“Final Crisis” by Greg Cox

“Final Crisis”
by Greg Cox
Multi-cast performance
Produced 2010, by GraphicAudio
Approx. 8 Hours

“Final Crisis” was a crossover storyline that appeared in DC comics published throughout 2008, primarily the seven-issue miniseries of the same name was written by Grant Morrison.  This was the last of the multiverse type series from DC and sort of closed up some gaps left in the previous titles; “Crisis on Infinite Earths”,  “Infinite Crisis”, “52″, and “Countdown.”  However I think this created more questions than answers and served no other purpose but to confuse the reader.  While having some great confrontations and interesting twists on science and gods the story just didn’t do it for me.  I was so glad I listened to the audio book format of this title.

As usual GraphicAudio delivers this audiobook with a punch, and I’m talking one of those full-graphic-with-exploding-colors-as-only-seen-in-comic-books punches.  When GraphicAudio promises a “Movie in your Mind” they aren’t exaggerating.  First off the voice actors are superb and voice each character with precision accuracy, Superman sounds like Superman, Batman sounds like Batman and so on.  There is no denying the excellence in the talent pool here.  The sound effects will blast you out of your seat.  With planets exploding or crumbling, a black hole sucking in the multiverse and even Green Lantern’s ring fizzling out, the sound effects are perfect. And the music, well pretty much all I can say here is “WOW!”  The music moves the story, mood and action perfectly.  All in all these GraphicAudio productions are perfect.  For me it was the only saving grace in this title.

The gist of this story is that one of the new gods, Orion, is murdered and another new god, Darkseid, sees this as his chance to take over Earth.  Also one of Earth’s multiverse monitors is stripped of his powers for letting Earth 51 be destroyed.  While some of my favorite heroes play major parts in this, The Flashes (yes 3 generations of The Flash) open a time portal allowing things to begin and end, and The Green Lantern Corps try to stop Darkseid, I think the story relied too heavily on Superman.

There was one saving grace for the story and that was the creation of a young Japanese group of superheroes.  Mixing superheroes with Japanese pop-culture, the characters are: Most Excellent Superbat, Big Atomic Lantern Boy, Shy Crazy Lolita Canary, Shiny Happy Aquazon and Well-Spoken Sonic Lightning Flash.  I first had some good laughs with their names but sheesh the way they interacted was fun.  At one point all the characters had revealed their powers, except one, and when asked what his was Most Excellent Superbat responded, “Mine is the best of all, I can buy anything.”

Throughout the story I was confused as to what caused what and with The Flashes and Superman doing a little time traveling that just made it even more hard to follow.  But thanks to GraphicAudio, I had a great time listening.

“Kingdom Come” adapted by John Whitman based on a story by Mark Waid and Alex Ross and the novelization by Elliot S. Maggin.

“Kingdom Come”
adapted by John Whitman
based on a story by Mark Waid and Alex Ross and the novelization by Elliot S. Maggin.
Multi-cast performance
Published 1998 byTime Warner AudioBooks
approx. 3 hours

I have only recently become a fan of DC comics.  Throughout most of my life I was mostly a Marvel comics fan, especially Spider-Man, because Marvel seemed to me to be more of an Everyman becoming a hero, and DC heroes were rich or from other planets.  Sure, I crossed over once in a while for The Flash, and Batman, but that was pretty much it.  I’m not sure if it is because I got older or DC comics decided to become more Everyman but I’ve recently been dipping into the DC pool.  A lot of this influence is because of my experience with some great DC comics audiobooks.  This storyline I ran across accidentally while looking for more comic/novel based audiobooks.  This one was originally done as an audio drama with full sound effects and actors voicing each character.  This seemed up my alley so, I gave it a listen and was treated to some fun superhero action.

I mentioned Everyman aspects of comics that I prefer because this book actually looks at the Heroes as gods aspect that I didn’t like.  It seems that many people of the Earth in this DC comics creation didn’t like it either.  Before I go into that further, a neat aspect of this story is the combination of the Book of Revelations from the Holy Bible with the possible end of the world that could happen thanks to the battles between super heroes and super villains.   Pastor Norman McKay is receiving visions of the end of times, the mysterious hero The Spectre, takes Pastor McKay on a trip through time and space to the various heroes and what has brought about this end of times.

The Earth has a sudden influx of MetaHumans, these are humans that have developed super hero type abilities.  When one metahuman, known as Magog, kills the Joker, it seems this would be a good thing, but a hospital full of patients and one Lois Lane, wife of Superman, is collateral damage, does not seem to bother this new breed of metahumans.  Superman retires to his Fortress of Solitude and leaves mankind to fend for itself.  Jump ahead a few years and the metahumans have gotten rid of all the super villains and now they are bored.  So instead of just sitting back and enjoying they peace they begin to battle each other, every time taking out large chunks of various cities.  When Magog and a group of metahumans destroy Kansas, Wonder Woman seeks out Superman so they can put a stop to all the metahumans,  kind of like the band is getting back together for the Justice League, but, it’s not all that easy, it seems Lex Luthor has survived and is getting the villains remaining back together for one final battle.

Can the Justice Leage reform and put aside years of apathy and ill-feelings?  This story has some great battles and some great action with an ending only a comic book could put together.

This audio drama packs a pretty good superhero punch with some great voice acting and some excellent sound effects to keep you in the moment.  My only beef is with that of the actor portraying Pastor McKay.  He is shown all the destruction and despair and on top of that is receiving vision of a Revelations scale, yet he’s extremely chipper and happy throughout his dialogue.  He just didn’t seem believable.  Everything else was excellent.

“Countdown” by Greg Cox

“Countdown”
by Greg Cox
Multi-cast Performance
Produced by GraphicAudio, 2010
Approx 6 hours

DC comics had/has a great configuration of crossover comics with their multi-verse “Crisis” series.
Crisis on Infinite Earths
Countdown to Infinite Crisis
Infinite Crisis
52
Countdown to Final Crisis (novel form titled “Countdown,” this book)
Final Crisis
The series told a tale of 52 alternate realities otherwise known as multiverses.  The problem consisting of multiple realities coming together could destroy all realities.  In this  book, “Countdown,” The aftermath of “Infinite Crisis” led to the series “52″ which consisted of the Primary Earth dealing with the aftermath.  This book, as the title suggests, is a countdown to events that lead to yet another multiverse crisis which will be the “Final Crisis.”  The original “Countdown to Final Crisis” comics were published in 51 issues, Greg Cox has created the novelization of the series into this book.

So once again the comic books are converted to a novel.  What happened to the awesome graphics that make a comic so much of an experience?  Well,  Greg Cox uses words to convey the images and any fan of good fiction would appreciate this.  But what happens if the comic fan wants those images?  I suggest picking up the audio book created by GraphicAudio.  GraphicAudio has a slogan, “A Movie in your Mind,” and let me tell you, they deliver.  From the moment I heard my first GraphicAudio audiobook, I’ve been hooked.  They use a cast of very talented voice actors that can creat every subtlety of a superhero through voice only.  For Example, when you hear someone acting the role of Batman in a GraphicAudio audiobook, you hear Bruce Wayne’s loss of his parents, his calculating the next 30 moves in defeating a foe, and more, just through superb voice acting.

The acting is not the only thing that keeps these audiobooks interesting there is also incidental music that rises and falls with and enhances all the emotions and action in the story.  And even more fun are the sound effects.  So how do you give sound to the Green Lantern’s ring creating a boxing glove and punching his foe?  You can’t just simply punch something and record it, because the power behind the ring is what is creating the glove.  GraphicAudio create some superb effects that you can see in the mind’s eye all aspects of just such an action.  These guys really know what they are doing.

So with all that said let’s talk about this audiobook.  The excitement abounds, the story twists and turns and ultimate good is pitted up against ultimate evil.  Exactly what you’d expect from a comic book, but in this series all this takes place without the big name superheroes.  The Justice League members do make their appearance near the end to help wrap up the final battle and outcome, but for the most part what were normally minor characters now take the lead.

First off we’ve got Superman’s pal, Jimmy Olsen, suddenly endowed with superpowers.  Not sure where they come from, Jimmy’s not one to ask, being the epitomical good guy, Jimmy immediately takes on the guise of Action Man and tries to right wrongs.  The problem with these newfound powers is that they only occur when his life is threatened.  But when his life is threatened the powers are doozies.  Powers such as, porcupine like quills suddenly erupting from his skin and shooting at foes, his body turning to ooze and more weirdness.  Even not being able to control his powers Jimmy tries to fight crime.

Next we have Mary Marvel.  After the events in 52, Mary is now just simply Mary Batson, sister to Billy Batson (Captain Marvel/Shazam).  Her powers were mysteriously taken away and she awakens in a hospital scared and powerless.  To find her brother and eventually her powers Mary seeks out Madame Xanadu,  warns Mary not to go to Gotham City.  Ignoring her, Mary is chased by thugs through the Gotham subway, and finds the former Kahndaqi Embassy, where Black Adam has been hiding. Adam appears, saves Mary, and transfers his powers to Mary.  Mary acquires the powers of Black Adam, Isis, and Osiris as a result.  These dark powers change Mary’s psyche and she seems to be one of the bad guys.

Holly Robinson, former Catwoman (the good Catwoman not the criminal one) meets up with Harley Quinn (Joker’s former girlfriend) at a women’s shelter in Metropolis where a woman claiming to be Athena is recruiting Amazons to go to Paradise Island, which was vacated by the real Amazons (Wonder Woman’s family).

Jason Todd (former Robin that should have died), and Donna Troy (former Wonder Girl, who also should have died) meet up with a Monitor who recruits them to find The Atom. It seems The Atom, Ray Palmer, is the key to fighting the New Gods who are waging war against each other and could destroy the Universe.

“Last Sons” by Alan Grant

“Last Sons”
by Alan Grant
Multicast Performance
produced by GraphicAudio
Approx 2 hours

With the help of superb audio book production I have recently become a DC comics fan.  I used to only be a Marvel fan, but hey even Stan Lee did some stuff for DC a few years ago, so I can bend a little.  The thing that really got me was the “Movie in your Mind” created by these audio books from GraphicAudio.  They take excellent voice talent mix in out-of-this-world sound effects and original incidental music and blend it all in to become a cinematic audio production of some great novelizations.  They cover other genres of literature, but my favorite by far is their productions of DC comics novels.

This book has sold me even more on DC comics in that I have found my new favorite DC Character.  Most of DC comics superheroes are square-jawed, do gooders in tights but this time we are introduced to the bounty hunter, Lobo.  Lobo is meant to be DC’s answer to Marvel’s Wolverine.  I think DC also took a bit of Lobo’s personality from Marvel’s “Merc with a mouth,” Deadpool.  Deadpool is my all time favorite hero or rather anti-hero, because he is quick to crack wise and has a psycopathic disposition that sometimes leads him to have witty conversations with himself.  One thing Deadpool does that I have yet to hear Lobo do is break the fourth wall, you know, turn and talk to the audience.  But maybe in the future when Lobo gets his own comic that can happen.  There has been a short run of Lobo comics, but I have yet to read them.

In a recent audio book produced by GraphicAudio, “52,” there was a slight mention of Lobo but not enough to really note.  This time Lobo is the main character.  Lobo is a psychopathic bounty hunter that only thinks about 3 things; himself, booze and broads, in that order.  I guess you could throw in mayhem and finding the next criminal to bring in.  Lobo is an expert biochemist and has the uncanny ability to know exactly what to do next, mix this in with his super healing factor and the ability to track any molecule via sense of smell and his super strength, this makes for one bounty hunter you hope you never have after you.  He used his biochemical expertise to wipe out his entire race/planet and become the last known survivor of his planet before moving on to become a bounty hunter.

This book opens with Lobo bringing in a gang of thugs but as he’s rounding them up they manage to blow up his space bike, oh yeah Lobo is also a biker, and to fix the bike, which is no ordinary bike, he uses the brain of one of the thugs to replace the destroyed brain of the bike.   Yeah, it’s a pretty cool bike.  As he returns he finds that he has been requested to bring in J’onn J’onnzz (The Martian Manhunter) with a 1 million cred reward.  This would provide some serious booze and broads for “The Main Man,” as he refers to himself.

If you don’t know, J’onnzz is the last remaining of his species from Mars.  He prides himself on being on the side of justice and could never break any law.  After a brief battle between J’onnzz and Lobo, Superman (the last son of Krypton) intervenes and after Lobo presents the warrant, he and J’onnz decide the warrant is legit and J’onnzz decides to allow to be taken in  and find what the mixup is about.  Superman is wary but allows his friend to be taken in.  In being wary Superman heads to the office where bounty hunters are dispersed and finds that no crime is listed.  He then follows the 2 to where J’onnz is to be delivered.

The delivery point is a planet where the race of beings are excellent at carving rocks.  An artificial intelligence, calling itself Alpha, has latched on to these beings, making them its slave and forcing them to create a body so the electrical based artificial intelligence can inhabit.  From there the Alpha begins making the planet into a giant supercomputer/space ship (similar to the Death Star in Star Wars).  Alpha also has the beings carve out spacecraft which it plans on using to destroy all live in the universe.
Lobo is heading to the Alpha’s planet not knowing what the Alpha is planning, but just wanting to collect the bounty.  When he arrives he sees J’onnzz placed into a prison cell  and the Alpha declares that he is keeping J’onnzz because he is the last of his race.  Knowing he is also the last Lobo prepares to battle his way out, but is not able to act fast enough before being subdued and imprisoned himself.

This leaves Krypton’s last son, Superman to try and save them, but the Alpha is prepared and has Kryptonite on hand to subdue Supes.  J’onnzz, Superman and Lobo have to put aside their differences and team up if there is to be any hope for the survival of the universe.  Once again through some great battles and with even greater witty rapport on the part of Lobo this story creates a fun adventure in the world of DC comics.

“Batman: Dead White” by John Shirley

“Batman: Dead White”
by John Shirley
Multicast performance
Produced by GraphicAudio
Approx 6 hours.

Once again I have to dive into a great comic book turned novel turned audio book.  Actually this one was just a novel turned audio book.  This book was written to tie in to the reimagining of “Batman” movies, that began with the movie “Batman Begins” released in 2005.  Maybe someday they’ll turn it into a comic book, but it won’t be your regular comic.  This one is dark and deals with some very dark subject matter, even at the beginning of the audio book they warn of adult language and racial epithets.

So in the continuity of the Batman world this audio book takes place 18 months after the events in “Batman Begins” and before the sequel “The Dark Knight.”  The story involves a white supremacist leader of Gotham City’s racist group the Bavarian Brotherhood.  As is well known from the the Dark Knight run of Batman comics, Gotham City is full of corrupt cops, in this story some of them are even members of the Bavarian Brotherhood.  The caped crusader and (now) Captain Gordon are the city’s, and what turns out to be the nation’s last best hope.

Before we get into the meat of the story here, I have to let you know about the audio production in this book.  If you’ve ever heard a GraphicAudio audio book production you would be full aware of their superb mix of sound effects and music to move the story along.  That and the great voice acting involved, creates the “Movie in your Mind” that GraphicAudio promises.  In many scenes in this book there are gunfights, but these gunfights involve newly created weapons and artillery that work like no other weapons, GraphicAudio has created the sound effects that bring these things to life.  Looks like Bruce Wayne isn’t the only one with a super R&D department.  GraphicAudio really knows how to make a book come to life.

Now this story takes place in the development of Bruce Wayne becoming Batman and protecting Gotham City.  While the city is full of crooked cops Bruce Wayne is out to protect the common citizens.  One night while patrolling the city, Batman thwarts a shipment of guns coming in to a racist leader, White Eyes.  White Eyes men are moving a special automatic weapon called “The Dread” that the most advanced weapon creators have only heard of plans for, never a working model, this gun fires shotgun sized slugs at the rate of an Uzi.  Dangerous for anyone let alone a racist group bent on world domination.

During the raid one of the few not crooked cops, Cormac Sullivan, sees Batman protect an innocent security guard by shielding him and taking the bullets.  When the crooked cops then try to unmask “the bat” Cormac stands guard until Captain Gordon shows up.  Batman then tells Cormac that he owes him one and gives Cormac a codeword to say to Gordon and Batman will help.  Cormac decides he cannot put up with the crooked police department and returns to California to find and help his Meth addicted son.

In the meantime Batman is struggling with inner demons and seems to be slipping.  He loses a suspect, his aim is off and lots more, can he still go on being the hero Gotham needs?

Cormac brings his son back east to detox on a camping trip but on the trip to the mountains they run into the training camp for the Bavarian Brotherhood.  The horrors uncovered and the plans of horrors to come lead to Cormac seeking Batman’s help and soon the battle between White Eyes and Batman takes place.  With Batman’s struggles and White Eyes super strength the future is bleak.

In a dark Dark Knight story, Batman is still a hero and the action is not to be missed from this story.

“52″ Parts 1 & 2 by Greg Cox

“52″ Parts 1 & 2
by Greg Cox
Multicast performance
Produced by GraphicAudio
Approx 12 hours

“52″ was a weekly comic published by DC comic beginning May of 2006.  This comic covered a year in the DC Universe where just following the “Infinite Crisis” The world’s greatest superheroes were missing but there was no lack of super powered heroes.  Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are missing after saving the world, the universe, and the multi-verse from a version of Lex Luthor trying to make his perfect world.  But the world is not without its superheroes.  The main heroes in this year long comic publication are a mixed batch of interesting characters.

Booster Gold and his robot/computer sidekick , Skeets, are in Metropolis.  Booster is a time traveler from the 25th century and with the aid of Skeets they prevent crimes and disasters by referring to the timeline recorded in Skeets memory.

Supernova, whose identity is unknown and at the same time key to the entire “52″ plot line, is a hero that makes a sudden appearance in Metropolis, surprising both Clark Kent and Booster Gold.

Black Adam, who was originally a villain, an opposite to Captain Marvel/Shazam.  At the beginning of “52″ Black Adam is somewhat of a dictator over the country of Khandaq.  He is trying to form an alliance with countries like, Iraq, Iran et. al. to protect their citizens.  A world wide crime organization called Intergang tries to gain support from Black Adam by offering him a woman they captured as a slave.  Black Adam retaliates and kills the gang representatives and through her frankness the woman becomes Black Adam’s wife.  After showing Black Adam “how to be good,” he takes her to the Rock of Eternity, once guarded by the wizard Shazam, now guarded by Captain Marvel.  There he pleads his case and she becomes Isis.  Isis and Black Adam seek out Isis brother who was enslaved by Intergang.  When he is found he has been severely beaten by Intergang to the point he cannot walk.  Black Adam gives the boy some of his own powers and he becomes Osiris.  Now Black Adam has a family similar to that of the Marvel family.  But Intergang is not happy with Black Adam’s rejection.

The Question and Officer Montoya play the parts of catalysts between all the goings on.  First they thwart a terrorist bombing attempt at Black Adam’s wedding.  Then they prevent the death of the new Bat-Woman, by stopping intergang and their twisted religion of crime from sacrificing Gotham City’s new hero.   Montoya discovers The Question has terminal cancer and discovers he has been training her to become the new Question.

Through the one year publication of the comic Booster Gold becomes an anti-hero, Skeets begins taking on an evil identity bent on domination.  Super Nova takes Booster’s place as Metropolis’ new hero and through the help of Rip Hunter, another time traveler attempts  to stop Skeets’ evil plans.  (Great time travel paradoxes in this plot line.)  Black Adam saves his country from famine, only to have his family destroyed by the Four Horsemen and he then seeks his revenge on the Horsemen, Intergang and the scientists that created them and starts World War III.  Montoya and Nightwing then assist Bat-Woman in protecting Gotham City from Intergang.

With a sprinkling of some of DC’s minor superheroes; Nightwing, Captain Marvel and a few others the world is protected, but is it enough, these new heroes are a big help as the Multiverse attempts to be recreated.

Greg Cox novelized this year long publication and GraphicAudio in all their audio splendor brought the comic back to full color production with sound.

“Infinite Crisis” parts I & II by Greg Cox

“Infinite Crisis” parts I & II
by Greg Cox
multicast production
Produced by Graphic Audio
approx 12 hours total

I think I may have become addicted to GraphicAudio audio book productions.  These guys really know how to suck you into a story and leave you, in this case, feeling as beat up as the superheroes involved.  I mean that in a good way, the sound effects, music and acting puts you in the middle of the action and you feel every punch thrown.  With all the action in a comic book, the transition to novelization of a series and then to audio book there lies the potential of losing some of the ambiance created by the brightly colored panels, but here’s where GraphicAudio shines.  Not only do you get all the ambiance, you are placed dead in amongst the action.

Infinite Crisis was a seven-issue limited series of comic books published by DC Comics beginning in October 2005. It was written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez. The series storyline was based on the 1985 series “Crisis on Infinite Earths” and it revisits characters and ideas that were from the earlier work.  Greg Cox then took that series and created the novelization of the series.  Then we move to audio book “Movie in your Mind” form from GraphicAudio.  GraphicAudio released the production in two 6 hour segments.

For years, the rift between the Justice League’s leaders has been widening. Batman’s paranoia has given birth to an army of robotic assassins. Batman created the Brother Eye satellite to make sure “meta-humans” don’t abuse their super powers.  Somehow the satellite is hijacked and begins it’s jihad against superheroes.

Wonder Woman has declared herself judge, jury, and executioner, taking a foe’s life in an act that was broadcast worldwide. Superman is under the influence of mind control. With the Justice League divided and a super-villain coalition openly targeting the heroes, ordinary civilians find themselves caught in the crossfire.

The heroes have lost their way, their values, and their responsibilities. Only those who understand the true meaning of sacrifice are prepared to rectify this crisis-a crisis that originated in an alternate era when infinite earths collided in a cosmic cataclysm that erased history and lives. And those who survived are looking to restore all they have lost, regardless of the consequences.

In an epic adventure with battles taking place all around the world and even into the center of the universe every comic book fan will enjoy listening for their favorite hero.  Nearly every superhero ever created by DC Comics makes an appearance and even some new ones.

Be prepared to be completely blown away with a great story by Greg Cox, created by DC Comics, and converted into a “Movie in your Mind” by GraphicAudio.

“Batman: Inferno” by Alex Irvine

“Batman: Inferno”
by Alex Irvine
Multicast Performance
Produced by Graphic Audio
Approx 7 hours.

Let me start this review off by saying, I think I may have just listened to the best Batman story ever.  Not only was the story itself captivating and entertaining but the production has gone beyond my expectations from Graphic Audio audio books.  This audio book is a simple Batman book with only two villains a new one named Enfer and the best Batman villain ever, The Joker.

When It comes to continuity, I’m not sure where in the comic book realm of Batman this book comes in but this book would make for a great sequel to the 2008 movie blockbuster, “The Dark Knight.”  This book takes place just as Bruce Wayne/Batman is building his Bat-Cave and has only been protecting Gotham City for a couple of years.  The Joker has only recently been sent to Arkham Asylum, in this book Arkham is run by Dr. Jonathan Crane.

One thing I’ve noticed about DC comics is that the stories really don’t rely on a running continuity, as long as the stories stick to the main theme of Batman.  The Dark Knight run of Batman comics, books and movies do have a darker side and more sinister of villainy of crime for Batman to contend with and this audio book definitely has a Dark Knight feel to it.  In fact the audio book contains the warning, “Due to subject matter, ‘Batman: Inferno’ contins realistically harsh language that may be offensive to some.”  So, you have been warned.

Before I get to the summary of this book I have to talk about the production of the audio book.  I have reviewed several Graphic Audio productions before,  and I am always impressed with the acting, sound effects and incidental music, so I was prepared for what Graphic Audio promises of “A Movie in Your Mind.”  This time around that was an extreme understatement.   This production blew me away.  The main premise of this book is fire and, let me tell you, the production conveyed that in a very explosive audio book.  I was extremely impressed by the voice-work/acting of the actor that played The Joker in this production, Richard Rohan, who also does the narrating and the voice of Batman, he did a smash up job.  And never once in the production can you tell or even have the hint that the same person narrating is either Batman or The Joker.  The Joker has been portrayed by several great actors through television and the movies, Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger.   In the movies the Heath Ledger Joker gained infamy from being so dark.  This Joker story is another dark story and Rohan, from this audio book borrows a bit from Heath Ledger, but at the same time you can hear some of Jack Nicholson’s Joker and some of Cesar Romero, so Rohan makes the character his own, while still paying homage to the classics.

Let’s talk about the story.   Gotham City is burning and the police still don’t know where to stand when it comes to the Caped Crusader, Batman.  Batman doesn’t worry too much about public opinion, his goal is to keep Gotham City safe.  As for the burning, Batman is doing everything he can to find out who is starting all the fires and what he can do to stop this firebug.  Batman discovers that the up and coming villian goes by the moniker of “Enfer” (the french word for hell.)  Enfer draws his influence from a French poet and, is seeking to cleanse the fire stations in Gotham City by fire.   Enfer also seeks to show The Joker that they could become allies, but the problem is that The Joker is locked up in Arkham Asylum.  Enfer blows up the Asylum allowing all the super-powered villians to escape, including The Joker, and Gotham City police now have their hands full.  To show his desire Enfer sets certain parts of Gotham City ablaze and when viewed from the sky the fires spell out “HA HA.”

In the meantime The Joker is making his escape and trying to avoid the GCPD by escaping through the sewers and tunnels underground.  A series of tunnels brings The Joker to a cave full of bats, the bats then lead him to what is a construction site that is obviously becoming the underground lair of Batman, the Bat-Cave.  Instead of finding out who is behind the cowl thus destroying his raison d’etre, The Joker kidnaps Alfred, the trusty butler, and steals a costume and the Bat-Mobile, yes THE BAT-MOBILE.  He then terrorizes Gotham City posing as Batman.

So with trying to stop an Arsonist, capturing escaped criminals, rescuing Alfred,  Batman also has to fight for his reputation, in “Batman: Inferno.”   Treat yourself to a great audio book and pick up this one.

“Superman: The Never Ending Battle” (Justice League of America) by Roger Stern

“Superman: The Never Ending Battle” (Justice League of America)
by Roger Stern
Multicast production
Produced by GraphicAudio
Approx 6 hours

I never really thought about it before, but comic books can really be philosophical pieces of literary art.  I know that I had a friend that was a Literature/Composition instructor at a small community college in Missouri and he would assign the class comic books as a reading assignment and while getting a small laugh from the students, he would continue to tell them that the words in comic books can create as much of an atmosphere as the images.  With the few novels in the market based on comics this imagery must be carried further.  Sometimes it’s a hit or miss but that is true with any novel.  In this novel not only is the imagery there but the author, Roger Stern, has thrown in a bit of a philosophical view of what makes a superhero keep doing what he’s doing.

To explain what makes a superhero keep helping even though he (or she) may be fighting a never ending battle, Stern uses the example of George Washington and the founding fathers of the USA mixed in with the Paradoxical Commandments of Leadership. Those commandments are:

1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered – Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives – Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies – Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow – Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable – Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest people, with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds – Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs but only follow top dogs – Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight – Build anyway.
9. People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them – Help them anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you may get kicked in the teeth. Give the world your best anyway.

So now we know what guides Superman and why he does what he does, let’s talk about this audio book.

First and foremost this audio book is another spectacular production by GraphicAudio.  When it comes to bringing a novel based on a comic book to life in audio book form I know GraphicAudio will do it right.  With an amazing cast of voices, spectacular sound effects and sensational background music GraphicAudio makes this audio book a definite “Movie in your Mind.”

The title of the book seems ominous enough that it will be a superior foe, but that is not the case, the foe seems to be a terrorist who wants to rule the world with chaos.  To begin the chaos a small time villain is recruited.  This guy is the Weather Wizard.  He begins to bring severe storms to all the hometowns of the superheroes of the Justice League.  In a team effort the Justice League must combat the devastation in their hometowns while at the same time trying to find who is causing the mess and stopping him.

While the book does focus primarily on Superman all the superheroes of the Justice League are found in action, and not just small cameos.  So,  for some good old fashioned comic book fun pick up this audio book from GraphicAudio.

Green Lantern: Hero’s Quest (Justice League of America) by Dennis O’Neil

GraphicAudio book cover

Green Lantern: Hero’s Quest (Justice League of America)
by Dennis O’Neil
Muliticast Performance
Produced by GraphicAudio
approx 6 hours

When you are looking for an audio book and you want something entertaining and worth the time spent listening, you should stop and consider anything produced by GraphicAudio.  These guys have set the standard for full production audio books.  With superb sound effects, music and acting their promise of “A movie in your mind” is really an understatement.  GraphicAudio has a way of recreating the entire universe to blast out of whatever soundsy stem you use to play the audio book.

Even more on that is that when you are looking for super realism that exists in comic books, the GraphicAudio productions of the Justice League universe from DC comics is about the only way to listen to an audio representation of a novel based on super heroes.   In this audio book the listener is taken to the beginning and end of the universe with the Green Lantern guiding the way and the production by GraphicAudio makes you feel as though you are hitching a ride with the Green Lantern all the way.

This book is based on Kyle Rayner as Green Lantern.  Many old school DC comics fans may know the Green Lantern as Hal Jordan, but at some time in the DC continuum, a new Lantern came about in the form of Kyle Rayner.   This novel is that story.

From the beginning we learn how struggling artist Kyle Rayner is given the Green Lantern ring and forced to become the latest incarnation of the Green Lantern.  But what does he do with the powers?  The ring didn’t come with an instruction manual, so not only what Kyle does with the ring have to be learned but also the how.

At this same time the Justice League, consisting of the favorite heroes from DC comics; Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, The Atom, Jonn Jonnz, Plasticman, et. al, become aware of this new Green Lantern.  The Justice Leage is concerned as to how Kyle will turn out, will he use the powers for good or evil.  After observing him beat down a fighter jet with a dragon created from the ring and then rescuing a man and a little girl from a plane crash using a pair of pliers and a catcher’s mitt created from the same ring, they decide to ask him to join on the side of good and join the Justice League.

Kyle, being the geeky kid who never really succeeded at anything isn’t sure if he can handle the responsibility and asks for 24 hours to think about the invitation.  After discovering that he may be able to handle the responsibility, Kyle returns to the Watchtower, a satellite orbiting Earth that serves as home to the Justice League, the moment he arrives on the station it disappears.

The next day Kyle is summoned by Batman.  You NEVER turn down a summons from Batman.  Batman is out to discover whether Kyle is responsible for the disappearance.  But it is soon discovered that the Oan that gave Kyle the ring, Ganthat, knows why the space station disappeared.  Kyle then must travel to the planet of Oa to find the Justice Leaguers.  Along this journey Kyle discovers the origin of the Green Lantern corps and the possible destruction of the universe and must battle alone to stop the destruction.

At this point in the book you may not notice but there’s some lessons in philosophy, physic and humanity that may make you stop to ponder the meaning of life.  This also what makes Kyle Rayner realize that, while he may not have asked for the power, he was born to wield it.

So sit back and enjoy a fun comic audio book with “Green Lantern; Hero’s Quest” produced by GraphicAudio.