Batman Podcast Launches New Companion Series

Superhero comics are no longer just the source material for movies and TV shows; they're also fueling high-quality podcasts and audio dramas. DC's latest venture, DC High Volume: Batman, is a testament to this trend, aiming to bring the Dark Knight's most iconic comic book stories to life in an expansive audio format. However, to truly appreciate the depth and creativity behind this project, you'll want to dive into the companion series hosted by writer and journalist Coy Jandreau. This series, integrated within the DC High Volume feed, provides an insider's look at the production process through engaging interviews with the cast, crew, and the original comic creators. The inaugural companion episode, set to release on Thursday, April 24, features insights from Batman's voice actor Jason Spisak and DC's Creative Director of Animation & Audio Content, Mike Pallotta.

IGN had the opportunity to speak with Jandreau about the series, exploring how it enhances the overall Batman narrative. Here's a closer look at what DC High Volume: Batman and its companion series have to offer.

What Is DC High Volume: Batman?

DC High Volume: Batman is a groundbreaking audio drama series, a collaboration between DC and podcast giant Realm. It brings classic Batman comics like "Batman: Year One" to life in a long-form audio format. With Jason Spisak voicing Bruce Wayne/Batman and Jay Paulson as Jim Gordon, the series promises an immersive experience that combines high-quality production, sound effects, and a tailored score to create a new way of engaging with Batman's story.

"DC High Volume is the first of its kind to this scale, essentially a one-to-one telling of classic Batman comic books but in this incredible audio long-format radio play," Jandreau explains to IGN. "It's taking 'Batman: Year One,' 'The Long Halloween,' and turning them into a full, immersive audio experience with incredible production design, audio special effects, super-talented voice actors, and a score where different villains and heroes/characters have their own piece. It's an incredible new way to listen to a story that I've been reading my whole life, but now can hear in a new way."

The series follows Batman's journey from his origin story in "Year One" to "The Long Halloween," set in Year 2 of his career. Jandreau emphasizes the series' appeal to both die-hard fans and newcomers, offering a fresh entry point into Batman's world through audio storytelling.

"Listening to this, it's crazy the emotion and the experience that comes out of these stories in a different way," Jandreau adds. "I don't personally see it as subtracting art. I see it as adding audio. You can listen to these by themselves, in a car, with incredible headphones, or through tower speakers and get an experience. You can also listen while you read if you want, and then you've got a full different experience than just audio."

The High Volume Companion Series

The companion series hosted by Jandreau delves into the making of DC High Volume: Batman, exploring the challenges and creativity involved in adapting these iconic comics into audio. Released both in audio format and as a separate video series, the first episode premieres on April 24, closely following the launch of the adaptation of "Batman: The Long Halloween."

"They've been developing this for a number of years before I was brought on board, but they always wanted to highlight the incredible behind-the-scenes talent," Jandreau shares. "Whether it's voice actors, the composer, or people at DC involved in the project, they felt it was important for people to get to know them as well."

Jandreau's involvement stems from his work on the DC Studio Showcase video series, making him a fitting choice to explore the creation of DC High Volume: Batman. The first episode features Jason Spisak discussing the development of Batman's voice and its nuances across different interactions.

"Not to give spoilers for the first episode, but talking to Jason Spisak, who is our Bruce Wayne/Batman, he really found a fascinating new take on Batman in doing the role," Jandreau teases. "In 'Year One,' it's Bruce Wayne becoming the Bat, and we've seen that in TV, movies, and read it. But hearing it, it's fascinating to hear the Bat voice develop, to hear it play like an equalizer and discover levels in it and how Batman sounds with Gordon versus how Batman sounds with Alfred versus how Bruce Wayne sounds with Alfred."

The companion series is structured to align with key emotional beats and plot points from the main series, rather than strictly following the comic issues. "It doesn't always go this is 'Year One' four issues, and then we have a conversation, and then it's 'Long Halloween,'" Jandreau explains. "I actually love our first one is following a huge moment in the first issue of 'Long Halloween.' We've got 'Year One,' and then we have right from 'Year One' a beat of 'Long Halloween.' And then I dive in, and that way, I got to discuss the evolution from 'Year One' into 'Long Halloween,' the character growth and all those things."

Jandreau draws inspiration from various interview formats, blending the long-form style of Inside the Actors Studio with the nuanced questioning of Hot Ones and the energy of classic late-night talk shows.

The Future of DC High Volume: Batman

Looking ahead, Jandreau hopes to feature interviews with key figures such as Jeph Loeb, writer of "The Long Halloween," and Jim Lee, who collaborated with Loeb on "Batman: Hush." Both are currently involved in revisiting "Batman: Hush," making them prime candidates for deep dives into Batman's world.

"Jim Lee, now that he's at his position at DC, has been so inspiring because he's got so much creative oversight while also being an artist," Jandreau says. "His own work is some of my favorite, and his insight is some of my favorite. Since he inspired so many stories I love and because of what he's doing at DC broadly, I think Jim Lee is definitely one."

Jandreau also expresses interest in speaking with Tom King, who penned a significant Batman run from 2016-2019, including the controversial storyline involving Batman and Catwoman's failed marriage. King's unique perspective, shaped by his CIA background, adds a layer of intrigue to his understanding of Batman.

"He used to work for the CIA, and he literally has lived a Batman-adjacent life," Jandreau notes. "The way he sees Batman and his view of the Bat and the Cat, the way he writes love, the way he writes women, the way he writes this pathos and vengeance, and especially the way he writes Bruce's pain and learning from it has always been how I see Bruce Wayne."

Ultimately, Jandreau aims to foster positivity within the Batman fandom through the companion series, offering a welcoming space for both long-time fans and newcomers to explore the world of Batman in a new, engaging format.

"I think the internet can be a very dangerous place," Jandreau reflects. "I think it can be a place of hostility, especially in fandom. Genre content is very tribal because people are protective over these stories. These stories mean the world to them. There's so much passion, which is why they thrive, which is why Batman's been around for so many decades, which is why these stories can come out weekly, and we can still get excited about them, which is why you can adapt them so many times, so many ways."

"I think it's important we find the positivity in that because there's plenty of negativity in the world. I don't see any reason to make negativity about this genre content, about this fandom. I just think any way we can make fandom more positive and we can share in the internet a little bit more in an uplifting way ... That's what I want to do with this show and any show I'm a part of. I hope it makes comic fans, especially diehards, that have wanted to share in these stories in a new way, feel like they have a new home, a new comic store, but I also hope people that have always been like, 'Batman's so cool. I wonder what it's like to read a comic book,' ... They get a chance to also come in and go, 'This is something so special.' We want this to be the least gatekeeping. The comic book store door is wide open, and that's really important to me."