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The future of the DC Universe is so big, it’s taking place in two universes at once… but telling one big story together, with one primary message: comics are awesome.

During a livestream event that took place on Wednesday afternoon, broadcast on YouTube, writers Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder announced DC All In, a new initiative that will unfold across DC’s publishing line across the next few years… and something that has been in the works for awhile, as well.

“This is something we’ve been working on forever, we’ve been working on it for a couple of years,” Snyder explained, calling it “the biggest initiative that [DC has] done in almost a decade.” With a raft of new releases and starting points for old and new readers alike, Snyder described All In as “a seismic, tectonic moment.. that invites everybody in,” as well as “a rallying cry [that] is about reminding everyone that this medium is where the biggest stories are told.”

“One of the conversations that Scott and I were having was… how do we have a story that introduces all-new stuff, but really elevates all these classic pieces,” Joshua Williamson added, pointing out that big comic book publishing plans are traditionally hooked around either creating new material, or celebrating legacy creations; All In intends to do both, courtesy of the creation of an all-new universe featuring new versions of classic DC characters that will co-exist — and, in fact, share an ongoing storyline with — the “regular” classic DC Universe.

“There is no reboot, there is no retcon,” Snyder promised fans.

DC All In will launch in October with a flip book titled, simply, DC All In Special #1, written by Williamson and Snyder, with art from Daniel Sampere and Wes Craig — each illustrating a different point of view on either end of the flip book. Sampere will tell things from Superman’s point of view, spinning out of the end of the current Absolute Power storyline, as he tries to form a new Justice League. Meanwhile, Craig will draw things from Darkseid’s point of view, as the cosmic villain realizes that something is missing from reality as it currently exists… a realization that will not only bring him into conflict with the new Justice League, but lead to the creation of the ‘Absolute Universe.’

That universe, Scott Snyder teased, will feature a different energy than the regular DCU, suggesting that the regular DCU is centered around Superman, but the Absolute Universe will center around Batman and his approach to the world — something that will be “more badass,” but also arguably more grounded than the DCU that fans are familiar with. The first announced series from the Absolute DC line will be Absolute Batman, by Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta.

Superman will continue to be a flagship book for the regular DCU, with Joshua Williamson remaining as writer on the series — but he’ll be joined by World’s Finest and Absolute Power artist Dan Mora on the title, as they both introduce a new Superwoman and bring Doomsday back to threaten the Man of Steel anew. “Getting to play with Doomsday is very, very exciting,” Williamson said, citing the original Death of Superman storyline as one of his favorite Superman stories.

All In is "a celebration, and an expansion [of DC]… it’s an invitation to jump in,” Snyder teased, with both writers promising both more teases across the next week, followed by details on new titles, new creative teams, and publishing plans coming at San Diego Comic-Con, which starts July 24.

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