If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy
When choosing between a Marvel or DC ‘exclusive’ contract, writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson weighed alot and explained how Marvel won him over
Phillip Kennedy Johnson breaks down his decision to sign an exclusive contract with Marvel Comics and whether he’d return to DC in the future
NewsbyJules Chin Greene, Staff Writer
Published on Mon Jul 13 2026
Popverse’s top stories
- Imagine Backrooms with Amazing Digital Circus characters. Here’s what would happen, according to the cast themselves
- Superhero fatigue isn’t real says Invincible co-creator Robert Kirkman… it’s just a dearth of good superhero stories
- Failure is the major theme of The Vampire Lestat, says showrunner
In November of 2025, it was announced that writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson signed a multi-year exclusive contract with Marvel Comics. Considering the epic Infernal Saga that he and Nic Klein had been cooking up in the pages of The Incredible Hulk and then The Infernal Hulk, the exclusive felt like a no-brainer. But the announcement was bittersweet for DC fans who had rallied around Johnson’s run on Action Comics, Batman and Robin, and The Last God/The Fellspyre Chronicles.
At C2E2 2026, I sat down with Phillip Kennedy Johnson to talk about the latest string of projects he’s been working on, and what Marvel offered that convinced him to settle down in the House of Ideas for the near future.
“I admit I was hesitant at first,” Johnson began. “I’ve had conversations with both DC and Marvel about exclusives in the past, and the timing was never great because, usually, I had just committed to a big thing at the other place when I was getting offered something big. So I would have had to really screw over the other side to take it. And I was never willing to do that. Comics should be about making cool shit with your friends. I’m not interested in screwing over any friends to make more money on a book somewhere else, ever. This felt a little bit different because The Adventures of Superman series I’m doing now was only ever going to be twelve issues.”
“And honestly, Marvel made me a serious offer, an offer that was hard to say no to. I asked for a lot of things that I needed to do it, and they said ‘Yes’ at every turn. They really showed that they valued me on the team. They offered me such exciting projects that I cannot wait to do, some of which I’m doing now.”
Johnson is going to be writing Midnight Spider-Man this fall with art by ScieTronc, which he described to Marvel’s website as akin to a story “conceived by H.R. Giger, directed by David Cronenberg, adapted for the comic page by Junji Ito,” which is tantalizing for every horror fan out there.
Now, was there anything at DC that Johnson would have wanted to keep doing?
“While I would have liked to have done more Batman and Robin. I’d also done 18 issues, and it felt like a clean break. The thing that was really kind of tugging my heartstrings to stay at DC was to do more Batman and Robin,” he said
But at the same time, with the DC Universe in its own transformational state right now, there’s no saying that Johnson would have been able to stay on. He reasoned, “There was also the big DC KO thing coming. There was the Next Level stuff. There’s going to be all these shake-ups and creative teams, and there’s always a chance of losing a title anyway whenever those things happen. Like you never know where they’re going to decide they want you.”
With regards to his future at Marvel or DC, Johnson offered comforting words to Superman fans who might be eager to see him back in the DC Universe
“Also, it’s temporary. I still have nothing but friends at DC, and whether it’s at the end of this exclusive period or ten years down the line, I do think at some point I’ll be back there. I’m already kind of saving up stories that I want to tell when I do go back. So in the meantime, I’m going to be kicking ass at Marvel. The stories that we have coming at Marvel are so exciting. I’m dying to talk about them every day. I know that I’ve got some DC fans that are bummed that I’m gone for the moment, but when they see the stories that are coming at Marvel, I think it’ll be worth it even to them for sure,” Johnson assured.
That’s the beauty of comics. The future is always nebulous, and your favorite creators stockpile ideas for future stories like squirrels caching acorns for the wintertime (If someone has an idea for Midnight Squirrel Girl, please greenlight them, Marvel). Case in point: Kraven’s Last Hunt was originally a Batman story that became a Wonder Man story before becoming one of the best Spider-Man stories out there. The future remains bright, and a world with more comics written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson is a better world.
Want more? Make sure you’ve read our list of all the best Marvel Comics stories of all time
About C2E2
Comics, cosplay, gaming, authors, and anime abound in the only pop culture convention in the heart of Downtown Chicago! We’ve gathered your favorite celebrities, unique exhibitors, incredible comic creators, and larger-than-life literary authors into one place to celebrate the fandoms you love. From the halls of Artist Alley to the depths of the Show Floor, our goal is to provide a space of creativity and fun, but most importantly, one that cultivates a sense of belonging, safety, and inclusiveness.
Dates
Mar 27
– Mar 29
Location
Chicago’s McCormick PlaceUnited States
Visit the event page
Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news
Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, and Multiverse of Color
Let Popverse be your tour guide through the wilderness of pop culture
Sign in and let us help you find your new favorite thing
More on C2E2
The exact moment James Tynion IV retired from superhero comics was while he was writing DC’s flagship Batman title
Michael Walsh reveals The Silver Coin’s next horror experiment: space
Marvel’s strategy of relaunches & brief ‘ongoings’ during one longer run is a “marketing” decision, but doesn’t change the story for Infernal Hulk writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson
The Nice House on the Lake author James Tynion IV confirms what you’ve been thinking: that villain is based on himself
Magic: The Gathering has a “high barrier of entry,” so MTG artist Michael Walsh is turning his Exquisite Corpses comic into a game (but that’s not the only reason)
Hulk’s son Skaar is Marvel’s “under-appreciated” version of Conan the Barbarian to Infernal Hulk writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson
DC Comics made James Tynion IV a writer; Image Comics made him a businessman
Arrow co-creator Marc Guggenheim would write a John Diggle comic for DC Comics “in a heartbeat”
Featured events
Florida Supercon
Jul 10
– Jul 12
Comic-Con International: San Diego
Jul 22
– Jul 26
D23
Aug 14
– Aug 16
British Week
Aug 24
– Aug 30
PAX West
Sep 04
– Sep 07
New York Comic Con
Oct 08
– Oct 11
