit your project to Zoop! Click the “Submit Your Project” link at Zoop.gg, as they are providing services to even more creators than ever before!

Thanks to the show’s other sponsor, Oni Press! Then: CRUEL UNIVERSE hurtled you to the brink of oblivion. And soon: CRUEL KINGDOM throws wide the gateway to a new age of fatal fantasy! Oni Press is proud to unveil a spellbinding new chapter in the distinguished lineage of EC history with Cruel Kingdom #1 — EC’s first-ever dark-fantasy anthology conjuring tales of magic, myth and murder from forbidden realms long before our own into comic shops everywhere on January 8th! Behold the bloody and barbarous age of wizards, knights, and dragons as reimagined in the immutable EC manner as enchanting writers Chris Condon, Al Ewing, Greg Pak, and Ben H. Winters couple their forces with iron-wrought artists Charlie Adlard, Kano, Leomacs, and Andrea Mutti to forge a terrifying new vision of death, life, and adventure “once upon a time.” CRUEL KINGDOM #1 – on sale January 8th from Oni Press and EC Comics!

Also, big thanks to my patrons, including – but not limited to – Whisper, Brian, Chris Robinson, David Byrne, Milton Lawson, David Wilson, Jo, Benjamin Wilkins, Chris Hacker, John NeSmith, Jon Auerbach, Dustin Weaver, Ninja Assassin Love Story Webcomic, Brandon Hayman, Aaden Hamann, Faith Erin Hicks, Ben Wroe, Cameron Brown, Jonathan Breen, Charlie Stickney, Tom Drennen, Jeremy Thomas Burke, Jared Schwab, Scott Dunn, Chip Mosher, Seth Pomeroy, James McEwan, Andrew Leamon, Christina Merkler, Scott Place, Travis Gibb, Darcy Van Poelgeest, Tom Evans, Reid Beaman, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Max Wood, Jeremy Lambert, Brian Hole, Nir Levie, Jason Hussa, Kieron Gillen, Jonathan Kent-Uritam, Henry Johnston, Django Bohren, James Tynion IV, Chris Lankford, Jason Wood, Tom Peachey, Ben Damstedt, Ram V, Nick Walker, Patrick Coyle, Isaac Orin, Klaas Van de Ven, Submet Industries, Jack Mulqueen, Karl Kerschl, Robert Masella, Elsa Charretier, Luc Nakashoji, Dr. Luke, Scott Haselwood, CanadianByProxy, Bradley Roeder, Carl Choi, Brandon De Pillis, Patrick Brower, Declan Shalvey, Dan Gearino, Atom Freeman, Ben Wild, Brian Klein-Q, Liana Kangas, Nick Bennett, Daniel Whitfield, Susana Polo, Reed Hinckley-Barnes, Mario Tiambeng, Andrew Kurita, Stefan Hull, Phillip Maira, Chris Bachalo, Torunn Grønbekk, FuzBubbles, Christopher Ta, Transmitterdown, Walt’s Comics & Books, Akil Wilson, Alex Dimitropolous, Terry Dodson, Wesley Gift, Shawn Kirkham, Julio Anta, Brett A. Schmidt, Jason Goodmanson, Paul Reinwand, Vita Ayala, Akylle, Phillip Sevy, Al Ewing, David Kelley, Jason Nassi, Adam Bogert, Matthew Taylor, Nick Pitarra, Jacob Sareli, Ford Gilmore, David Baroldy, Nick Hall, Bjorn Basen, John Hendrick, Ian Maxfield, Cliff Chiang, Colin McMahon, Adam Highfill, Fiona Staples, Mark Abnett, Michael Shirley, Tom Barnett, Jim Demonakos, Norbert, Nick Lowe, James Kaplan, and Mission: Comics and Art in San Francisco. You’re all the best.

Have a question for Off Panel? You can reach David by email or Twitter.

Header photo is from Rafa Sandoval’s cover to Absolute Superman #1, Hayden Sherman’s cover to Absolute Wonder Woman #1, and Nick Dragotta’s cover to Absolute Batman #1. Off Panel’s opening theme music is Vulfpeck’s “Outro,” used with permission from the band (and thanks from me for them doing so!), with the rest of the music being an original track by custom music agency Upright T-Rex Music, written and performed specifically for the podcast. A huge thanks to Ross and Cody from Upright T-Rex Music for putting the track together!