Scott Snyder
Encyclopedia
Scott Snyder is an American
writer best known for his 2006 short story collection Voodoo Heart, and his work in comic books, including American Vampire
, Detective Comics
, Batman, Batman: Gates of Gotham
and Swamp Thing.
's Eyes of the Dragon to him over the summer, an experience that Snyder says "really jump-started my love of story-telling." He was also influenced by the writing of Denis Johnson
, Raymond Carver
, Rick Bass
, Joy Williams, and George Saunders
.
Snyder graduated from Brown University
in 1998 with a degree in creative writing
, and then worked at Walt Disney World
for about a year. Snyder's Disney World stint strongly influenced his writing; he later recalled, "it did a world of good for my writing...All the things I ended up writing about, those things that are deeply frightening to me—fear of commitment and growing up, fear of losing loved ones, the wonder and terror of falling in love—all of it was constantly being played out all around me in this weird, cartoonish, magnified way at Disney."
Snyder received his MFA from Columbia University
in 2002. His first collection of stories, Voodoo Heart, was published by the Dial Press
in June 2006 to highly positive reviews. The collection received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, and was a Kirkus Reviews "Hot Debut" of the year. The New York Times published a positive review by author Andrew Sean Greer in the Sunday Book Review.
Stephen King
picked two of the included stories—"Wreck" and "Dumpster Tuesday"—for the 2007 The Best American Short Stories anthology shortlist. Voodoo Heart was shortlisted for the 2006 Story Prize.
Snyder teaches writing at Columbia University
, New York University
, Sarah Lawrence College
and SUNY Southampton.
In 2009, Snyder began writing for Marvel Comics
. His first foray into the genre was a one-shot focusing on the first Human Torch, part of Marvel's 70th anniversary celebrations. He later wrote the 4-issue miniseries, Iron Man
: Noir, which debuted in April 2010.
Vertigo Comics began publishing American Vampire
, Snyder's first creator-owned, ongoing series, in the March of 2010. The first five issues feature an original storyline by Stephen King
. American Vampire went on to win the 2011 Eisner Award for Best New Series, as well as the 2011 Harvey Award for Best New Series.
His run as writer of Detective Comics
began with issue #871 of that title, which marked the beginning of his exclusive contract with DC Comics
. He developed the story for the mini-series Batman: Gates of Gotham
with writer Kyle Higgins
(who scripts the series), which debuted in May 2011.
In June, 2011, it was announced that Snyder will begin writing both Batman
and a new Swamp Thing ongoing series
as part of DC Comics
' Fall 2011 relaunch
.
include:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer best known for his 2006 short story collection Voodoo Heart, and his work in comic books, including American Vampire
American Vampire
American Vampire is an Eisner Award-winning comic book series created by writer Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque.The series imagines vampires as a population made up of many different secret species, and charts moments of vampire evolution and inter-species conflict throughout history...
, Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
, Batman, Batman: Gates of Gotham
Batman: Gates of Gotham
Batman: Gates of Gotham is a five-issue, monthly comic book limited series published by DC Comics involving the various characters of the Batman franchise. It is written by Scott Snyder and Kyle Higgins, and illustrated by Trevor McCarthy...
and Swamp Thing.
Career
At the age of nine, Snyder attended a summer camp where one of the counselors read Stephen KingStephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
's Eyes of the Dragon to him over the summer, an experience that Snyder says "really jump-started my love of story-telling." He was also influenced by the writing of Denis Johnson
Denis Johnson
Denis Hale Johnson is an American author who is known for his short-story collection Jesus' Son and his novel Tree of Smoke , which won the National Book Award. He also writes plays, poetry and non-fiction.- Biography :...
, Raymond Carver
Raymond Carver
Raymond Clevie Carver, Jr. was an American short story writer and poet. Carver is considered a major American writer of the late 20th century and also a major force in the revitalization of the short story in the 1980s....
, Rick Bass
Rick Bass
Rick Bass is an American writer and an environmental activist.-Life:Bass was born in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S., the son of a geologist, and he studied petroleum geology at Utah State University. He grew up in Houston, and started writing short stories on his lunch breaks while working as a petroleum...
, Joy Williams, and George Saunders
George Saunders
George Saunders is a New York Times bestselling American writer of short stories, essays, novellas and children's books. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, McSweeney's and GQ, among other publications...
.
Snyder graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1998 with a degree in creative writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
, and then worked at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
for about a year. Snyder's Disney World stint strongly influenced his writing; he later recalled, "it did a world of good for my writing...All the things I ended up writing about, those things that are deeply frightening to me—fear of commitment and growing up, fear of losing loved ones, the wonder and terror of falling in love—all of it was constantly being played out all around me in this weird, cartoonish, magnified way at Disney."
Snyder received his MFA from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in 2002. His first collection of stories, Voodoo Heart, was published by the Dial Press
Dial Press
The Dial Press was a publishing house founded in 1923 by Lincoln MacVeagh.Dial Press shared a building with The Dial and Scofield Thayer worked with both. The first imprint was issued in 1924. Authors included Elizabeth Bowen, W.R...
in June 2006 to highly positive reviews. The collection received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist, and was a Kirkus Reviews "Hot Debut" of the year. The New York Times published a positive review by author Andrew Sean Greer in the Sunday Book Review.
Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
picked two of the included stories—"Wreck" and "Dumpster Tuesday"—for the 2007 The Best American Short Stories anthology shortlist. Voodoo Heart was shortlisted for the 2006 Story Prize.
Snyder teaches writing at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is a private liberal arts college in the United States, and a leader in progressive education since its founding in 1926. Located just 30 minutes north of Midtown Manhattan in southern Westchester County, New York, in the city of Yonkers, this coeducational college offers...
and SUNY Southampton.
In 2009, Snyder began writing for Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. His first foray into the genre was a one-shot focusing on the first Human Torch, part of Marvel's 70th anniversary celebrations. He later wrote the 4-issue miniseries, Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
: Noir, which debuted in April 2010.
Vertigo Comics began publishing American Vampire
American Vampire
American Vampire is an Eisner Award-winning comic book series created by writer Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque.The series imagines vampires as a population made up of many different secret species, and charts moments of vampire evolution and inter-species conflict throughout history...
, Snyder's first creator-owned, ongoing series, in the March of 2010. The first five issues feature an original storyline by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
. American Vampire went on to win the 2011 Eisner Award for Best New Series, as well as the 2011 Harvey Award for Best New Series.
His run as writer of Detective Comics
Detective Comics
Detective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
began with issue #871 of that title, which marked the beginning of his exclusive contract with DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. He developed the story for the mini-series Batman: Gates of Gotham
Batman: Gates of Gotham
Batman: Gates of Gotham is a five-issue, monthly comic book limited series published by DC Comics involving the various characters of the Batman franchise. It is written by Scott Snyder and Kyle Higgins, and illustrated by Trevor McCarthy...
with writer Kyle Higgins
Kyle Higgins
Kyle Higgins is an American comic book writer and film director. He is best known for his work on the Batman franchise at DC Comics.-Career:...
(who scripts the series), which debuted in May 2011.
In June, 2011, it was announced that Snyder will begin writing both Batman
Batman (comic book)
Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
and a new Swamp Thing ongoing series
Ongoing series
The term "ongoing series" is used in contrast to limited series , a one shot , a graphic novel, or a trade paperback...
as part of DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
' Fall 2011 relaunch
The New 52
The New 52 is a 2011 revamp and relaunch by DC Comics of its entire line of ongoing monthly superhero books, in which all of its existing titles were cancelled, and 52 new series debuted in September 2011 with new #1 issues. Among the series being renumbered are Action Comics and Detective Comics,...
.
DC Comics
Titles published by DC ComicsDC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
include:
- BatmanBatmanBatman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
:- Detective ComicsDetective ComicsDetective Comics is an American comic book series published monthly by DC Comics since 1937, best known for introducing the iconic superhero Batman in Detective Comics #27 . It is, along with Action Comics, the book that launched with the debut of Superman, one of the medium's signature series, and...
:- The Black Mirror (hcHardcoverA hardcover, hardback or hardbound is a book bound with rigid protective covers...
, 288 pages, 2011, ISBN 978-1-4012-3206-1) collects:- "The Black Mirror" (with JockJock (artist)Mark Simpson, known by the pen name Jock, is a British comics artist, best known for his work in 2000 AD and on The Losers.-Career:...
, in #871-873, 2011) - "Skeleton Cases" (with Francesco FrancavillaFrancesco FrancavillaFrancesco Francavilla is an Italian comic book artist known for his work on creator-owned series The Black Coat, as well as Dynamite's Zorro series and his recent run on Detective Comics with Scott Snyder and Jock. His first professional work in comics was a story he's done for the Italian...
, in #871-872, 874, 2011) - "Lost Boys" (with Francesco Francavilla, in #875, 2011)
- "Hungry City" (with Jock, in #876-878, 2011)
- "Skeleton Key" (with Francesco Francavilla, in #879, 2011)
- "My Dark Architect" (with Jock, in #880, 2011)
- "The Face in the Glass" (with Jock and Francesco Francavilla, in #881, 2011)
- "The Black Mirror" (with Jock
- The Black Mirror (hc
- Gates of GothamBatman: Gates of GothamBatman: Gates of Gotham is a five-issue, monthly comic book limited series published by DC Comics involving the various characters of the Batman franchise. It is written by Scott Snyder and Kyle Higgins, and illustrated by Trevor McCarthy...
#1-5 (with Kyle HigginsKyle HigginsKyle Higgins is an American comic book writer and film director. He is best known for his work on the Batman franchise at DC Comics.-Career:...
and Trevor McCarthyTrevor McCarthyTrevor McCarthy is a comic book artist and illustrator known for his work on Batman: Gates of Gotham mini-series of 2011 and Nightwing from the early 2000's...
, 2011) collected as Batman: Gates of Gotham (tpb, 144 pages, 2012, ISBN 1-4012-3341-4) - BatmanBatman (comic book)Batman is an ongoing comic book series featuring the DC Comics hero of the same name. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27, published in May 1939. Batman proved to be so popular that a self-titled ongoing comic book series began publication in the spring of 1940...
#1-ongoing (with Greg CapulloGreg CapulloGregory “Greg” Capullo is an American comic book artist and penciller, best known for his work on Quasar , X-Force , Angela and Spawn ....
, 2011-...)
- Detective Comics
- Flashpoint: Project SupermanFlashpoint (comics)Flashpoint is an American comic book crossover story arc published by DC Comics. Consisting of an eponymous core limited series and a number of tie-in titles, the storyline premiered in May 2011...
#1-3 (with Lowell Francis and Gene HaGene HaGene Ha is an American comics artist and writer best known for his work on books such as Top 10 and Top 10: The Forty-Niners, with Alan Moore and Zander Cannon, for America's Best Comics, the Batman graphic novel Fortunate Son, with Gerard Jones, and The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, among...
, 2011) collected in Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman (tpb, 320 pages, 2012, ISBN 1-4012-3434-8) - Swamp Thing #1-ongoing (with Yanick PaquetteYanick PaquetteYanick Paquette is a Canadian penciller in North American comics. He has worked for Antarctic Press, Topps, Marvel and DC Comics and since 1994.-Career:...
and Francesco Francavilla, 2011-...)
Vertigo
Titles published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint include:- American VampireAmerican VampireAmerican Vampire is an Eisner Award-winning comic book series created by writer Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque.The series imagines vampires as a population made up of many different secret species, and charts moments of vampire evolution and inter-species conflict throughout history...
(with Rafael AlbuquerqueRafael AlbuquerqueRafael Albuquerque is a Brazilian comic book creator primarily for his artwork on books such as DC Comics' Blue Beetle and American Vampire. Though primarily a penciler and inker of interior comic art, he has also done work as a cover artist, colorist and writer.-Career:Albuquerque begun his...
, Mateus Santolouco, Danijel ŽeželjDanijel ZezeljDanijel Zezelj is a Croatian comic book artist, painter and illustrator and author of a number of graphic novels.-Biography:Zezelj studied classical painting, sculpting and printing at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, Croatia....
, Sean MurphySean Murphy (artist)Sean Gordon Murphy is an American animator and comic book creator known for work on books such as Batman/Scarecrow: Year One, Teen Titans, Hellblazer, Shaun of the Dead and Joe the Barbarian.-Early life:...
and Jordi BernetJordi BernetJordi Bernet Cussó is a Spanish comics artist, best known for the gangster comics series Torpedo and Jonah Hex.-Career:He was born in Barcelona, the son of a Spanish comic book artist, Miguel Bernet....
, 2010-...) collected as:- Volume 1 (collects #1-5, hc, 200 pages, 2010, ISBN 978-1-4012-2830-9)
- Volume 2 (collects #6-11, hc, 160 pages, 2011, ISBN 978-1-4012-3069-2)
- Volume 3 (collects #12-18, hc, 288 pages, 2012, ISBN 978-1-4012-3333-4)
- Survival of the Fittest (collects #1-5)
Other US publishers
Titles published by various American publishers include:- MarvelMarvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
:- Human Torch Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1 (with Scott Wegener, 2009) collected in Timely 70th Anniversary Collection (hc, 280 pages, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7851-3899-0; tpbTrade paperback (comics)In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7851-4092-4) - Nation X #1: "Testament" (with David LopezDavid Lopez (artist)David López is a Spanish comic book artist.-Biography:López started his comics career in the Spanish fanzine before moving on to work on Espiral and finally, in 2002, making the jump to the American comic book market.He is best known for co-creating and illustrating the first volume of the...
, 2010) collected in Nation X (hc, 360 pages, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7851-3873-0; tpb, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7851-4103-7) - Iron Man NoirMarvel NoirMarvel Noir is a 2009-2010 Marvel Comics alternative continuity combining elements of film noir and pulp fiction with the Marvel Universe. The central premise of the mini-series replaces super powers with driven, noir-flavored characterization....
#1-4 (with Manuel Garcia, 2010) collected as Iron Man Noir (hc, 112 pages, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7851-4727-5; tpb, 2011, ISBN 978-0-7851-4728-2)
- Human Torch Comics 70th Anniversary Special #1 (with Scott Wegener, 2009) collected in Timely 70th Anniversary Collection (hc, 280 pages, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7851-3899-0; tpb
- ImageImage ComicsImage Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
:- SeveredSeveredSevered: Forest of the Dead is a 2005 zombie suspense horror film directed by Carl Bessai and set in a remote logging community following an incident where a genetic experiment goes wrong.-Premise:...
#1-ongoing (with Scott Tuft and Attila Futaki, 2011-...)
- Severed
Awards
- 2011 Eisner AwardEisner AwardThe Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
for Best New Series (for American VampireAmerican VampireAmerican Vampire is an Eisner Award-winning comic book series created by writer Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque.The series imagines vampires as a population made up of many different secret species, and charts moments of vampire evolution and inter-species conflict throughout history...
) - 2011 Harvey AwardHarvey AwardThe Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman and founded by Gary Groth, President of the publisher Fantagraphics, are given for achievement in comic books. The Harveys were created as part of a successor to the Kirby Awards which were discontinued after 1987.The Harvey Awards are...
for Best New Series (for American Vampire)
Nominations
- 2011 Eagle AwardEagle AwardThere are several distinctions and recognitions known as the Eagle Award.*Eagle Award, the highest rank of the Zambia Scouts Association*Eagle Award, the highest award given to a civilian by the National Guard of the United States...
for Favourite Newcomer Writer - 2011 Harvey Award for Most Promising New Talent