Description

Batman the Audio Adventures Special #1            Variant Trade Paperback
Featuring Variant Cover art by Francis Manapul.  Awesome!!
Editors: Katie Kubert, Andrew Marino, & Ben Meares
Variant Cover by: Francis Manapul

Ah, you hear that beautiful racket? That’s the music of Gotham City – the largest city in the world, the big gargoyle, the treasure of the night – anyone who calls it a crime-infested hellhole is dead wrong. No way hell has such great pierogies. So join us here (hear?) as we bring you the stories behind the stories behind the hit HBO Max scripted original podcast with this sensational prequel one-shot, written by the very creators and talent who lent their voices to the show. And unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know that after years of rumors we find out not only is the Batman real, not only is he one of the good guys, turns out, he’s gonna be a cop! With special appearances by King Scimitar, Stoveplate Sullivan, Billy Wristwatch, and others directly from the podcast, this oversize special brings you deeper into the mysteries behind Batman: The Audio Adventures!

Contents/Stories:
Jack Ryder in “A Gotham City One Special Report”   8 pages
Writer: Dennis McNicholas
Artist: Leonardo Romero
Inker: Rich Ellis
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Letterers: AndWorld Design & Deron Bennett

The first story, featuring Leonardo Romero on art, is actually spread out through the entire book. It features news anchor Jack Ryder, one of Gotham’s more benevolent crazy residents, hosting a newscast as the criminal elements of Gotham keep pulling him into the action. It sets the tone nicely for the many stories to come.

Batman in “A Better Mousetrap”   10 pages
Writer: Dennis McNicholas
Artist: Anthony Marques
Inker: J. Bone
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Ferran Delgado

As Batman chases the Blind Mice Gang, one of many original villains in this version of Gotham, he reflects on his decision to become a special consultant for the GCPD and give up his independence as a vigilante. It’s an interesting status quo for Gotham – deciding to work within the law to try to clean up the law, as we see him take on corrupt officers even before he’s official with the GCPD.

King Scimitar in “King Scimitar: Who He is, and How He is Come to Being Now”   10 pages
Writer: Dennis McNicholas
Artist: Germán Peralta
Colorist: Kristian Rossi
Letterers: AndWorld Design & Deron Bennett

After another brief Ryder interlude, German Peralta takes over on art to introduce us to a new villain – King Scimitar. A humble Eastern European peasant who comes to Gotham dreaming of a life of crime and easy money, the brute soon finds out he’s henchman material at most – and he needs a gimmick. That comes back to him in the form of his traditional cultural sword – a brutish weapon that stands out for how simple and to the point it is.

Catwoman in “Catwoman’s Score!”   10 pages
Writer: Dennis McNicholas
Artist: Emma Kubert
Inker: Roberto Poggi
Colorist: Hi-Fi
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual

A Catwoman tale that pits her against the Blind Mice Gang in a unique caper. What starts as a standard heist turns into something very different when she discovers that a rival gangster’s daughter has been kidnapped by the Mice. She has to decide to do the right thing, to stick to the plan and leave the girl to her fate – or to take a third path?

The Penguin in “Bedtime for Scrambles”   10 pages
Writers: Bobby Moynihan & Dennis McNicholas
Artist: Jon Mikel
Colorist: Nick Filardi
Letterer: Josh Reed

A popular musician named Stoveplate Sullivan is beginning a residency at the Iceberg Lounge, but he may have gotten more than he bargained for. The Penguin, here a deranged eccentric who has a little in common with the famous Burton/DeVito version, likes to make sure his talent knows who’s in charge and he has some dark leverage.

The Riddler in “What Burns When It’s Green?”   10 pages
Writers: Heidi Gardner & Dennis McNicholas
Artist: Jacob Edgar
Colorists: Rex Lokus & Mike Spicer
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual

A Riddler story featuring another new character- Miss Tuesday, the Riddler’s right-hand-woman. Or rather, girl – apparently the only person Riddler listens to is a pre-teen snarker who admires his unique approach to crime and tries to keep him on the right track. It’s not going great, as the imprisoned Riddler has turned Arkham into a bizarre treasure hunt.

Robin in “First One’s Free”   10 pages
Writers: Paul Scheer & Dennis McNicholas
Artist: Juni Ba
Colorist: Nick Filardi
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual

Dick and his friends (whose names are clever Easter eggs) are getting into some mischief, but when they encounter a bizarre biker who tries to get them hooked on some Halloween-themed pills, the story takes a serious turn.

Two-Face in “Two Split Seconds on Division Street”   10 pages
Writers: Ike Barinholtz & Dennis McNicholas
Artist: Derec Donovan
Colorists: Dee Cunniffe & Rex Lokus
Letterer: Pat Brosseau

A Two-Face story, and this one gets inside Harvey’s head and the way he makes decisions better than any I’ve seen in a while. Making him the POV character goes a long way towards humanizing him and driving home why Batman is never quite able to give up on him.

The Joker in “Love as Laughter”   2 pages
Writer: Dennis McNicholas
Artist: Jesús Hervás
Colorist: David Baron
Letterer: Ferran Delgado

The Joker celebrates Valentine’s Day creating a valentine for Batman while a bound-up hostage looks on in terror. All the while a Valentine’s Day song plays in the background.

Variant Trade Paperback is bagged & double boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

First Printing
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date: December 2021
Format: FC, 80 pages, TPB, 10.25” x 6.65″
UPC: 761941375625

Collectible Entertainment note: Variant Trade Paperback is Brand New & Unread.  Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Batman collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Very Highly Recommended.

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