Superhero comics are now inspiring more than just blockbuster movies and TV shows. They're also the source for high-profile podcasts and audio dramas. DC's latest and most ambitious podcast project, DC High Volume: Batman, is now underway. This series promises to bring some of the Dark Knight's most legendary comic book tales to life in audio form.

However, listening to DC High Volume: Batman alone doesn't give you the complete experience. DC is also launching a companion show within the main podcast feed. Hosted by writer and journalist Coy Jandreau, these episodes offer a behind-the-scenes look at the series' creation. They feature interviews with the cast, crew, and the original comic creators who inspired the adaptation. The first companion episode, premiering on Thursday, April 24, includes conversations with Batman voice actor Jason Spisak and DC's Creative Director of Animation & Audio Content, Mike Pallotta.

IGN recently spoke with Jandreau to learn more about this companion series and how it expands the world of DC High Volume: Batman. Read on to discover how these episodes will deepen your appreciation for the Caped Crusader.

What Is DC High Volume: Batman?

To grasp the purpose of the companion series, it helps to first understand DC High Volume: Batman. In essence, it's a major collaboration between DC and the podcast powerhouse Realm. It's an ongoing audio drama that faithfully adapts iconic Batman comics, starting with Batman: Year One. The series features Jason Spisak as the voice of Bruce Wayne/Batman and Jay Paulson as Jim Gordon.

“DC High Volume is a first-of-its-kind project on this scale,” Jandreau explains to IGN. “It’s a nearly one-to-one adaptation of classic Batman comics into an immersive, long-form radio play. It takes stories like Year One and The Long Halloween and transforms them into a rich audio experience. With top-tier production design, sound effects, talented voice actors, and a thematic score, it offers a completely new way to experience stories I've loved reading my whole life.”

As Jandreau describes, the goal is to build a continuous narrative using foundational Batman graphic novels as key chapters. That's why the series begins with the shared origin story from Year One and progresses into The Long Halloween, set during Batman's second year.

“The idea is to present the long-running Batman mythos in this new medium,” Jandreau says. “It’s for die-hard fans like myself who grew up with these characters, and also for newcomers who might only know Batman from movies or cartoons. It goes back to the roots, hits the major story beats, and maintains a shared universe with consistent voice actors. It’s about letting the story grow and evolve through these classic tales.”

As a lifelong comic fan, Jandreau finds great appeal in experiencing these stories through sound, translating a visual medium into a purely auditory one.

“The emotion and experience you get from listening to these stories is incredible and different,” he says. “I don't see it as taking away from the art of comics; I see it as adding the dimension of audio. You can listen on your own in the car, with great headphones, or on a speaker system for a full experience.”

Jandreau adds, “You can also listen while you read the comic, which creates yet another unique experience. You can even gather with friends and discuss it, like an old-time radio play. There are so many ways to engage, and none of them diminish the original comic. I've listened while reading, while driving—each way is different, but the comic remains just as compelling.”

The High Volume Companion Series

Jandreau’s companion series serves as a supplementary dive into the making of DC High Volume: Batman. It explores the creative process and the challenges of adapting comics to audio. Episodes are released in audio format within the main podcast feed and as a separate video series. The first episode arrives on April 24, right after the main series begins its adaptation of Batman: The Long Halloween.

“This project was in development for years before I joined, but the team always wanted to highlight the amazing talent behind the scenes,” Jandreau notes. “From voice actors and composers to DC executives and the original writers and artists, they felt it was crucial for the audience to get to know these creators.”

Jandreau explains he was brought on due to his work on the DC Studio Showcase video series, making him a natural choice to explore the making of this audio drama.

“I host DC Studio Showcase, a bi-weekly series on Max and YouTube focusing on DC Studios’ film and TV projects. As the comic correspondent there, when that went well, they asked me to do this. It's an honor—comics are my passion, and I love the medium. Having a show about comics and their adaptations is really special.”

As mentioned, Jason Spisak is a guest in the first companion episode. Jandreau hints that their conversation focuses on the challenge of defining Batman's voice for this universe and how it shifts depending on who he's interacting with.

“Without spoiling the episode, talking to Jason Spisak was fascinating,” Jandreau shares. “He found a fresh take on Batman. In Year One, we hear Bruce Wayne becoming Batman. Hearing the Bat-voice evolve, almost like tuning an equalizer, is incredible. How does Batman sound with Gordon versus Alfred? How does Bruce Wayne sound with Alfred? What does the voice in Bruce's head sound like, and does it change as he becomes Batman? It's a brilliant exploration.”

"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 versus, what does the voice in Bruce Wayne's head sound like, and does that change as he becomes Batman?"“

We were curious about the series' structure. Is there one companion episode for each chapter of the main series? Jandreau clarified it's more flexible, tying episodes to key emotional moments and plot points.

“It's not strictly one episode per story arc,” he says. “I love that our first episode follows a major moment from the first issue of The Long Halloween. We cover Year One, then jump into Long Halloween, allowing me to discuss the character evolution between them. The goal is to hit an emotional beat that resonates with both the guests and the audience, adding context to what they just heard.”

We also asked if any specific interview shows inspired this companion series. Jandreau cited Inside the Actors Studio, Hot Ones, and classic late-night talk shows as influences.

“James Lipton from Inside the Actors Studio has always been a hero of mine,” Jandreau reveals. “I blend his long-form approach with Sean Evans' skill (from Hot Ones) at asking unique questions that reveal new perspectives. Then, I add the energetic feel of a talk show host like Conan O'Brien or Johnny Carson. I want to mix all these styles together.”

The Top 10 Best Batman Crossovers of All Time

View 11 Images

The Future of DC High Volume: Batman

Looking ahead, we asked which DC creators Jandreau hopes to interview. Unsurprisingly, he named The Long Halloween writer Jeph Loeb and artist Jim Lee, Loeb's collaborator on Batman: Hush.

“Jim Lee, in his role at DC, is incredibly inspiring,” Jandreau says. “He has creative oversight while still being a phenomenal artist. His work and insights are among my favorites. Given his influence on so many stories I love and his broader impact at DC, he's definitely at the top of my list.”

Jandreau continues, “I've met Jeph Loeb at conventions and hosted his panels. He's responsible for so many comics that form the framework for adaptations people know. Many classic Batman stories draw DNA from Long Halloween and Dark Victory. I'd love a long-form chat to get his insight.”

“Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee are currently working on Batman: Hush again. These two are absolute cornerstones. I'd love to pick their brains about Batman.”

Jandreau also mentioned Tom King, who wrote a major Batman run from 2016-2019 that included the controversial, failed marriage between Batman and Catwoman. While his stories are set later in Batman's timeline, Jandreau hopes to feature him.

“He used to work for the CIA, and he literally has lived a Batman-adjacent life.”“

“Tom King used to work for the CIA, so he's literally lived a life adjacent to Batman's world,” Jandreau says. “His perspective on Batman, his writing on love, women, pain, vengeance, and especially Bruce's growth from his pain has always mirrored how I see the character.”

Jandreau adds, “I’ve wanted a substantial conversation with him to share with others. I've briefly spoken with him at Comic-Cons, but it would be fantastic to talk with someone who had such a long run on Batman and is now working on projects like the Lantern show. He also wrote Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which is being adapted. He's a diversified talent, and it would be cool to discuss Batman while we're adapting his stories in a new way. Tom King is definitely up there.”

Ultimately, Jandreau hopes his companion series can be a source of positivity within Batman fandom, where negativity can sometimes prevail.

“The internet can be a hostile place, especially in fandom,” Jandreau observes. “Fans are protective and passionate about these stories—that's why Batman has thrived for decades and why we get new adaptations. I think it's vital to find the positivity in that passion. The world has enough negativity; there's no need to add more to our genre.”

Jandreau concludes, “I want to make fandom more positive and share uplifting content online. That's my goal with this show and any show I'm part of. I hope die-hard comic fans who want to experience these stories in a new way feel like they have a new home. I also hope people who think, 'Batman is cool, but I've never read a comic,' feel welcomed to discover something special. We want this to be the opposite of gatekeeping. The comic book store door is wide open, and that's really important to me.

For more on the Dark Knight, explore the top 10 Batman costumes of all time and the top 27 Batman comics and graphic novels.